Good Old Fashioned Pancakes

Published: Apr 20, 2022 · Modified: May 11, 2022 by Viana Boenzli · This post may contain affiliate links

These good old fashioned pancakes will take you back to your childhood. Let’s go there together, shall we…

Jump to:

• 🧾 Ingredients
• 🥣 Pancake batter
• 🥞 Cooking
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Expert tips
• 🍓 Toppings and additions
• ✨ BONUS! Make ahead pancake mix
• ❓ FAQ
• 📝 Recipe

It’s Sunday morning, you’re still in bed, tangled up in a mountain of blankets, when you smell something, something good, something delicious. Wait…you know that smell! Mom’s making pancakes (they’re my son’s favorite, by the way!). Fluffy, light, homemade pancakes. Suddenly eager to get up and tackle a tall stack, spread with butter, drizzled with way too much syrup, and maybe a few sweet berries on top, you jump out of bed and run to the kitchen for a great start to the day.

In the years since, maybe you’re like me. You’ve switched to the convenience of boxed pancake mix. No, it’s not the same as mom’s pancakes, but it’s easy, quick, and hey, it gets the job done…right? Not anymore. Ask yourself this: When you can easily make pancakes from scratch in just a few minutes, why wouldn’t you? Think of this recipe as your own homemade pancake mix.

⭐ Scroll down for the BONUS! Make Ahead Pancake Mix, and more tips, tricks, and ideas!

Now let’s learn how to make fluffy pancakes at home…It all starts with a recipe for pancake batter.

🧾 Ingredients

• All purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Granulated sugar
• Egg
• Salted butter
• Vanilla extract
• Milk

See the recipe card below for full list of ingredients and their measurements.

🥣 Pancake batter

In a large bowl, mix together all dry ingredients. Then, add the wet ingredients and mix everything together. Be careful not to overmix, though…just stir until everything is mixed together. Then, and this is important, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. I know…it’s difficult. But this is important for two reasons (and yes, I’m getting all scientific about pancakes):

1. By letting the batter rest for a few minutes, this allows all of the batter to become hydrated by the wet ingredients. No one wants clumps of dry flour in their pancakes.
   
   
2. Gluten is what makes our doughs and batters hold together. The more you stir (or knead) a batter or dough, the more gluten develops. If you let the gluten develop a lot, you’ve got an elastic, chewy bread. Not at all what we want in a pancake. By letting the batter rest, the gluten also rests and takes a few minutes to calm down from being mixed, and our pancakes come out light and fluffy. This is also why we barely mix the batter, so as to not “overwork” the gluten (if you’re a science nerd like me, this article by King Arthur Baking will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about gluten).

🥞 Cooking

After the resting time, heat a non-stick pan or skillet over low-medium heat. Let it heat up for a minute or two.

Pour about ¼ cup of batter into the pan. I pour mine in the middle and let them spread on their own…but everyone has their own technique. Let your pancake cook for a minute or two, until the underside is golden brown and a few small bubbles appear on top.

Then flip your pancake over with the style and grace of a Cirque du Soleil acrobat (just kidding!). Gently but quickly flip your pancake over and let it cook for another minute or so until that side is also a beautiful golden brown. Serve and enjoy!

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert tips

• Don’t overmix the batter – See the instructions above about making the batter. Don’t overmix and let it rest. I know, you’re hungry. But maybe use this time to set the table, start getting your toppings ready, or wash the cups and tablespoons you used to make the batter. Distract yourself from the hunger pangs for just a few minutes.

• Patience is a virtue – Don’t rush the process. Yes, pancakes cook quickly, but don’t rush it. Keep the temperature of the pan at low-medium. Turning it up too high will just result in pancakes with a burned outside and a raw inside.

• Sweet butter! – If you prefer a little extra buttery sweetness to your pancakes, add a little butter to the pan before cooking.

🍓 Toppings and additions

There are tons of pancake toppings and additions…just use your imagination! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• The Classic – Butter and maple syrup. You can’t go wrong with this combo.
  
  
• Fruit – Berries and bananas on top. Or toss a few blueberries on top of the batter you just poured into the pan. Who doesn’t love a blueberry pancake! Or place fresh berries on the top of the stack, maybe even sprinkled with a little powdered sugar.

• Chocolate chips – We’re all really kids at heart, so mix in some chocolate chips and make the kids (and you!) happy.

• Nutella – Spread some hazelnutty goodness over the top and indulge!

• Whipped cream – While we’re being kids again, top off your tall stack with a heaping pile of whipped cream (Idea: Whip up some homemade whipped cream while the batter is resting).

• Nuts or granola – Sprinkle some crunchy nuts or granola on top for flavor and texture.

✨ BONUS! Make ahead pancake mix

If you’d like pancakes even faster, make a dry pancake mix from scratch! Simply mix all dry ingredients and store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Then, when you’re ready to make pancakes, just mix in the wet ingredients and you’re ready to go!

❓ FAQ

Do you love a delicious homemade breakfast? Check out a few more of our recipes now!

• Bacon-Apple-Pecan Stuffed French Toast
• Strawberry Shortcake Waffles with Nutella
• Single Serve Baked Oatmeal
• Tiramisu Overnight Oats
• The Best Banana Nut Bread Recipe (so fluffy and moist!)
• Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
• Apple Cider Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel
• How to Make Croissants (and Pain au Chocolat!)
• Crispy, Buttery Hash Browns Recipe
• Sour Cream Coffee Cake
• Easy Zesty Blueberry Muffins with Streusel Topping

Did you make these Good Old Fashioned Pancakes? Let us know in the comments below!

📝 Recipe

Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.