The Best Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

These delicious buttermilk pancakes are light and fluffy, made from scratch, and a family favorite pancake recipe. Learn how to make the best buttermilk pancakes at home.

The Best Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe (1)

The Best Homemade Buttermilk Pancake Recipe

Making the best buttermilk pancakes starts out with the freshest ingredients. Make sure that your baking soda is not older than 6 months old, the flour is fresh and ingredients are at room temperature. The key to fluffy pancakes includes: buttermilk, baking powder and baking soda.

How To Make Your Own Buttermilk From Scratch

If you do not have any buttermilk on hand and have the urge for delicious buttermilk pancakes, no worries. All you need is a buttermilk substitute which consist of whole milk and lemon juice or white vinegar. Using a two cup measuring cup, add 1 tablespoon per cup. This recipes calls for two cups of buttermilk. Add two tablespoons of lemon juice (or vinegar) to the two cup measuring cup, then add enough whole milk to equal two cups. Give it a stir and let sit for 5 minutes. It will be thick and a bit cuddly. Now you have made homemade buttermilk in a pinch!

The Best Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe (2)

Buttermilk Pancakes Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Make Pancakes Fluffy?

Fluffy pancakes are achieved by starting with the freshest ingredients. Baking soda should not be older than 6 months old. Also, leave lumps in the batter. If the batter is too smooth and watery, the pancakes will turn out flat. So, gently work the ingredients together for the fluffiest pancakes the whole family is going to enjoy.

How To Tell When Pancakes Are Done?

Once the pancake batter starts to bubble, and once the bubble have popped, then you know it is time to flip the pancakes and cook the other side. But if the bubbles pop and fill with more batter, it’s not quite time to flip them. I test a few pancakes to make sure the griddle is hot and the heat is evenly distributed.

Why Are My Pancakes Flat?

One of the main reasons pancakes turn out flat is the batter has been overmixed. Like mentioned above, having lumps in the batter helps create fluffy pancakes. Make sure not to overwork the batter. Also, let the batter rest for 5-10 minutes before adding to the griddle.

Is My Batter Supposed To Be Lumpy?

Yes, another key to delicious, fluffy, pancakes is to leave lumps in the batter and let the batter rest. You definitely want a lumpy batter for the best pancakes possible.

The Best Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe (3)

Tips for Making the Best Buttermilk Pancakes

Use a Griddle and Make Sure it is Hot before adding The Batter

Using a griddle to make homemade pancakes is ideal. A large frying pan or skillet can also be use but a griddle is the way to go. Make sure that the griddle is at the desired temperature.

Lightly oil the griddle before turning it on, then when adding the pancake batter, they won’t stick and you will get the best tasting pancakes. Just add a tablespoon of oil and lightly cover the griddle. Use a paper towel to spread the oil and cover the entire griddle.

Do Not Overmix The Batter

One tip that is most important for fluffy pancakes is not to overmix the batter. You want to stir the batter by hand. The lumps in the batter is what helps make the fluffiest pancakes.

Let The Batter Rest

After gently stirring the wet ingredients into the flour mixture, you will notice lumps and that is exactly what you want. Let the batter rest while the griddle is heating up. This ensures the best tasting pancakes.

Warm The Syrup

One of my favorite ways to serve pancakes hot off the griddle is to add lots of room temperature butter and then pour hot syrup over the top. This helps the butter melt and creates a even better tasting pancake that keeps them warm. Pouring cold syrup is good but warming up the syrup is so much better. Give it a try.

The Best Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe (4)

Different Types of Pancakes

Blueberries Pancakes – blueberries are a favorite fruit to add to pancakes or any dessert really. Rinse them well, let them dry before adding them to the top of the pancake batter after it has been placed on the griddle.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes – Making chocolate chip pancakes is super easy and a favorite among chocolate lovers. All you need to do is add chocolate chips to the pancake batter after being place on the griddle and then cook as usual.

Banana Pancakes – bananas are a delicious addition to change up the flavor of the standard pancake recipe. Simply add a ripe, mashed banana directly to the batter and follow the below instructions.

