The BEST Classic Pancakes Recipe (2024)

August 18, 2023 by Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) · Updated February 15, 2024

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Honey, are you on the hunt for the ultimate Fluffy Pancakes Recipe? Well, this classic pancake recipe has a few secret ingredients that make these babies the BEST in flavor and texture. They might take a tad longer to whip up, but trust me, they’re worth the wait – cooking up so light, fluffy, and with just the right touch of sweetness. Slather them in butter and drizzle with maple syrup for a weekend breakfast or brunch that’ll have your whole family smiling from ear to ear.

I am a pancake LOVER! I have been since I was young. So you know, I had to create the perfect fluffy pancake recipe. Pancakes are for reals my fave breakfast food. Nothing else will do!

These classic pancakes are light and fluffy with the most incredible flavor and nice griddle crispness. Sometimes all you need is a classic done right, and this is definitely that! They are seriously some delish hotcakes and I’m pretty sure you will agree!

If you love these pancakes, you will also love these Blueberry Pancakes and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes!

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Old-Fashioned Fluffy Pancake Recipe

The Fluffiest Pancakes. From the ingredient combinations to my technique of letting the batter rest, these pancakes cook up so light and fluffy.
Kid-Friendly Breakfast. Whether you’re looking for a new weekend pancake recipe or want something for a special occasion, this fluffy pancake recipe delivers!
Simple and Wholesome Ingredients. That’s all you need to make the BEST pancakes from scratch.

Ingredients to Make Fluffy Pancakes

Are you ready to get started? Here’s a look at the ingredients we will be using to make pancakes.

Cake flour: This ingredient is the secret to fluffy pancakes. If you don’t have it, you easily make cake flour at home.
Granulated sugar: Perfectly sweetens your pancakes.
Baking powder: To make your pancakes lighter and fluffier.
Half-and-half: Half and half makes for a richer pancake batter.
Sour cream: Adds a bit of tang and texture to these fluffy pancakes.
Eggs: Eggs add moisture, flavor, and a bit of color.
Unsalted butter: Use unsalted butter so you have more control over the saltiness of your pancakes.
Vanilla extract: Adds natural sweetness and a essence of warmth that you can both smell and taste.
Neutral oil: This is for cooking the pancakes on the stove. I suggest using vegetable or canola oil which don’t have any flavors.
Maple syrup: Use real maple syrup whenever possible for the BEST flavor.

How to Make Fluffy Pancakes

Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until mixed together. In another large bowl, combine the half-and-half, sour cream, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla and whisk together. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry and mix just until combined. It’s ok if the batter has some lumps.

PRO TIP: Let the pancake batter sit for 10 to 15 minutes before cooking. This gives it time to hydrate fully and make fluffier pancakes.

Add about a quarter cup of batter to a heated oiled skillet. Cook until bubbles begin to form on top and the pancakes are golden brown on the bottom, then gently flip and cook until golden on the bottom other side. Repeat cooking until all the pancakes are cooked.

PRO TIP: Resist the urge to flip the pancakes back and forth, as it will only toughen their texture.

Tips for Making the Best Classic Pancakes

Resting the Pancake Batter. Let the pancake batter rest before cooking. This is THE secret to fluffy pancakes.
The Best Flour for Fluffy Pancakes. Use cake flour, not all-purpose flour. It contains less gluten so your pancakes will cook up lighter.
The Bubbles Are Your Guide to Flipping. When the bubbles on the top of the pancake pop and don’t fill in, it’s time to flip!
Don’t Over Mix the Batter. Once you mix the wet and dry ingredients the gluten starts to form. If you mix too much you will end up with tough pancakes.

Popular Substitutions & Additions

Pecan pancakes: Add a handful of chopped pecans or your favorite nut to the batter.
Chocolate chips: Turn these into fluffy chocolate chip pancakes by adding some chocolate chips to the batter.
Add some fruit: Add sliced fruit or berries on the top of the wet pancake batter in the pan.
Add some spice or change the flavoring: You can add some cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice for a bit of warming spices or change the vanilla extract and use another flavor instead such as almond, orange, lemon, or coconut.

