5 Tips for making the fluffiest pancakes

fluffy pancakes

Fluffy pancakes have a way of making any weekend seem special! Sometimes it can be difficult to get those perfect, melt in your mouth, fluffy pancakes (and instead you end up with flat, chewy pancakes).  Here are some helpful tips to make the fluffiest pancakes and make your pancake game even better!

By food contributor Brittany 
best pancakes
 

keep reading for the tips…

WE ARE BIG BREAKFAST EATERS AROUND HERE. 

And why wouldn’t we be. It’s the best time to give your body a jump start your metabolism, then you can focus on tackling the rest of the day. There are so many great options to choose from (how would you pick??).  Start with a similar batter to make delicious belgian waffles, or maybe our VERY best whole wheat pancakes (SO GOOD).

If you’re being extra fancy try homemade caramel syrup on top! Oh wait, what about pumpkin apple muffins (we’re huge fans of those here). But, hold up. Did you say hot chocolate french toast? Don’t even get me started on that amazing creation.

 

BUT LET’S GET BACK TO PANCAKES. 

They’re the best crowd pleaser of a breakfast out there. Everyone loves them from kids to adults and all the teenagers and tweeners in-between. A giant stack of fluffy pancakes is nothing to sneeze about. I used this pancake recipe and added vanilla for extra flavor.

 

best pancakes

 

SO, WHAT MAKES PANCAKES FLUFFY? 

The most important secret is in the WHIPPED EGG WHITES though: 

Rose Levy Beranbaum, the author of the Baking Bible, tell us why this is so important, “Adding the white at the end gives more support—this is a technique used in soufflés—adding a little of the white unwhipped at the end so that the soufflé doesn’t deflate as quickly…Whipping egg whites to soft or stiff peaks adds more air but also as the egg white cells enlarge, the membrane gets thinner and thinner and is more fragile.”

 

HOW TO MAKE PANCAKES FLUFFY?

Mmmm… the ideal pancake. Fluffy and airy with lots of room to soak up maple syrup and other yummy toppings. Nothing dense or flat will do here!

A few key tips are important here. Stick to these and you’ll be good to go.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR FLUFFY PANCAKES:

 

1. DON’T OVER MIX THE BATTER

Why do pancake recipes always tell you not to overmix the batter? Gluten in the flour is the answer! Too much mixing of batter means the gluten proteins will bond too tightly with other gluten protein. Too much bonding means tough pancakes with no room for air bubbles. 

Getting too heavy handed with that whisk will result in flat, rubbery pancakes. Repeat with me: NO BUENO. 

So, stop mixing when your batter has small lumps.

Although no one likes lumpy pancakes with bits of powder inside. Do your guests a favor and mix well, but DON’T OVERMIX. 

 
best pancakes
 

2. LET THE BATTER REST

Set the batter aside for 15-30 minutes. This allows the wet ingredients to soak into the flour for better texture.

 

You can also do this overnight and then not have to worry about getting up early in the morning. No one want to do that.

 
 
fluffy pancakes

3. SEPARATE AND BEAT EGG WHITES:

A bit of work, but will make your pancakes fluffy & soufflé-like!

Add the egg yolks to the wet ingredients and once it’s combined with the dry ingredients let it rest without the egg whites.

 

Right before cooking, fold in the egg white peaks into the batter, it’s like folding in clouds!

 

Don’t fully combine and leave little bits of egg whites showing, it might seem too thick pouring them onto the pan but that’s what makes the fluffiest pancakes! (You can use this technique for waffles too.)

 

 
fluffiest pancakes
 

4. WAIT TO FLIP UNTIL YOU SEE BUBBLES:

Wait until bubbles form in the center of the pancake to flip. It should look like below:

 

 
5 tips for the fluffiest pancakes
 

5. FLIP ONCE ONLY ONCE. 

Don’t you dare try to flip again. Save your acrobatic tricks for the trampoline. It’ll flatten (like a lame-o pancake).

 

 
pancake tips
 
 
Yield: 4 servings

The Fluffiest Pancakes

fluffiest pancakes

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 T white vinegar
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 t vanilla
  • 1 egg (divided)
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • cooking spray

Instructions

    1. Combine milk with vinegar in a medium bowl and set aside for 5 minutes.

    2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk butter into the milk/vinegar mixture.

    3. Separate your egg whites and beat until they form stiff peaks and set aside. Add the egg yolks to the wet ingredients and once it’s combined with the dry ingredients. Let it rest without the egg whites.

    4. Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until lumps are gone. DON'T over mix.

    5. Set the batter aside for 15-30 minutes. This allows the wet ingredients to soak into the flour for better texture. Right before cooking, fold in the egg white peaks into the batter, it’s like folding in clouds!

    6. Heat a large skillet over medium heat coat with cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto the skillet. Wait until bubbles form in the center of the pancake to flip.

Notes

Don't be tempted to flip a second time!

 
 

I’d love to hear any pancake tips you have!

 

MORE BREAKFAST RECIPES TO TRY:

Perfectly Scrambled Eggs

Apple Pumpkin Muffins

Perfect Whole Wheat Pancakes

Hot Chocolate French Toast

 

 

Comments

Hello! Can I know how many pancakes will this recipe make? Thank you! 🙂

Very fluffy and yum! I used slightly less sugar but they still tasted amazing. My family loved them

I have made pancakes for 52 years and I have used a similar recipe! I have also incorporated many other flavors into these light, fluffy and favorable pancakes! For those that found fault with recipe, “I tend to think you did not follow it well or didn’t like the extra steps to fluffy!

There has to be an easier way for fluffy pancakes. And by the way, ain’t nothing wrong with ‘flat’ pancakes as long as they’re tasty!!

I dont think whipping egg white then letting the batter sit overnight is what you meant to do together.mmone or the other?

I definitely needed these tips!! I love pancakes. Can I add blueberries?

Most definitely – But I would recommend making sure the blueberries aren’t too wet, and then toss them in a little bit of flour before adding them into the rest of the batter. I hope this helps you!

I add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda to my recipes that call for only baking powder. My pancakes are very light.

I add blueberries that have been frozen and let them slightly thaw on a paper towel. Add them to the pancake by dropping them onto it just after you have poured the batter. Adding them to the batter will destroy the fluffiness, so you have to add them to each pancake as it cooks. Fresh blueberries are even better but will bleed into the batter when being cooked, but still wonderful. I like to add a squeeze of fresh lemon to the batter as well, no more than a couple of teaspoons and then top the pancake with a dollop of sour cream and real maple syrup.

i love these tips! i’m totally going to try whipping my egg whites next time. thanks for this post 🙂 yum!

These look amazing. Pancakes are a crowd favorite in our home!

I substitute some of the milk for creme fraiche / yogurt BUT you can’t rest your batter for as long because the acid in the creme fraiche kicks the raising agents butt! Hence the reason why you get fluffier pancakes 😉

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