This is the ultimate pancake recipe! It's made in one bowl with simple ingredients that you already have in your pantry. Our homemade pancakes recipe produces light and fluffy pancakes with crisp, buttery edges in no time at all. Customize these homemade pancakes by adding fresh fruit, mini chocolate chips or simply drizzling with warm maple syrup.

This recipe is also the base recipe for our Banana Strawberry Pancakes and our Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes. Both are delicious combos that will elevate your weekend mornings.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Fluffy Pancake Recipe
In this post, I teach you everything I know about making the best pancakes ever! We will cover making the pancakes and all of my best tips and tricks for making perfect pancakes every time. We will cover the best griddle temp for pancakes and then review how to store leftover pancake batter and leftover pancakes.
Key Ingredients

- all purpose flour - be sure to fluff the flour up and the scoop with a spoon into your measuring cup
- whole milk - you can also use a plant based option but in my opinion the best pancakes are made with whole milk
- butter - unsalted butter should be melted and slightly cooled - if you have salted butter, reduce the salt in the recipe to ¼ teaspoon
- baking powder - be sure to use an aluminum free baking powder for the recipe
Variations
whole wheat flour - If you would like to make the pancake recipe with whole wheat flour, I recommending only swapping out half. Use 1 cup of whole wheat flour and one cup of all purpose flour
fruit pancakes - sprinkle or arrange your favorite fresh fruit on top of the batter right after you pour it onto the frying pan. Blueberries, banana or strawberry slices and shredded apple all work really well
chocolate chip pancakes - sprinkle mini chocolate chips onto your pancakes right after you pour the batter onto the frying pan
mini pancakes - use a mini cookie scoop to make the perfect stack of mini pancakes - these are great for brunch or a fun after school snack.
How to Make Homemade Pancakes
Be sure to see the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and detailed recipe instructions.

In a large bowl, combine your dry ingredients (all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder and salt).

In a large glass measuring cup, combine the melted butter, milk, eggs and vanilla extract.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until the batter is just combined. If the batter is a little thick, add a bit more milk.

Warm your griddle or frying pan over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Add a little butter or cooking spray to the griddle or frying pan. Pour circle of batter onto the hot griddle.

Flip the pancakes over and cook for an additional minute - until the pancakes are cooked through.

Serve pancakes with butter and a drizzle of warm maple syrup.
Hint: It's easy to get the perfect flip on your pancakes if you make sure that they are cooked properly. Leave you pancake alone in the hot skillet until you see tiny bubbles forming on the surface of the pancake. Then, use a vert thin metal or silicon spatula to flip the pancake over. Trying to flip too early or with a thicker spatula will prevent you from achieving the perfect flip
Amanda's Top Tips for Making Fluffy Pancakes
Use butter or a nonstick cooking spray - even if the pan is nonstick.
Use an extra large cookie scoop - this makes it really easy to scoop the pancake batter onto your heated frying pan.
Make the pancake batter ahead of time - our homemade pancake batter keeps well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Mix your pancake batter up and move it to an airtight container. It'll be quick and easy to make fresh pancakes anytime!
Storing Leftover Pancakes:
Leftover Pancake Batter:
Store leftover pancake batter in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I often use empty jelly jars to store the leftover pancake batter. You can give the batter a quick stir and pour it directly onto your hot pan from the jelly jar. Otherwise any airtight container works well. Store leftover pancake batter for 1-2 days in the refrigerator.
Leftover Pancakes:
Refrigerator: Leftover pancakes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-4 days.
Freezer: You can also freeze the leftover pancakes. To do this, arrange the pancakes in a single layer on a parchment lined baking pan. Freeze the pancakes for 1-2 hours. Move the frozen pancakes to a ziplock bag.
How to Reheat Leftover Pancakes:
Toaster or Toaster Oven: Warm pancakes in the toaster/toaster oven for 3-4 minutes - use a medium level of heat.
Oven: Warm at 350° for 3-4 minutes. I like to just place them on the open rack so that they warm and get a little crispy on all of the surfaces.
Microwave: Place pancakes in a single layer on a paper towel lined plate. Warm pancakes for 15-20 seconds. Check and add an additional 5-10 seconds until pancakes are warmed through.
Frozen Pancakes in Air Fryer: Use the reheat setting to warm your pancakes for 1-3 minutes. Check after 1 minutes and add more time as needed.
Fluffy Pancakes FAQs
It takes about 1 minute on each side to cook pancakes if your pan or griddle is properly heated. You will know that the first side is done cooking when the surface of the pancake is filled with bubbles. Flip the pancake over and allow it to finish cooking for an additional minute until cooked through. If you poke the pancake a little and it bounces back at you, you will know that it is finished cooking.
The best griddle temp for pancakes is medium. You'll want to warm your pan for 3-5 minutes over medium heat and then make a small test pancake. If the better sizzle when you pour it on and the pancakes begins to brown and bubble pretty quickly, then the griddle temp is right. If the pancakes are cooking a little too slow, turn the temperature up just a little If your test pancake cooks too fast, lower the heat just a little. Pancakes should cook for about one minute on each side.
Pancake batter is good for 1-2 days in the refrigerator. Store leftover pancake batter in an airtight container.
Yes! This is a great recipe to make gluten free. Simply swap out the all purpose flour for your favorite gluten free flour blend or check out our recipes for Gluten Free Pancakes.

More Fluffy Pancake Recipes
Can't get enough fluffy pancakes? Me either! Here are a few more to keep the stack going - or check out all of our homemade pancake and waffles recipes.
Love this recipe? We'd love to hear about it! Leave us a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating at the top of the recipe card! We read, respond to and appreciate all of your comments so don't forget to leave a comment below. We love hearing feedback from our readers!
We love connecting with all of you on social media. Head over and follow along @instagram @facebook or @pinterest
📖 Recipe
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Maple and Thyme.

Fluffy Pancakes Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 ½ cups milk warmed
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1-2 tablespoons butter or canola oil for frying the pancakes
Instructions
- Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk to combine.
- In the microwave melt the butter in a two cup glass measuring cup or small mixing bowl. Add milk and warm for 30-60 seconds, until butter remains melted on the surface of the milk.
- Add egg and vanilla to the milk and butter mixture. Whisk to combine.
- Add liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- In a large frying pan, warm 1 tablespoon butter or oil over medium heat. Once the butter or oil is warmed, drop the batter into the hot butter or oil. I like to use a ¼ cup cookie scoop to pour the batter into the pan.
- Once tiny bubbles begin to form on the surface of the pancakes, flip them over and cook on the second side, for 1-2 more minutes.
- Garnish finished pancakes with butter, fresh fruit and warm maple syrup.










Marianne says
Delicious and easy
Amanda Smallwood says
So happy to hear this! Thanks so much for the feedback! ❤️🥞
Danielle says
I’ve been gluten free for almost 12 years. This is BY FAR the best pancake recipe I’ve tried! Thank you!
Amanda Smallwood says
Thanks so much for the feedback Danielle! I’m so glad that your pancakes came out yummy!! xo Amanda