HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE PANCAKES FROM SCRATCH
Learning how to make pancakes from scratch is a simple task that lets you get creative with mix-ins, toppings and flavors. Use the recipe below to lay a solid foundation, then explore new alternatives to this traditional breakfast dish like orange buttermilk pancakes, apple ricotta pancakes or carrot pancakes with cream cheese syrup and candied pecans. Read on for more tips and tricks on making easy homemade pancakes.
WHAT TYPE OF FLOUR IS BEST FOR MAKING PANCAKES?
Flour lays the foundation for classic pancakes, but not all types of flour produce the same outcome. All-purpose flour is best for creating airy pancakes that are firm and filling yet light and fluffy. Pastry flours have less gluten than all-purpose flour and produce pancakes that are fluffy but fragile, while harder flours like bread or rye flour are high in gluten and are more likely to produce heavy, dense pancakes. For gluten-free pancakes, it’s best to use a flour mixture labeled as gluten-free and pay close attention to substitution guidelines on the packaging.
EASY HOMEMADE PANCAKES RECIPE
Perfecting a basic pancake recipe is the first step in experimenting with countless pancake flavors, textures and toppings. Follow the steps below to learn about ingredient ratios, proper mixing and optimal baking techniques to create fluffy, golden brown pancakes.
YIELDS
8 servings
INGREDIENTS
All-purpose flour
Sugar
Baking powder
Salt
Eggs
Milk
Canola oil
PREP TIME
5 minutes
COOK TIME OR BAKE TIME
15 minutes
TOTAL TIME
20 minutes
STEP 1: COMBINE DRY INGREDIENTS
Measure and add flour, sugar, baking powder and salt to your KitchenAid® stand mixer equipped with the Flex Edge Beater Attachment. Consider using a food scale—like the KitchenAid® Sifter + Scale Attachment—to measure pancake ingredients for fluffy, consistent results. Set your stand mixer to a low speed and mix until ingredients are thoroughly combined, or about 30 seconds.
STEP 2: ADD EGGS, MILK AND OIL
Add eggs, milk and oil to the dry mixture, then set your stand mixer to a medium speed and mix until batter is free of flour streaks but still contains lumps. Keep an eye on your batter as it mixes, since over-mixed batter can create tough pancakes. Allow the batter to rest for about 30 minutes before cooking. This gives the starch in flour enough time to hydrate for optimally light and fluffy pancakes.
STEP 3: PREPARE THE SKILLET
Set a skillet or griddle to medium heat, then spray with cooking oil or apply a thin coat of butter across the surface.
STEP 4: POUR BATTER
Once you’ve given the skillet a few minutes to warm up, create pancakes that are about three inches in diameter by adding two tablespoons of batter into the skillet and gently spreading it into a circle shape with the back of a spoon.
STEP 5: FLIP PANCAKES
Allow pancakes to cook for roughly three minutes, or until bubbles start to form in the batter. Check that the pancake is ready for flipping by gently lifting the edge with a spatula to look underneath. The underside of the pancake should be a golden brown color. Flip the pancake with a spatula and allow it to continue cooking for about two minutes.
STEP 6: REMOVE FROM HEAT AND SERVE
Once the pancake is flipped, be careful not to press it down with the spatula. This can cause air to escape the batter and result in flat or dense pancakes. Check that the underside of the pancake is golden brown, then remove them from the heat and serve immediately.
SHOP KITCHENAID® COUNTERTOP APPLIANCES FOR MAKING HOMEMADE PANCAKES
HOW CAN I USE THIS RECIPE TO MAKE FLAVORED PANCAKES?
Basic pancake recipes provide the perfect canvas for creative exploration. You can adjust a simple pancake recipe to create unique flavor combinations by ensuring your ratio of wet and dry ingredients remains the same. For example, whip up a batch of cocoa oat pancakes by replacing a portion of flour with rolled oats finely ground using a KitchenAid® blender.
Turn any pancake platter into a decadent dessert when you make red velvet pancakes with warm cream cheese glaze, or use a KitchenAid® hand blender to whip up a batch of homemade applesauce for applesauce pancakes. You can create a palate-pleasing combination of flavors with lemon ricotta and honey rye pancakes with roasted strawberries, or use a KitchenAid® food processor to chop up dried apricots and walnuts for a helping of apricot and walnut pancakes.
Keep things cozy during the Fall season with blender pumpkin or gingerbread pancakes, or make the most of fresh summer fruit and prepare lemon buttermilk, or apple whole wheat pancakes. Use the KitchenAid® Spiralizer Attachment to make quick work of preparing fruit ingredients and take advantage of KitchenAid® hand mixers or stand mixers to help create optimal pancake batter consistency.
HOW DO I TOP MY PANCAKES?
You can transform basic pancakes into a decadent breakfast dish that’s sweet, tangy, rich or even savory with the right toppings. Add contrasting textures with walnuts, granola or a cinnamon crumb, or put a spin on fresh fruit toppings by adding caramelized or sauteed apples, bananas or peaches. For a savory twist, crumble and top pancakes with your breakfast meats like sriracha chicken sausage or bacon.
Get creative with drizzles and creams by opting for a warm cream cheese glaze like the one in this recipe. Or, top pancakes with refreshing coulis, homemade cinnamon, peanut or apple butter, pear caramel sauce, homemade blueberry jam and more. You can streamline topping prep when you use a KitchenAid® immersion blender to puree fruits and nut butters or a KitchenAid® food processor to finely slice or dice fresh fruits.
HOW DO I MAKE MY PANCAKES EXTRA FLUFFY?
Light and fluffy pancakes are a byproduct of a few unique culinary inputs. First, be sure to add the right amount of eggs to your batter, about one per cup of flour. Too many eggs can lead to dense pancakes, and too few won’t allow them to rise completely. Next, avoid excessively mixing your batter. This over-develops the gluten in your mix and leads to tough pancakes. You should see lumps in your batter once mixing is complete. Lastly, allow pancakes to rise naturally during cooking and resist the urge to press on them with a spatula.
SHOULD MY PANCAKE BATTER BE THINNER OR THICKER?
The thickness of your pancake batter will typically determine how fluffy or flat your pancakes turn out. Test your batter’s texture by dipping your mixing spoon into the batter and lifting it above the bowl. If the batter runs off the spoon, try adding a little extra flour. Ideal batter should drip, rather than run, off the spoon and still have some lumps.
IS MILK OR WATER BETTER FOR MAKING PANCAKES?
Making pancakes with water is possible, but don’t expect the same results that you’d get with milk. Milk provides both a richer flavor and the fat necessary for batter to transform into moist and tender pancakes. You can also use dairy substitutes like soy, rice, coconut or almond milk, though they may have a mild impact on flavor and texture.
CAN I USE VEGAN INGREDIENTS TO MAKE PANCAKES?
You can create delicious vegan pancakes without animal product or gluten using gluten alternatives and a handful of vegan-friendly ingredient substitutes. Replace cow’s milk with a grain or nut variety like almond, coconut, soy or rice milk. These substitutes can often be used at a 1:1 ratio. Replace eggs with tapioca starch, flax seed or aquafaba, and exchange all-purpose flour with store-bought gluten-free flour.
CAN I MIX THE DRY INGREDIENTS TOGETHER AND STORE IT FOR LATER?
Make more pancakes when you’re ready by prepping dry ingredients and storing them in an airtight container for up to 3 months. With dry ingredients combined and ready, you can spend more time exploring homemade syrups, sauces and toppings to create a unique pancake recipe every time. Be sure to keep the mix sealed tight, and make note of which wet ingredients you’ll need to add once you’re ready to whip up batter for a new creation.
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