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    Home » Breads & Muffins » Everyday Basic Pancake Recipe

    Everyday Basic Pancake Recipe

    Published: Mar 28, 2020 by Andrea Howe · This post may contain affiliate links.

    37 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print 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.

    A stack of everyday pancakes on a white plate topped with fresh figs and ricotta cheese, drizzled with honey

    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

    A stack of homemade fluffy pancakes on a plate with fresh figs and ricotta cheese

    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.
    A stack of basic pancakes topped with fresh figs and ricotta cheese, with a slice cut out

    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.

    A stack of fluffy pancakes with a slice taken out, a knife to the side, and a plate of fresh figs and honey in the background

    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

    Everyday Basic Pancake Recipe

    These buttery pancakes rise beautifully and come out fluffy yet hearty. Simple enough to make everyday, especially if you you whip up a big batch of the dry mix to always have on hand
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 10 -12 5" pancakes
    Author:Andrea

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups pastry flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1.5 cups milk
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Combine the dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
    • Melt the butter and allow to cool for a few minutes.
    • Lightly beat eggs in a medium size bowl, and add the milk, vanilla & cooled butter.
    • Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and gently fold ingredients together until just combined, not worrying if there are a few lumps in the batter. Allow to sit for up to 30 minutes to allow mix to rise a bit, but not necessary.
    • On a warmed greased griddle add about ⅓ cup of batter and cook until bubbles appear on up side of pancake. Flip and cook through on the other side.
    • Serve with syrup and fresh fruit, adding in dollops of ricotta if have on hand.

    Notes

    Recipe adapted from Joy of Cooking & NY Times.
    Tips For Making These Pancakes
    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.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 205mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 225IU | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @Howe.We.Live or tag #HoweWeLiveRecipes!

     

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    About Andrea Howe

    Andrea Howe is the recipe developer and photographer of Howe We Live. She is also a seasoned home cook of over 20 years, for her family of 5. Andrea has spent over 10 years in the food industry, writing for various publications including Babble and Disney. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Taste of Home, Yahoo, Buzzfeed and ABC News.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Aline says

      April 06, 2020 at 3:10 pm

      5 stars
      These pancakes look so fluffy and perfect!! I need to try this recipe ASAP and now that we’re sheltering in place, I don’t even need to wait for the weekend!!

      Reply
    2. Jacque Hastert says

      April 06, 2020 at 2:14 pm

      5 stars
      I love everyday basic recipes that are simple to follow and come out delicious. These are going down next week!

      Reply
    3. Jenni LeBaron says

      April 05, 2020 at 9:48 pm

      5 stars
      I love a fresh, hot stack of pancakes. This everyday basic pancake recipe looks perfect for weekend brunch. I can’t wait to devour these with some maple syrup!

      Reply
    4. Sam | Ahead of Thyme says

      April 05, 2020 at 8:55 pm

      Yum these pancakes look so fluffy!! I have all the ingredients on hand so I am looking forward to trying this. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    5. Femi. O says

      April 05, 2020 at 8:24 pm

      5 stars
      fluffy pancakes are always a favorite, and I totally believe making them from scratch is the best way to have these. Love your tips on keeping them fresh! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    6. Analida Braeger says

      April 03, 2020 at 3:29 pm

      Scratch pancakes are the only way to go. Thanks for sharing a great recipe!

      Reply
    7. Danielle says

      April 03, 2020 at 9:42 am

      5 stars
      Pancakes are never enough. They are so important to shape the rest of the day and to make sure we start a day with the right mood. Well, at least they are for me, so I am excited to try your recipe – it looks amazing!

      Reply
    8. GUNJAN C Dudani says

      April 02, 2020 at 12:48 pm

      5 stars
      This is a great pancake recipe because we all need that quick and basic recipe for every morning can be delicious.

      Reply
    9. Veena Azmanov says

      April 01, 2020 at 12:04 pm

      5 stars
      My yummy breakfast is ready. Have to make them for family.

      Reply
    10. Amy says

      April 01, 2020 at 11:59 am

      5 stars
      Pancakes are such a fun and yummy way to start the day! I love this simple, delicious recipe — will definitely soon be one of my new breakfast go-tos!

      Reply

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    Welcome to Howe We Live. I’m Andrea, a passionate home cook and mother of 3. I’ve been cooking and writing about healthy eating for almost a decade, and my number one goal here is to help you develop the tools needed to throw together a great meal at home that is both delicious, and healthy-ish. All eaters are welcome here! Read More

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