Everyday Basic Pancake Recipe

It seems that we’re always fiddling with pancake recipes over the weekend, sometimes getting it right, other times failing miserably and landing up with soggy flying discs. Over the years we’ve tried no less than a dozen box and bag mixes as well, many times with underwhelming results. But because my family are such huge fans of pancakes and waffles, I wanted to get an everyday, basic pancake recipe nailed down that we could always rely on to yield consistent results, especially during the week when time is of the essence. Well folks, I think I’ve found our everyday pancake recipe. We’ve found the key to great pancakes is a mix that has plenty of fat so that they brown up nicely and don’t stick to the griddle, a good amount of baking powder (or baking soda if you decide to swap out milk for buttermilk) so that they rise baby rise, pastry flour so they stay nice and fluffy, and a nice hot griddle that has plenty of warm oil or butter skimming the surface. Being generous with the sugar also helps flavor them so that they feel like an actual breakfast food and not just another baked good that could easily sub in for a savory meal using pita or flatbread.

Basic Pancake Recipe

This pancake mix has all the key components and produces wonderful results. I love the brown bits of surface area all over the pancake, and the nice height. When you nibble off a bite, they have a slight crispness to the outside thanks to the butter, but the inside is lightweight but also substantial. I like my homemade pancakes to actually have a bit of substance to them as opposed to tasting super airy, and these achieve that perfect balance of fluffiness and substance. The boys love their pancakes the old fashioned way with butter and syrup, while the girls prefer to mix it up, usually topping them with yogurt and some honey. Today though I added dollops of ricotta because I had a tub on hand from another dish I made and it was pretty much a genius move on my part. Mixed with the figs and it definitely felt like I was eating at some fancy establishment rather than my kitchen counter. Good luck and if you make these please tag me using the #howeweeat tag on Instagram!

What’s in This basic pancake recipe?

This basic pancake recipe requires very few ingredients:

• Pastry flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Granulated sugar
• Butter
• Eggs
• Milk
• Vanilla extract

How to Make Homemade Fluffy Pancakes

Whisk together the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet in another. Add the wet mixture to the dry, and gently fold the mixture together (it’s okay if some lumps remain). If you have the time, let the mixture sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. This step isn’t necessary, but my family loves how fluffy this makes these everyday pancakes. Pour ⅓ cup pancake batter onto a pre-heated skillet and cook until golden on both sides. Serve with your choice of pancake toppings.

Can You Freeze Pancakes?

Yes, these basic pancakes keep nicely in the freezer for up to 3 months (and in the fridge for a few days). You may want to first freeze them on a baking tray so they freeze perfectly flat, and then transfer the pancakes to a freezer bag.

How to Reheat Pancakes

Reheat these homemade fluffy pancakes in either the microwave or toaster. We do it all the time with fantastic results.

Other Tips for Making This Basic Pancake Recipe

You can definitely toss in some protein powder or ground flax seed to make these basic pancakes healthier-ish, but then you’ll be in the tinkering stage and you may not get the exact same results, in terms of texture, but they’ll still surely taste great. I highly suggest doubling or tripling the dry ingredient mix to have on hand for quick weekday stacks. Simply add in the wet ingredients and you’re good to go. Also note that the easy pancake batter will keep in the fridge for a couple of days if covered, so definitely hold onto unused mix and make the rest in the next couple of days.

Other Easy Breakfast Recipes:

• Blackberry Coffee Cake
• Tahini Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
• Baked Pumpkin Donuts