Try Our Quick Pancake Recipe, and Some Not-So-Basic Pancake Variations (2024)

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There's a reason this breakfast staple has been so popular for so long. But let's be honest, pancakes made with store-bought pancake mix can't compare to fluffy pancakes made from scratch. But it will take too long, right? Contrary to popular belief, making homemade pancakes is incredibly simple (don't let the ingredient list scare you).

All you need to make pancakes from scratch is a handful of common ingredients and about 10 minutes. Keep reading for an easy, quick pancake recipe that you'll want to use every weekend, plus some more creative pancake recipes—sweet and savory—that veer off that plain pancake trail.

Basic Pancake Recipe

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray (or butter)
• 2 cups buttermilk (or whole milk)
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons (¼ stick) melted unsalted butter (or vegetable oil)
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients—flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt—and set aside.
2. In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients—milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and melted butter (or vegetable oil).
3. Add wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry ingredients, stir to combine until you stop seeing flour, and then set aside.
4. Set a burner to medium-high and place a large skillet or griddle on the stove. To test for temperature, sprinkle a few drops of water on the pan. If the droplets bubble up and evaporate, it's hot enough.
   
5. Grease the pan with cooking spray or a tablespoon of butter. This prevents the pancakes from sticking to the pan.
6. With a ladle or a measuring cup, gently pour ⅓ to ½ cup batter into the pan for each pancake, and then use a spoon to spread and form the batter into a circle.
7. Drop in any pancake add-ins like fruit, nuts, or chocolate chips.
8. Once bubbles begin to pop in the pancake's center, it's ready to be turned. Insert the entire spatula under the pancake's middle, lift the pancake quickly—about an inch off the pan's surface—and then flip.
9. Once the other side is done, remove pancakes from the pan and serve.
10. If you're making pancakes for a crowd, place them on a wire rack over a baking sheet (to prevent sogginess), and warm pancakes in the oven on low heat (200 to 225 degrees F) until you're ready to serve.

How to Upgrade Basic Pancakes

With the basics nailed down, there are countless ways to get creative with pancakes. You can add fruit—like bananas, blueberries, or fresh peaches—or satisfy your sweet tooth by adding Nutella, chocolate chips, or sprinkles.

If you prefer a more traditional pancake, you can't go wrong with a slab of unsalted butter, a generous drizzle of authentic maple syrup, and a pinch of flaky sea salt. If you're the adventurous type, try one or more of our favorite pancake recipes—some sweet, some savory—that use an oven, vegetables, or exotic spices to take pancakes beyond the basics.