Simple, soft, fluffy pancakes, an essential that everyone should know. You’ve been good all week. Go on. You deserve freshly made homemade pancakes for breakfast tomorrow!
Pancakes recipe
Homemade pancakes shouldn’t be complicated. It doesn’t matter if they come out wonky or with a splotchy surface instead of being a beautiful, even golden brown – after all, they’ll get smothered in toppings.
But they should be soft and fluffy. And in my world, not too sweet. Because….you know. Toppings. Load up on toppings!
Any day starting with homemade pancakes is a GREAT day!
What goes in homemade pancakes
This is what you need:
flour
baking powder
sugar
egg
milk
vanilla extract – optional
No buttermilk, no baking soda / bi carb, no yoghurt. You only need baking soda for an extra fluff boost when you have add ins in pancakes, like Blueberry Pancakes, because it weighs the batter down.
And of course TOPPINGS! Why limit yourself to just butter and maple syrup? See below for all sorts of ideas!
Pancakes Toppings – what to put on pancakes
Butter and maple syrup – the classic!
Maple syrup alternatives – honey, golden syrup and other sweet syrups suitable for eating raw
Lemon and sugar – one of my favourites! Light sprinkle of sugar and a squeeze of lemon
Strawberries and cream! Pictured below – layer it up like a cake, sandwiching the pancakes with whipped cream and sliced strawberries, then finish with a dusting of icing sugar / powdered sugar;
Sinfully rich sauces – like caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, butterscotch sauce, peanut sauce, anything!
Lemon curd, fruit compotes and sauces – like blueberry sauce (try the one in this Blueberry Cheesecake), Strawberry Sauce (use the one in this Strawberry Cheesecake) or try the warm apple topping in this Apple French Toast
BACON and maple syrup – YES!
Sprinkle of nuts
Fresh fruit – chop it, pile over pancakes with cream!
Ice cream – add a scoop onto a stack and drizzle with maple syrup, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce. Don’t forget the whipped cream!
Dusting of cinnamon and sugar
Pro tip: Keep a STANDBY PANCAKE MIX!
Homemade pancakes aren’t complicated to make, but sometimes it’s that much more appealing if there’s a ready made mix in the cupboard, just like the ones you can buy at the store!
Just measure out the dry ingredients and pop them in a ziplock bag, jar or airtight container, then when you want to make fresh pancakes, just add the wet ingredients!
To make a handy shake ‘n pour bottle like pictured above, you’ll need a 1.5L/1.5Qt+ bottle to leave enough headroom for the required liquids + shaking. I mix the wet ingredients in a jug then pour it in then shake away!
Now, go forth and elevate your morning by making a big stack of these soft, fluffy, golden pancakes! TELL ME what you top YOURS with! – Nagi xx
Watch How To Make It
Simple Fluffy Pancakes recipe video!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Simple, Fluffy Pancakes
Ingredients
- 2 cups / 300g plain / all purpose flour (Note 1)
- 4 tsp baking powder (Note 1)
- 1/4 cup / 55g white sugar (caster / super fine is best but not essential)
- Pinch of salt
- 1 egg
- 1 3/4 cups / 435 ml cups milk (any type, any fat %)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or essence
- 4 tsp butter , for cooking
Instructions
- Place flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl, whisk to combine.
- Add egg, milk and vanilla. Whisk until lump free – no longer than 30 seconds.
- Heat a non stick skillet – use medium heat if you have a strong stove, medium high if you have a weak one. Add a tiny bit of butter (about 1/2 tsp) and swirl to melt. Use paper towel to mostly wipe the butter off (this is the trick to avoid a dodgy 1st pancake).
- Pour 1/4 cup batter into the middle of the fry pan (I use a slightly heaped ice cream scoop with lever, standard is 1/4 cup).
- Swirl pan lightly to spread or use the ice cream scoop edge to spread into 11cm / 4.5″ circle (ruler is a must) (joking!).
- When bubbles rise to the surface (see video), flip and cook the other side until golden.
- Remove and keep warm in a low oven.
- Use more butter every 2 to 3 pancakes – depends how good your non stick coating is.
