Just when you think you’ve tried the best pancakes, wait until you cook this American Pancakes recipe.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and pancakes are one of the classic meals that just never get old. It’s the kind of food that’s perfect for all ages!
You can serve almost any side dish, smoothie, or drink with this dish. With this recipe, you will surely start the day right and with a smile.

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In this recipe, I’ll show you how to make the fluffiest and lightest pancakes in simple steps and ingredients.
How to Make Pancakes
Get ready to make a breakfast meal that your children and family love in the morning. It’s a pancake recipe like no other!
Ingredients
These are all you need to cook this American Pancakes recipe:
Self-rising flour
The main ingredient for making fluffy pancakes is self-rising flour. It can leaven cakes, cupcakes, and other pastry recipes. You can make self-rising flour from scratch if you can’t find it at your local grocery store!
I always have this in stock because I use it for Puff Puff and Vanilla Cake for tasteful weekend meals.
Baking powder
The recipe also suggests the use of baking powder as an additional leavening agent. It also helps with making a smoother texture.
You can also use baking powder for Coconut Cake, Nigerian Buns, and No-Oven Bread.
Eggs
Meanwhile, you need eggs because they help with the structure and form of the cupcake. Egg yolks can also add flavor, color, and texture.
Make a no-egg pancake recipe by using the best egg substitutes for your recipe.
Milk
Milk adds flavor and thickness. Using milk can also make the pancake sponge softer and yummier. I suggest using plant-based milk as a healthier option too.
Seasoning
Add sugar to make the pancake sweeter, softer, and bouncier. It also helps with the golden brown finish you want after each flip. Vanilla extract is a simple yet powerful ingredient that gives it a buttery-rich flavor.

Cooking oil
Lastly, use oil to keep them moist while they are cooking in the pan. It also prevents the pancakes from sticking to the pan!
These are simple kitchen ingredients, but when combined together, I can guarantee that this will be an all-time favorite breakfast meal in your home!
Directions
How simple can this American Pancakes recipe be?
- Mix the self-rising flour, sugar, and baking powder in a bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk two eggs with the milk and vanilla extract.
- Then, grease the pan with oil.
- Scoop out the batter with a ladle.
- Cook the pancakes in batches over medium fire until fluffy and golden brown.
- Flip them to the other side using a turner.
- Once both sides are cooked, remove them from the heat and serve!

Tips
How to Make Better Pancakes
- Make sure to add milk, eggs, and your leavening agents.
- You can add melted butter to make it fluffier or to contribute a buttery flavor.
- Ensure that the batter is thick enough to support the pancake’s form and texture.
- Check the freshness of your ingredients because this greatly affects the outcome of the pancakes.
- Wipe the pan clean after each batch to prevent residue from sticking to the other batches.
By following these effortless tips, you can make restaurant-quality pancakes in no time!
How to Make Self-Rising Flour
To make your homemade self-rising flour, combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoons of baking soda, and ¼ teaspoon salt! By adding self-rising flour, the batter will be richer and thicker, and the pancakes will be fluffier.

How to Avoid Dry Pancakes
- Use an adequate amount of flour, baking powder, baking soda, and eggs.
- Also, do not use too much baking soda or baking powder to prevent the pancakes from becoming dense and flat.
- Make sure that the number your eggs you use is proportionate to the batter you need.
American Pancake Recipe Variations
If you love vegan recipes, then use organic sugar, egg substitutes, apple cider vinegar, and non-dairy milk as substitutes for ordinary sugar and milk.
Meanwhile, for gluten-free meals and pancakes, use gluten-free egg replacers, gluten-free all-purpose flour, gluten-free baking powder, and dairy-free milk!
On the other hand, baby-friendly fluffy variants can also be cooked using only bananas, eggs, and flour! Alternatively, you can make them in chocolate or banana oat flavor.
In case you don’t have self-rising flour, you can simply substitute it with all-purpose flour. Aside from sugar, you can also use other sweeteners like melted butter, Splenda, or maple syrup.
To replace milk, use water or other kinds of non-dairy milk instead. I suggest using almond milk for a creamy and nutty quality. You can also replace vanilla extract with honey or maple syrup.

Recommended Tools
- Frying pan: This is handy for cooking your fluffy pancakes perfectly!
- Glass bowl: Use bowls to mix the wet and dry ingredients.
- Ladle: Scoop out the batter using a ladle.
- Silicone pastry brush: Grease the pan with oil using a brush.
- Silicone spatula: Use this tool to mix your ingredients together.
- Whisk: Mix the batter using a whisk.
- Turner: Use this to flip the pancake with ease and control.
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How to Serve Pancakes
The best thing about this recipe is that you can eat them however you like. You can have it with whipped cream, butter, maple syrup, or chocolate syrup on top for a classic American breakfast.
Here are some of the best recipes to serve with pancakes:
- Iced Coffee
- Strawberry Banana Milkshake
- Granola Bars
- Fried Eggs
- Fruit Salad
- French Toast
- Oats Breakfast Smoothie
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Frozen Yogurt
You can spread different fillings, such as peanut butter, cashew butter, or strawberry jam. It can be served with ice cream for people with a sweet tooth.
Storage Tips
- At room temperature: Don’t let the pancakes sit at room temperature for longer than two hours.

Frequently Asked Questions
How to make a simple pancake?
The simplest pancake recipe is made of flour, milk, eggs, sweeteners, and oil. Just mix the batter, then cook the pancakes in the frying pan until fluffy and light.
Why are they called pancakes?
They are called pancakes because they are flat cake-like food cooked in a frying pan! These have a similar texture to cakes, especially when you add filling or toppings.
What is a pancake, and why?
A pancake is a popular breakfast meal that you can pair with lots of side dishes and drinks. It is usually topped with chocolate syrup, fruits, honey, maple syrup, and more.
Since it has a similar quality to cakes and is cooked in a frying pan, it is called a pancake!
What is the secret to making the best pancakes?
There are many secrets to making the best pancakes. For instance, Williams Sonoma suggests using fresh ingredients to make this dish. Do not overmix the batter for the right texture.
Flip the pancakes at the perfect time to prevent them from sticking to the pan. Wait until you see the crust becoming golden brown.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31


American Pancakes
Equipment
Ingredients
Wet ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 150 ml milk (⅓ + ¼ cup = 150ml)
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- cooking oil
Dry ingredients
- 1¼ cups self-rising flour
- 3 tbsp sugar (adjust as needed)
- 1 tsp baking powder
Instructions
- Mix the self-rising flour, sugar, and baking powder in a bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk two eggs with the milk and vanilla extract.
- Then, grease the pan with oil.
- Scoop out the batter with a ladle.
- Cook the pancakes in batches over medium fire until fluffy and golden brown.
- Flip them to the other side using a turner.
- Once both sides are cooked, remove them from the heat and serve!
Video
Notes
- Remember not to overmix your batter for an airy and soft pancake.
- It’s best to mix your dry and wet ingredients separately for the best results.
- Keep the pancakes in the fridge or freezer for storage.