BEST FLUFFY HOMEMADE PANCAKES RECIPE

Is there really anything better than a big pile of homemade pancakes? I already have a few pancake recipe variations on Budget Bites, but it's about time I added an easy homemade pancake recipe to the collection. Pancakes are super easy to make, but I have a few tips and tricks for you to make sure your pancakes are the fastest and tastiest stack ever!

WHAT ARE PANCAKES MADE OF?

Pancake batter is really easy. All you need are a few basic pantry staples: milk, butter, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Also I add a little vanilla extract for a little more depth of flavor. The batter only takes a few minutes to mix together, then you're on your way to a comforting homemade pancake breakfast.

WHAT MAKES A FLUFFY PANCAKE?

The baking powder is responsible for the pancake leaving, but other ingredients and techniques will affect how well the baking powder works. Here are a few tips to make sure your pancakes are fluffy and fluffy:

Make sure your baking powder is fresh. Check the expiration date to make sure it's still active. Mix two teaspoons of baking powder in one cup of warm water. If it sticks, the baking powder is still active.

Don't move the batsman too much. Knead until the dough is smooth and a few lumps remain. Over-mixing the flour will increase the gluten in the flour and make the pancakes rubbery instead of soft and fluffy.

After mixing, let the dough rest for 15 minutes. This allows the dough to hydrate fully and the remaining lumps to soften without the need for further stirring.

The batter should be thick, but still pourable. If the batter is too thick, your pancakes will be thin. If the batter is too thick, the pancakes may be a bit dry. So you may need to adjust the amount of milk in the batter to get the right consistency.

PANCAKE TOPPINGS!

My favorite part about making homemade pancakes is having fun with the toppings. There are so many more options for pancakes than just butter and maple syrup! Here are some ideas:

Jam or jelly

Peanut or almond butter

Lemon Curd

Powdered sugar

Nutella

Fresh fruit

Whipped cream

Caramel sauce

Hot Buttered Apples

Nuts

Applesauce

What's your favorite thing to put on pancakes?

FLUFFY HOMEMADE PANCAKES

This easy homemade pancake recipe makes the most delicious and fluffy stack of pancakes! Perfect for a relaxing weekend breakfast.

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Resting Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 45 mins

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup all-purpose flour ($0.07)

1.5 tsp baking powder ($0.03)

1/2 tsp salt ($0.03)

¾ cup +2 Tbsp warm milk* ($0.02)

2 Tbsp melted butter ($0.20)

1 large egg ($0.21)

2 Tbsp sugar ($0.02)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract ($0.14)

4 tsp cooking oil ($0.05)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Mix the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, melted butter, sugar and vanilla extract.

Pour the bowl of wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and stir until combined. The mixture should be thick, but still pourable, and slightly lumpy. Let the dough rest for 15 minutes.

Heat a large pan or grill over medium. Once hot, add enough cooking oil to coat the surface (I use about ½ teaspoon per pancake). Add the pancake batter to the hot grill, ¼ cup at a time. Use the back of a measuring cup to spread the batter into a 4.5-inch diameter circle.

Cook the pancakes until the surface is bubbling and starting to pop, the edges of the pancakes look dry, and the bottom is golden brown (about 60 seconds). Flip the pancakes and cook until golden brown on the other side (about 30 seconds).

Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more oil to the pan between batches or as needed, until all the pancakes are cooked. Keep the pancakes warm on a plate under a towel or in a hot oven until all the pancakes are cooked. Serve hot with your favorite toppings!

HOW TO MAKE FLUFFY HOMEMADE PANCAKES - STEP BY STEP GUIDE

In a bowl, whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1.5 teaspoons baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt.

In a separate bowl, whisk together ¾ cup warm milk, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 large egg, 2 tablespoons sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir the ingredients together until smooth.

Add the wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients.

Stir until no dry flour remains at the bottom of the bowl. It's okay if there are some lumps in the batter, just make sure not to over-beat. Let the dough rest for 15 minutes.

Pancake batter should be thick, but still pourable. If the batter is thin, the pancakes will be thin. Thicker batter will make thicker pancakes. But if the batter is too thick, the pancakes can be a bit dry. So add a touch more milk if needed to make the batter thick but pourable.

Heat a large pan or griddle over medium heat. Once hot, brush some cooking oil over the surface.

Pour ¼ cup of the batter onto the pan and spread it into a circle (about 4 inches in diameter) using a measuring cup. Cook the pancakes until the surface is covered with bubbles and some of them have popped. You can make multiple pancakes at once. I only did one at a time for demonstration purposes.

Flip the pancake and cook until golden brown on the other side. As you cook the pancakes, you may need to adjust the heat up or down to maintain even cooking.

Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more oil to the pan in batches, until all the pancakes are cooked. Place the pancakes on a plate and cover with a clean dishtowel to keep warm while you cook the rest of the batch.

Enjoy pancakes with your favorite toppings!