- Serve with toppings of choice!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
More pancake recipes
Giant Pancakes – to share!
Pikelets – mini pancakes!
Life of Dozer
I’m surprised there isn’t a massive drool hanging from his mouth.
Oh wait. I don’t want to gross you out, but after I wrote this post, I almost slipped on a puddle of drool when I was cleaning that area. Ewwwwww!
Finally tried this recipe and it’s my absolute favorite!!! 🥰🥰🥰
Thanks a million Nagi
I subbed some buttermilk in this recipe. Thanks Nagi, the best oankcakes i’ve ever made!
Hi Nagi, thanks for all your yummy recipe. Every time I think of something to make I searched your site straight away and always comes out deliciously good 😋 This is the most fluffiest pancake I’ve ever made and my kids favourite. Because of your recipe I’m the best Mum ❤️😁
I was doubtful that the batter looked too thick and I had gone wrong somewhere but it came out perfectly cooked and fluffy!! This is the only pancake recipe for our family now. Thank you once again Nagi xx
Hi Nagi and Dozer,
Love your recipes and Dozer pupdates ❤
If I halve the pancake recipe, will 1 egg be too much?
Love the idea of the standby mix, my neice starts uni in September and I wanted to add it a bag if goodies for her.
Thank you xx
Wahoo!!!
Hi Nagi,m what style of pan is used in your video? Thank you
Hi Jenny, this is just a cheap non stick pan 🙂 N x
Nagi you are a gem, seems when ever i’m thinking of what to cook you come up with the goods, love your channel and your recipes are so detail.
Thanks so much Mark! N x
1st excellent pancakes.
2nd most drool worthy snapshot of my buddy Dozer
Thanks so much Gillian! N x
Can the milk be substituted with almond milk?
Yes 100% Kathleen!!! N x
I love your recipes! I have been religiously using your site to plan my family’s weekly menu. I just found out the little tool you have that changes the serving size. It’s ingenious. Thank you for making my life easy!
That’s great to hear Dani! N x
Hi Nagi, love your recipes. Making pancakes today…because we’re stuck inside and dontr need an excuse! When I measure my US cups of milk, for your pancake recipe (13/4 cups) they onlycome out as 325ml…are Aus cups different sizes??
Eeek! Just looked it up and tablespoon measurements are different too. 1 tbsp Australian = 20mL instead of 15mL which is what we use in Canada. Luckily we use the metric cup as well. Learning something new every day…
Hi Yvonne, yes they are different sizes. Go off the Ml in a recipe as that is the same no matter where you are located 🙂 N x
I have never cooked pancakes “from scratch”… my parents always used a premade pancake mix, so I did the same as an adult. On day 8 of Stay At Home orders, I saw pancakes on your Instagram, realized I had the required ingredients in my pantry, and got super excited. Lol
I used the last egg I had, and success! DELICIOUS PANCAKES!!
I won’t ever buy a premade mix again. Thank you for sharing your recipes 🙂
You’re converted Rhonda!!! SO much cheaper than pre-mix too!! N x
This is the only recipe of Nagi’s I’ve ever had to alter! I still gave it 5 stars though because all I did was double the milk quantity and add another egg.
Thanks Nagi! Will have to remember that for all your recipes!!
Hope you and Dozer keeping well, you live in a beautiful area going by your pics x
Hi, can I make mixture a day in advance?
Love all your recipes x
These are awesome. I doubled the recipe for 6 hungry kids. They devoured them within minutes. Thank you
They are the best pancakes I’ve ever made. My kids loved them.
These are perfect! Thank you! Made extra special with choc chips added for the kids 😂
These are the BEST fluffiest pancakes I’ve ever made! Delicious and done in no time at all. You’re magic Nagi
I’m so glad you love them Lieffie!
Any Chance this couKS be made gluten free?
I haven’t tried just yet Abigail although I find that gluten free flour is much more dense – N x
I didn’t make this yet because I just feel like four tsp of baking powder isn’t right so I just want to check ty
Yep it’s correct, you’ll get the best fluffy pancakes Gia – N x
Yummmm! Great pancake recipe. Also the gift idea is nice too. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Patty!