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This is the BEST Fluffy Pancake Recipe! I’ve spent years making pancakes from a box and from scratch and my recipe – this one – is the one my family loves most. It’s an easy pancake recipe you can make in no time at all – you’ll never use a mix again once you try this recipe.

I love it most because you can change it up; make blueberry pancakes or sprinkle pancakes by just adding your favorite mix-ins!

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stack of pancakes with butter and syrup being poured over them


BEST Pancake Recipe EVER

We love pancakes in my house! I can almost taste these, drenched in butter and syrup, just by looking at the photos.

I know it’s a lofty statement claiming “the best” but these really are. They’re easy and fluffy and SO GOOD.

stack of pancakes with butter

How to make a fluffy pancake recipe?

This recipe is extra fluffy because it uses a combination of buttermilk, baking soda and baking powder.

Baking powder is most often used in pancakes because regular pancake batter doesn’t contain acid that would activate baking soda. However, this fluffy pancake recipe uses both baking powder and baking soda. The baking soda is activated with the acid in the buttermilk. The extra leavening and the acid results in an extra fluffy pancake recipe.

The secret to fluffy pancakes is using baking soda, baking powder and buttermilk!

PRO TIP

Fluffy buttermilk pancakes whisk up easily and fast, so you don’t really need a box mix. I was raised on box pancakes but as an adult I learned you can make my pancake recipe easy and fast and even better than the box.

Ingredients

  • Flour: I use all-purpose
  • Sugar: just a little adds sweetness to the mix
  • Salt
  • Baking Soda AND Baking Powder: see above
  • Egg
  • Oil: or you can use melted butter
  • Buttermilk: activates the baking soda. Learn how to make your own buttermilk.
collage of 4 photos showing How to make pancakes

How to make Buttermilk Pancakes

1. The Pan: Preheat griddle 350°F or heat frying pan over medium heat until a fleck of water “dances” in the pan.

It’s super important for that first pancake that the pan is properly heated.

2. Dry ingredients: Whisk flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.

3. Mix: Add egg, lemon juice, milk (or buttermilk), and oil. Whisk until combined (batter may be slightly lumpy). Cook pancakes immediately so the bubbles created by the baking soda don’t dissipate.

4.: Cook pancakes, flipping halfway, on griddle or in pan greased with cooking spray. You know they’re ready to flip when the bubbles form on the top and start to pop and the bottom is golden. Serve warm with syrup.

stack of pancakes with butter and syrup

Why are my pancakes not fluffy? Why are they so thin?

Chances are one of three things happened during the chemical reactions to cause your pancakes to be flat:

  1. Check the expiration date of your baking soda and baking powder in case it’s old. Learn all about baking soda and baking powder.
  2. Your pan was not hot when you added your batter. Baking powder is double-acting; the first reaction occurs when mixed and the second when heat is added. If the pan wasn’t hot enough the baking powder won’t be activated correctly.
  3. You didn’t use buttermilk. You can make your own buttermilk if you don’t have any.
  4. Did you mix your ingredients and then let it wait before cooking? When cooking or baking with baking soda, you need to cook immediately after mixing. The chemical reaction between baking soda and the buttermilk happens right away and if you let the batter sit too long the bubbles will flatten out, causing flat pancakes.

Variations

Turn my pancake recipe into your favorite flavor!

You can easily change up this fluffy pancake recipe by adding new flavors into the batter. Here are some ideas:

  • Blueberry Pancake Recipe: Add 1 cup blueberries or other small fruit
  • Chocolate Chip Pancake Recipe: Add 1 cup chocolate chips (mini chocolate chips are best)
  • Sprinkle Pancakes: Add 1 cup of sprinkles
  • Lemon or citrus pancakes: Add some orange or lemon zest
  • Cinnamon Roll Pancakes: Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
  • Bacon Pancakes: Fold chopped cooked bacon into the batter

The sky is the limit: this pancake recipe is a blank slate for your creative breakfasts!

Fluffy homemade pancake recipe

FAQ and Tips

  • This recipe makes a perfect 8 pancakes for a small breakfast or you can double the batch for larger families.
  • You’ll know your pan is hot when the water dances: flick a bit of water on the pan. If it dances around (i.e. boils), your pan is ready. If it sits, let it heat up a bit longer.
  • Storing: store in an airtight container or bag, between paper towels, in the refrigerator.
  • Freezing: you can freeze pancakes easily, just make sure each pancake is between a paper towel for easy frozen removal. I freeze almost all of my recipes, didn’t you know?
  • Reheating: reheat in the microwave, toaster, or toaster oven.

How do you know pancakes are done?

Place your pancake in your pan or on your griddle. Once the bubbles rise to the top and start to pop you can flip your pancake! Cook until the bottom is golden brown. You’ll see them rise then too!

Pancake recipes we love:

Breakfast recipes your whole family will enjoy:

I absolutely love making pancakes on my Cuisinart Griddler. You can fold it all the way open and make six at a time!

Have you made this recipe?

Tag @crazyforcrust on Instagram or hashtag it #crazyforcrust

stack of the best fluffy pancake recipe pancakes

Easy Fluffy Pancake Recipe

4.96 from 21 votes
This easy fluffy pancake recipe is homemade and makes the best ever buttermilk pancakes!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Yield 8 pancakes
Serving Size 1 pancake

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup (124g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted butter
  • 1 cup (237ml) buttermilk

Instructions

  • Preheat griddle 350°F or heat frying pan over medium heat until a fleck of water “dances” in the pan.
  • If using milk, add vinegar or lemon juice to the milk and let it sit while you whisk the dry ingredients.
  • Whisk flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
  • Add egg, buttermilk, and oil. Whisk until combined (batter may be slightly lumpy). Cook pancakes immediately so the bubbles created by the baking soda don't dissipate.
  • You’ll know your pan is hot when the water dances: flick a bit of water on the pan. If it dances around (i.e. boils), your pan is ready. If it sits, let it heat up a bit longer.
  • Cook pancakes, flipping halfway, on griddle or in pan greased with cooking spray. You know they’re ready to flip when the bubbles form on the top and start to pop and the bottom is golden. Serve warm with syrup.
  • Freeze between paper towels in a ziploc bag for up to one month. Reheat in the microwave.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • Don’t have buttermilk? You can make your own.
  • Feel free to add up to 1/2 cup chocolate chips, sprinkles, nuts or fruit to the batter.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1pancake | Calories: 126kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 181mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 0.9mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American

**Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!**

pancakes collage

My easy fluffy pancake recipe will become your family favorite. Your kids will love you extra when they see there are pancakes for breakfast!

Last Updated on March 8, 2021



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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30 Comments

  1. I’ve made these several times all ways (buttermilk, 1/2 milk and Greek yogurt) but today I made them with 1/2 C. 2 % milk and 1/2 C. Full fat sour cream. Whoa!!!! Fluff, fluff, fluffy! This is the only way I’m making these from now on. Deeeeelicious!!

  2. Didn’t have buttermilk the first time so I did the milk/vinegar trick. The pancakes were very thin, still tasty though. Second time I used 1/2 C. Whole milk, 1/2 C. Greek yogurt. This is the secret! Thick, fluffy and absolutely mouthwatering. I’ll never buy a box mix again!

  3. These were delicious! I used kefir (cultured low-fat milk yogurt) in place of the buttermilk and added fresh blueberries. Fluffy, light and perfectly sweet. No more box mix for me!