Old-Fashioned Pancakes

There's no more a universally crowd-pleasing breakfast staple than good old-fashioned pancakes: fluffy, buttery, golden brown, and classically sweet. And these tried-and-true basics are so easy to make—using only the ingredients you probably already have in your pantry right now.

Serve this pancake recipe with eggs, bacon, and sausage. Or just serve all on their own, topped with butter and syrup (or even fresh berries and vanilla whipped cream, to get fancy for company). Pair with a glass of cold orange juice or a steaming cup of coffee. Perfection! And if you have any leftovers, use them for a pancake casserole the next day. (But we wouldn’t be surprised if these all disappear in a hurry.)

Learn how to make old-fashioned pancakes, and you'll be flipping out plate after plate in no time.

Old-Fashioned Pancakes Ingredients

To make old-fashioned pancakes, you will need:

• All-purpose flour: These are the base of this pancakes recipe, providing the perfect fluffy, light, but toothsome texture.
• Granulated sugar: For sweetness.
• Baking powder and baking soda: These leavening agents help the pancakes puff slightly when on the heat of the griddle or skillet.
• Kosher salt: A hint of salt balances the sweetness of the sugar and toppings.
• Cinnamon: This is optional ultimately, but we like the slight hint of warm and toasty flavor it adds to the pancake batter.
• Whole milk: For moisture in the batter.
• Unsalted butter: Adds richness to the pancakes; extra is used to cook the pancakes on the skillet. If you want, you can use vegetable oil in the pancake batter, but we really recommend you use butter on the skillet for cooking.
• Vanilla extract: Elevates all the flavors in the pancakes.
• Eggs: Provides the bounce and bring the whole batter together into the perfect light and fluffy consistency.

For serving, you’ll need salted butter and maple syrup—or whatever you prefer for the top of your pancakes. Creativity is welcome.

How To Make Pancakes From Scratch

The full recipe for these old-fashioned pancakes is below, but here's a brief recap:

• Combine ingredients: Whisk together dry ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk together wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Then, stir the milk mixture into the flour mixture to combine.
• Let sit: Give the pancake batter a few minutes to sit until slightly thickened. This helps give the pancakes their final fluffy texture.
• Cook pancakes: Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low, and coat with unsalted butter (or vegetable oil). Scoop a quarter cup per pancake at a time into the skillet, and cook until bubbles begin to form on the surface. Then, flip and cook until golden brown. Serve right away with salted butter and maple syrup.

Secrets to the Best Pancakes

While this recipe is fairly easy and pancakes are forgiving of mistakes, these tips will make you a pancake pro in no time:

• Use room temp ingredients for the best results: When making these old-fashioned pancakes, make sure milk and eggs are at room temperature to keep the butter from hardening. Or, if you prefer, avoid encountering this issue at all by swapping vegetable oil for butter. (You may miss the butter flavor this way, but you still get fluffy golden brown pancakes.) 
• Heat up the skillet or griddle: Make sure you start with a hot, pre-greased surface before pouring in any batter. This way, the pancakes get a great browning and cook quickly.
• Mind your skillet: The key to a golden-brown pancake that won't burn: a medium-low heat and wiping the skillet between batches. Note that if you forgo the oil between batches, the pancake surface results change to a more even browning, whereas when you start out each batch with oil, you get more of a hot cake sear effect.

Why Are Restaurant Pancakes So Fluffy?

They let the batter rest and get extra bubbly. You can get those same restaurant-quality fluffy results when making these old-fashioned pancakes at home.

After preparing the batter, let it sit for 30 minutes. This helps develop the flavor—you’ll see it start to bubble on its own—and get a nice fluffy rise on the pancakes. And make sure not to over-stir the batter before cooking, as doing so can lead to a tougher consistency when the goal is light and fluffy.

Pancake Recipe Variations

Once you know how to make the classic pancakes, try one of these fun variations:

• Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Casserole Recipe
• Pancake Bake with Cinnamon Streusel Recipe
• Bacon Pancakes
• Pancake Casserole

Additional reporting by Alesandra Dubin.