Name: The Best Fluffy Pancakes for Sunday Brunch
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups flour; 4 tablespoon sugar; 4 teaspoon baking powder; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 1 egg; 1 1/2 cup milk; 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 2 oz butter, melted; 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract; Sprinkles; Whipped cream; Syrup; Butter

Jump to Recipe

Waking up on Saturday mornings to a plate of fluffy pancakes and a side of bacon is one of my favorite ways to start my weekend. This simple homemade fluffy pancake recipe is going to become a favorite for your family. These are super easy to whip up and make, plus don't require any special ingredients. I love that I can make these in minutes and always have the ingredients on hand. Whether you serve these for breakfast, brunch, or breakfast for dinner, your family will love seeing these on the table.

Fluffy Pancakes Recipe

Every mom has a homemade pancake recipe they reach for when making them for family. This one is mine. The standard pancake is slightly sweet, nice and fluffy, and golden brown while still being soft. If you want that, and something easy, this is the recipe to stash away for your next pancake breakfast.

It's so easy, in fact, that my teenage son was able to make these all on his own when he was just 8 or 9 years old. A few quick measurements, some simple stirring of the batter, and you have everything needed to create a breakfast the whole family is going to beg for over and over again.

How do You Make Pancakes Fluffier?

The key to truly fluffy pancakes is in the leavening agent(s) you use. For this recipe, a combination of baking powder and salt are my choices. Some like to replace the liquid with sparkling water to add air, but I like to rely on good old trusty baking powder.

Another key to fluffy pancakes, in my opinion, is to let the batter rest for a few minutes before you begin pouring onto the griddle. This lets everything combine and the baking powder goes to work a bit better.

Can I Add Different Flavors to These Pancakes?

Of course, you can make these different flavors with just a few little additions. Our family loves adding fruits and spices to our pancakes, and this makes a great base. You can add any of your favorites to the batter, but below are a few of my favorite additions.

Use different flavored extracts in place of vanilla.
Replace the vanilla extract with ¼-1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean powder for a stronger vanilla taste.
Mix in 1 teaspoon cinnamon, pumpkin spice blend, or apple pie spice to the batter.
Pour the batter onto the griddle, then top with a few blueberries, diced apples, banana slices, or chocolate chips.
Add ⅓-1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter before cooking.
Mix in shredded coconut flakes.
Replace ¼ cup of the milk with crushed pineapple or mashed banana.
Stir in cooked crumbled bacon and replace the sugar with maple syrup.
Replace ¼-1/2 cup of the liquid with pumpkin puree.

What are the Best Pancake Toppings?

There are probably thousands of combinations you can use to add to your pancakes. Some of the items listed above work as toppings as well as mix-ins to your batter. However, below are the standard toppings we reach for that your family might also enjoy.

Maple syrup, blueberry syrup, raspberry syrup, strawberry syrup, chocolate syrup, or honey.
Whipped cream, whipped topping, or vanilla ice cream.
Apple pie filling, peach pie filling, cherry pie filling, or blueberry pie filling.
Powdered sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, or cinnamon sugar.
Sliced bananas, sliced strawberries, sliced peaches, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries.

Can These Be Frozen?

Pancakes are one of my favorite foods to make in large batches then freeze for fast breakfasts later. The batter itself isn't great to freeze, but the actual pancakes are perfect for freezing.

When making a double or triple batch of pancakes, I like to lay them out on a lined baking sheet then pop into the freezer for 1 hour. This hardens them just enough to then stack together into a freezer storage container or plastic storage bag without them sticking or getting broken. I especially like to stack them in servings of 2-3 pancakes separated by wax paper. Then, they can be placed in a gallon sized plastic freezer bag that has been dated and labeled.

When ready to eat them, just pop out the number wanted, lay on a microwave safe plate and microwave in 30-second increments until heated through. They are good for up to 4 months when stored in the freezer.

Is it Better to Cook Pancakes in Butter or Oil?

You can use either option to cook pancakes, but there are a few things to consider first. The milk solids in the butter will burn easily, so, if you want to use butter for flavor or convenience, use clarified butter or ghee.

When using oil, reach for vegetable oil, grapeseed oil, or coconut oil for best results. These are all complimentary in flavor to the pancakes but also won't burn as readily as some oils.

Ideally, however, you will have access to a nonstick skillet or griddle that can be wiped with just a bit of oil or sprayed with a non-stick spray instead of coating with a lot of oil or butter.

Ingredients

Flour
Sugar
Baking powder
Salt
Egg
Milk
Apple cider vinegar
Butter
Vanilla extract

How to Make Fluffy Pancakes from Scratch

In a small bowl, combine room temperature milk and apple cider vinegar together then set aside.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

In a separate small bowl, whisk the egg, butter, vanilla, and sugar together.

Add the egg mixture into the flour mixture stirring to combine.

Pour the milk and vinegar solution into the bowl with the flour and egg, then stir together until the batter forms. It will be thick and slightly lumpy.

Heat a non-stick pan or griddle then brush with vegetable oil or butter as chosen.

Ladle the batter onto the griddle and watch for bubbles to begin to form and the bottom to start browning.

Flip the pancakes and then cook until golden on the other side. This is usually around 2 minutes per side.

Serve with desired toppings.

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Chef's Tip

If you plan to make pancakes on a regular basis, I highly recommend investing in a quality griddle. They make cooking multiple pancakes at one time much easier and always cook them perfectly.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 4