What to Serve with Classic Pancakes

Toppings: Fresh fruit makes the perfect addition to your pancakes along with some whipped cream and your favorite pancake syrup.
Make them dessert pancakes with a scoop of ice cream! I love this idea for a birthday breakfast. Experiment with different flavors such as raspberry ice cream, red velvet ice cream, and mocha fudge swirl.
Serve them up with crispy bacon, candied bacon, or breakfast sausage.
Planning a brunch party? Serve up some ambrosia salad, a breakfast board, and easy breakfast casserole with the pancakes.

How to Store & Reheat Fluffy Pancakes

Store leftovers in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container. When ready to reheat, place them in a covered baking dish and wrap them in foil. Heat in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes or until heated through.

How long will do fluffy pancakes last in the fridge?

Leftover pancakes will last in the fridge for up to a week.

Can I freeze pancakes?

Yes, you can! I love to do this for a bit of breakfast meal prep sometimes. Lay them out on a baking tray and freeze them individually. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer. This allows you to easily pull out exactly the number of pancakes you want to reheat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the trick to making pancakes fluffy?

The trick to making fluffy pancakes is using the right ingredients and letting the batter rest. My recipe uses cake flour and half and half to make the best fluffy pancakes. I also always let my pancake batter rest so the flour has time to hydrate which helps the pancakes cook up fluffier.

Should you cook pancakes in butter or oil?

In my opinion you should cook pancakes in oil. Butter has a lower smoke point and can easily burn which isn’t pleasant for the pancakes. Using a neutral oil doesn’t add any unwanted flavor to the pancakes and doesn’t burn as easily.

What makes fluffier pancakes, milk or water?

Milk works better for fluffy pancakes than water. My recipe uses half and half and sour cream to give them even more fluffiness.

Boos, this fluffy pancake recipe is your golden ticket to turning your weekend breakfast into a dazzling affair that your family will be thanking you for. These pancakes aren’t just breakfast, they’re a celebration on a plate, whether you jazz them up with chocolate chips, blueberries, or enjoy them in all their golden glory – they are simply fantastic!

More Pancake Recipes

Apple Pancakes
Oreo Pancakes
Ginger Orange Pancakes
Gingerbread Pancakes Recipe with Eggnog Syrup
Eggnog Pancakes
Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes

*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!

The Perfect Fluffy Pancakes Recipe

Perfect Classic Pancakes Recipe: If you are looking for the perfect classic pancakes recipe, look no further than this one. These are light, fluffy and mildly sweetly flavored and ready for soaking up butter and maple syrup!

5 from 10 votes

Equipment

Mixing Bowls

Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

▢ 2 cups cake flour 266 grams
▢ ⅓ cup granulated sugar 67 grams
▢ 1 tablespoon baking powder
▢ ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
▢ 1 ½ cups half-and-half 320 grams
▢ 1 cup sour cream 227 grams
▢ 2 large eggs
▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled 28 grams, plus more for cooking and serving
▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla
▢ Neutral oil such as vegetable or canola, for cooking the pancakes
▢ Maple syrup for serving

Instructions

Place a large rimmed baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 200°F.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until combined.
In another large bowl, whisk together the half-and-half, sour cream, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla until combined. Gently stir the wet ingredients into the dry just until combined-the batter will have some lumps. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes to hydrate-this will give you fluffier pancakes.
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-low to medium heat until hot. Grease the surface with a small pat of butter and a small drizzle of oil. When the oil starts to shimmer and the butter foam subsides, add about ¼ cup of batter to the skillet.
Cook until bubbles begin to form on top and the pancakes are golden brown on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes, then gently flip and cook until golden on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Resist the urge to flip the pancakes back and forth, as it will only toughen their texture.
Transfer the cooked pancakes to the oven to keep warm and repeat with remaining batter, adding more butter and oil to your skillet as needed and adjusting the heat to prevent the pancakes from burning without cooking through. Serve warm, with the maple syrup and extra butter.

Notes

Let the pancake batter rest before cooking. This is THE secret to fluffy pancakes.

Use cake flour, not all-purpose flour. It contains less gluten so your pancakes will cook up lighter.

When the bubbles on the top of the pancake pop and don’t fill in, it’s time to flip!

Once you mix the wet and dry ingredients the gluten starts to form. If you mix too much you will end up with tough pancakes.

Nutrition

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