This Quick Pancake Recipe Will Become Your New Weekend Favorite

It's time to say goodbye to boxed pancake mix.

side view of a stack of pancakes with butter and syrup
Photo: Yagi Studio/Getty Images

Is there anything more comforting than waking up on a Sunday morning to the irresistible scent of cheesy eggs, smoky bacon, and decadent pancakes? The answer is obviously no. But here's the thing: If you're pulling out all the stops for a homemade brunch spread, don't even think about reaching for the boxed pancake mix. Let's be honest, that box has likely been in your pantry for well over a year, and it will never compare to fluffy, scratch-made flap jacks. In fact, making homemade silver dollars is incredibly simple, especially with this quick pancake recipe. Plus, you probably have most of the ingredients on hand already.

Whether you're preparing breakfast for the family or having a pancake party with the kids, there are countless ways to get creative. You can add fruit, like bananas, blueberries, or fresh peaches to your pancakes, or satisfy your sweet tooth by adding Nutella, chocolate chips, or sprinkles. If you prefer more of a 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. Keep reading for an easy and quick pancake recipe that you'll want to make every weekend.

How to Make Pancakes

All you need to make pancakes at home is a handful of common ingredients and about 10 minutes. There's a reason this breakfast staple is always so popular!

Ingredients

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 2 cups buttermilk (or whole milk)
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) melted unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  1. In a medium bowl, mix your dry ingredients. This includes the all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt. Set aside.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients: milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and melted butter. If you don't have butter, you could also use vegetable oil.
  3. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir to combine until you stop seeing flour. Remember to not over mix, which makes the batter tough. Set aside. Tip: A few lumps in your batter will keep the pancakes tender.
  4. Turn your stove to medium-high heat and place a large skillet or griddle on the burner. Tip: To test for temperature, sprinkle a few drops of water on the pan. You will know it's hot enough when the droplets bubble up and evaporate.
  5. Grease the pan with cooking spray or a tablespoon of butter. This will prevent the pancakes from sticking to the pan.
  6. With a ladle or a measuring cup, gently pour ⅓ to ½ cup of batter into the pan for each pancake. Use a spoon to spread and form the batter into a circle. Tip: This is the time to add pancake fillings, like bananas, blueberries, or chocolate chips.
  7. 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 flip it over. Tip: If you're making pancakes for a large crowd, place them on a wire rack over a baking sheet (to prevent sogginess), and keep pancakes in the oven on low heat (approximately 200 F to 225 F) until you're ready to serve.

Pancake Recipes

Now that you know a quick and easy pancake recipe, you can use it to make various seasonal, flavored pancakes, like the delicious pancake varieties below.

01 of 05

Sheet Pan Buttermilk Pancakes

Sheet-Pan Pancakes
RealSimple.com

Sheet pan meals make life so much easier, and this recipe is ideal for making a big batch of pancakes for a crowd. The best part is, you can add different toppings so you have a variety of pancakes to offer your guests.

02 of 05

Sweet Potato Buttermilk Pancakes

Sweet Potato Buttermilk Pancake
Heami Lee

Welcome the fall season with these warm and comforting sweet potato pancakes. The combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and mashed sweet potato creates the most delectable batter that even the kids will love (not to mention you'll be able to sneak a vegetable into their breakfast).

03 of 05

Carrot Cake Pancakes

Carrot Cake Pancakes
Alexa Speyer

Who said you can't have cake for breakfast? These carrot cake pancakes are perhaps the most delicious way to start your day, especially if you serve them with cream cheese syrup. Go ahead, have your cake and eat it (for breakfast), too!

RELATED: 25 Fast, Healthy (and Delicious!) Breakfast Ideas

04 of 05

Puffed Pear Pancake

Puffed Pear Pancake
Jonelle Weaver

Hosting brunch this weekend? Impress your friends with this tasty yet delicate Puffed Pear Pancake that tastes a bit like a Dutch baby. While it may be more elegant than a standard flap jack, it's just as simple to whip up.

05 of 05

Gingerbread Pancakes with Pears and Yogurt

Think Beyond the Sandwich
While it might be tempting to stick to sandwiches, plain PB&Js can quickly lose their appeal. Instead, experiment with anything from whole-wheat mini bagels to protein-packed kebabs, which will get kids excited about trying new foods, says Janice Newell Bissex, MS, RDN, co-founder of  Meal Makeover MomsPasta salad keeps well and can be tailored to kids’ preferences, while baked whole-grain tortilla chips are fun for scooping up salmon or tuna.Breakfast for lunch is always popular with kids, says Bissex, who suggests whipping up whole-grain pancakes on Sunday and packing leftovers throughout the week. For an added punch of protein, layer peanut butter between two pancakes. Vary the pancake flavors by trying pumpkin, banana-blueberry, or gingerbread. . Antonis Achilleos

If you love gingerbread cookies around the holidays, you're going to go crazy for these sweet and spiced pancakes. The flavor combination of rich ginger and cinnamon with mildly sweet pears and creamy vanilla yogurt is so good, you'll feel like you're out to a fancy brunch.

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