Toppings for The Best Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

Fresh Fruit – Sliced strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and sliced bananas are delicious additions to add to the top of pancakes.

Homemade Whipped Cream – All you need to make homemade whipped cream is heavy whipping cream, sugar and vanilla extract. Add the ingredients to a medium bowl and beat on high until stiff peaks form. Check out these Strawberry Blueberry Parfaits for the actual measurements and instructions of homemade whipped cream.

How To Store, Freeze, and Reheat

To store cooked pancakes, once they have cooled completely, place a single layer in the bottom of an airtight container, place a piece of parchment paper on top and add another layer of pancakes.

To freeze, place cooked pancakes on a baking sheet and flash freeze them. This means to place them in the freezer for an hour of two then remove them and add about three in a freezer bag. Lay flat in the freezer until ready to use.

Reheating frozen pancakes are great to just pop in the microwave and cook for about a minute or two. They also can be reheated in a skillet or in the oven at 350° for about 10 minutes.

The Best Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe (5)

Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes Ingredients

  • All purpose flour
  • Sugar
  • Baking soda
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Eggs
  • Buttermilk
  • Butter
  • Pure maple Syrup

How To Make The Best Buttermilk Pancakes

  1. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and baking powder together.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs and buttermilk until combined.
  3. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently stir. Batter will be lumpy.
  4. Using a paper towel, lightly rub oil over griddle. Heat to 350 degrees.
  5. Let batter rest for 5-10 minutes while griddle is heating up, then add ¼ cup batter onto prepared griddle or skillet.
  6. Flip pancakes over when the tops are covered with bubbles and some have popped and the edges are golden brown.
  7. Serve hot with butter and maple syrup.

Try The Best Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe Today

The Best Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe (6)

More Pancake Recipes To Enjoy

  • Fluffy Banana Pancakes
  • Banana Nut Filled Pancakes
  • Pancake Sausage on a Stick

And here is a delicious Hash Brown Breakfast Cups recipe from our other blog, Deliciously Seasoned.

The Best Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe (7)

Buttermilk Pancakes

Are you a pancake lover? How about making these deliciously fluffy buttermilk pancakes the whole family will enjoy, These are super delicious and easy to make.

4.66 from 84 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Rest Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Brunch

Cuisine American

Servings 12 pancakes

Calories 123 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and baking powder together.

  • In a medium bowl, whisk eggs and buttermilk until combined.

  • Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently stir. Batter will be lumpy.

  • Using a paper towel, lightly rub oil over griddle. Heat to 350 degrees.

  • Let batter rest for 5-10 minutes while griddle is heating up, then add ¼ cup batter onto prepared griddle or skillet.

  • Flip pancakes over when the tops are covered with bubbles and some have popped.

  • Serve hot with butter and maple syrup.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 pancakeCalories: 123kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 4gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 338mgPotassium: 103mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 106IUCalcium: 61mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Buttermilk Pancakes, Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes, Homemade Pancakes

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Here are a few pics that are perfect to pin to your favorite Pinterest boards.

The Best Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe (8)
The Best Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe (9)

Enjoy, Terri

Copyright © Great Grub, Delicious Treats. All content and images are copyright protected. Do not use any images without prior permission.
If you want to republish this recipe, make sure to re-write the recipe in your own words and only list ingredients making sure to link back to this post for the original recipe and directions.

Share

Pin74.7K

Tweet

Email

Print

The Best Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why baking soda in buttermilk pancakes? ›

Not only does buttermilk react with the baking soda to give the pancakes extra height, but it also helps to break down the gluten in the flour for pancakes that turn out nice and tender, not tough or rubbery.

What makes pancakes rise and be fluffy? ›

Pancakes and waffles typically both contain baking soda, which causes them to rise. As soon as the baking soda is combined with the wet ingredients (which contain an acidic ingredient, like often buttermilk), it starts producing carbon dioxide gas bubbles that cause the batter to rise.

Why are my buttermilk pancakes not fluffy? ›

How you handle the batter makes a difference. If you beat it until it is smooth, your pancakes won't be as fluffy. Pancake batter should be mixed until it still has a few lumps in it. Then it needs to stand for about 15 minutes, to ensure that the flour is fully hydrated.

