How to Make Pancakes

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Co-authored by Taylor DeCosta

Last Updated: April 2, 2024 Fact Checked

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Pancakes are a traditional breakfast treat that are easy to make. Once you get the basic recipe down, you can start experimenting and putting your own spin on these breakfast-time favorites.

Ingredients

The following ingredients will make about 8-10 inch (20-25 cm) pancakes (more or fewer, depending on the size); you may change the amounts of ingredients according to the number you wish to serve:

2 cups (18oz/510g) self-rising or all-purpose flour (See tips below)
2 or 3 eggs
1 1/2 cups (350ml) of milk
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
2 tablespoons of butter or vegetable oil
5 tablespoons of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)
A pinch of salt.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Recipe for Pancakes

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Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat until creamy. Add in the dry ingredients (excluding the salt and baking soda if using self-rising flour). Do not stir the mixture at this point!
Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Make sure that it's completely melted; about a minute is sufficient.

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Add the butter and milk to the mix. Stir gently, leaving some small clumps of dry ingredients in the batter. Do not blend until completely smooth. If your batter is smooth, your pancakes will be tough and flat as opposed to fluffy.^{[1]
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- If using vanilla extract, you can add it to the mix alongside the butter and milk.
- Overmixing your batter is going to develop strong gluten strains, which will make your pancakes very chewy.
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Heat the frying pan to a medium-low flame. If you have an initial "pancake" setting on your stove, use that. Be sure to use non-stick spray, or a pat of butter so the pancakes won't stick.
- You want the inside of the pancake to start cooking before the outside gets fully brown. A medium-low heat will allow the inside to start cooking without the outside burning. Avoid a high flame at all costs.
If it 'dances', or jumps from the pan with a sizzle, the pan is ready for the batter.
Pour about 3 tablespoons to 1/4 cup batter from the tip of a large spoon or from a pitcher onto the hot griddle or greased frying pan. The amount you pour will decide the final size of your pancakes. It is best to begin with less batter, and then slowly pour more batter onto the pan to increase the pancake size.
You should see bubbles form and then pop around the edges. When the bubbles at the edge of the batter pop and a hole is left that does not immediately close up, flip the cake gently.^{[2]
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Want a deeper color? Repeat the steps for another thirty seconds per side until the pancake is done enough for your tastes.
Try adding butter, peanut butter, syrup, jelly, chocolate chips, cookies, candy crumbles or fruit to your pancakes for a different, more exciting flavor.^{[3]
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Research source} The varieties are endless. These are the most delectable pancakes you will ever taste.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

More Varieties of Pancakes

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Looking for a colorful twist to your pancakes? Rainbow pancakes are the way to go! They are quick, easy, and fun to make. Little ones enjoy the beautiful colors added to their pancakes for a lovely 'rainbow'.^{[4]
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Make fluffy pancakes. Having delicious fluffy pancakes that look like a pillow are one of the best pancakes out there. Finishing off with rich maple syrup will make your pancakes the bomb!^{[5]
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They are many types of fruit pancakes to try from and do make your breakfast a hint healthier. Examples can be such as blueberry pancakes, apple pancakes, and even pear pancakes. Find your favorite!
Make Bisquick mix pancakes. If you're not in the mood to make your yummy breakfast from scratch, grab your Bisquick mix box and whip some tasty pancakes that taste nearly homemade.
Sometimes using what you have on hand can make something taste so good, and in this case, buttermilk. Buttermilk pancakes are faster to make so they are perfect for moving-on morning rushes. Cook these pancakes with a close eye and top them off with anything you desire.^{[6]
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You don't always have to carry on a bunch of ingredients to make something so good such as pancakes. Make easy pancakes that you and everyone else will love.
Make Mickey Mouse pancakes. They're cute, easy, and super yummy. Kids will enjoy these pancakes if they are a big Disney fan!^{[7]
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What Are Tips For Making Pancakes From Scratch?

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Expert Q&A

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Question

Can you make low-carb and high-protein pancakes?

Lisa Jubilee
Certified Dietician-Nutritionist
Lisa Jubilee is a Certified Dietician-Nutritionist and the Co-Founder of Living Proof Nutrition Strength Pilates in New York City. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in sustainable weight loss and disease prevention. She earned a Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics from New York University and a BS in Chemistry, Foods, and Nutrition from Rutgers University. She also published an e-book, Self Care = Health Care: A Health Empowerment Protocol From a Nutritionist’s Perspective. She has been ranked as one of the Best Nutritionists in New York City by Expertise.com since 2017.

Lisa Jubilee

Certified Dietician-Nutritionist

Expert Answer

Definitely—it's quite easy! The best low-carb flours to use are almond, coconut, or cassava (they're all easy to find in stores or online). The other ingredients you'll need are eggs, a fat source like butter or ghee, a natural and no-calorie sweetener like stevia or monk fruit, a leavening agent such as baking soda, a liquid (which can be water, milk, or a non-dairy beverage), and a little vanilla extract or another flavoring agent of your choice.

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Question

What is the trick to making good pancakes?

Taylor DeCosta
Executive Chef
Taylor DeCosta is an Executive Chef and Founder of Taylor Made Cuisine in Orange County, California. With over 10 years of professional experience, Taylor and her team offer event catering and meal delivery services to clients all over Southern California, including Los Angeles and San Diego County. Taylor and her team have been featured in many publications including the Los Angeles Times, Goop, and Orange County Business Journal. Taylor received her Associate of Arts and Sciences (A.A.S.) degree in Culinary Arts and Chef Training from Orange Coast College.

Taylor DeCosta

Executive Chef

Expert Answer

Just follow the tips above about not overmixing the batter and avoiding high heat and you're probably set. That said, here's an extra tip: you should always do a test pancake before you start doing everybody's pancakes. That way, you can adjust your heat and find out where your hot spots are in your pan and work accordingly.

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What can I do to make my pancakes fluffier?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Take care not to over-mix the batter, which can toughen up your pancakes. Stop mixing while the batter still has some small lumps in it. You can also increase the fluff by letting the batter rest for at least 15 minutes before cooking. Make sure you see bubbles in the pancake before you flip it, and avoid flipping more than once!

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Tips

It is helpful if you stay near the stove when the pancake is cooking so it doesn't burn up.

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Make thin mini pancakes and create sandwiches with cheese, jam, chocolate, fruits, or candy in between for yummy snack bites.

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Try putting cinnamon sugar on the pancake while it is in the pan. After it is finished cooking, roll it up, and serve it as a "mock crepe" for a delicious treat.

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Warnings

Do not press down on pancakes while cooking. Doing so prevents them from getting fluffy.

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Do not stack pancakes on top of each other as that will cause them to drape from the steam and make them soggy.

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