What is the key to making the best pancakes? ›

Making good pancakes depends on three key factors: mixing the batter to the right consistency, heating the griddle properly and recognizing when to turn the cakes. Whether making pancake batter from scratch or from a packaged mix, stir it just enough to moisten the dry ingredients.

What is the most important ingredient in pancakes? ›

Flour is the main ingredient to any pancake. It provides the structure. Different types of flours alter the structure because some flours absorb more moisture or create more gluten (which binds the structure together) than others.

Which is better for pancakes baking soda or baking powder? ›

Baking soda is essential for baked goods, but baking powder is really what makes pancakes and biscuits rise and become so super fluffy. Double-acting baking powder, which is the kind that you'll find in the grocery store, produces bubbles in two ways: when it is mixed with wet ingredients and then when it gets heated.

Should I use baking soda or powder in pancakes? ›

Baking powder is most often used in pancakes because regular pancake batter doesn't contain acid that would activate baking soda. However, this fluffy pancake recipe uses both baking powder and baking soda. The baking soda is activated with the acid in the buttermilk.

What happens if you don't put baking soda in pancakes? ›

You technically can leave out baking soda in certain recipes (like chocolate chip cookies or pancakes) in a pinch, but you need to understand that your finished product will not be as light and fluffy as the recipe intended. Unless you have no other option, you really should use a leavening substitute.

Does adding more baking powder make pancakes fluffier? ›

Top tips for fluffy pancakes

Don't be tempted to add more than the recipe suggests, as too much baking powder will make pancakes taste soapy. Alternatively, you could use self-raising flour, which will add to the amount of raising agent in the recipe and potentially make your pancakes fluffier.

What's the most expensive pancake? ›

The World's Most Expensive Pancake Is Served For $1,350 At Opus One In Manchester. When a humble breakfast fare is layered with some aristocratic ingredients, it gets crowned as the most expensive!

What ingredient keeps pancakes from falling apart? ›

Gluten, which is found in flour, keeps pancakes from falling apart. Gluten, a type of protein, forms a “spiderweb” within baked goods, giving them structure. As the starches gelatinize, and turn from a batter to bread, the gluten strands hold them in place.

What happens if you add an extra egg to pancake MiX? ›

Eggs are a crucial ingredient. They provide the cakes with the structure to hold light bubbles. Eggs also give the batter additional, richer flavor from the yolk fat. If you add too many eggs, you'll have “pancakes” that look more like custard or crepes.

Should you let buttermilk pancake batter rest? ›

Resting the batter gives the milk (or water, or buttermilk) time to soften the flour and dissolve any remaining lumps. While the batter is resting, the liquid helps release some of the starches and proteins in the flour that will give the pancakes lift without making them tough.

What makes restaurant pancakes taste so good? ›

Restaurants tend to use real, farm-fresh eggs and real milk when making their pancakes, which as you might guess, adds to a richer, higher-quality eating experience.

What not to do when making pancakes? ›

Don't let the lumps fool you into overmixing!
  1. You ignore the heat during cooking. If you are not using an electric skillet, you must pay attention to the heat when you start cooking the pancakes. ...
  2. You've been using the wrong pan. ...
  3. You flip your pancakes too soon. ...
  4. You don't fully preheat your pan.

What can I add to my pancake mix to make it better? ›

Baking soda or another leavening agent will enhance that old boxed mix that's been sitting in your cupboard for a few weeks (or months), leaving your pancakes with a yummy, fluffy texture. If your boxed mix doesn't already call for it, you can also add in a few eggs.

Do pancakes taste better with water or milk? ›

Pancake lovers' biggest complaint when adding water instead of milk is that the flavor seems to change. Pancakes aren't as richly flavored with water. There are a few ways to improve your batter when you've used water, including: Add extra butter.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Last Updated:

Views: 6429

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Birthday: 2000-07-07

Address: 5050 Breitenberg Knoll, New Robert, MI 45409

Phone: +2556892639372

Job: Investor Mining Engineer

Hobby: Sketching, Cosplaying, Glassblowing, Genealogy, Crocheting, Archery, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.