Easy, Fluffy Pancakes

When it’s Saturday morning, your fridge is practically empty, your stomach is rumbling, and you’re still too bleary-eyed to shuffle to the store, there’s really only one thing to do: Make this easy pancake recipe. Requiring nothing more than regular old milk and the usual pantry suspects, these delicious pancakes are dangerously simple, meaning you can kiss that store-bought pancake mix going bad on the shelf goodbye.

A few important tips for perfect pancakes. First: No, 4 tablespoons of baking powder is not a typo. Baking powder is a much weaker leavener than baking soda, so you need significantly more of it for some lift. (Baking soda has left the chat. Without an acidic ingredient like buttermilk in the mix, it won’t do you any good.) Next, separating the eggs but not whipping the whites before reincorporating them into the pancake batter at the end may seem strange, but this virtually effortless move makes taller, fluffier pancakes and is worth breaking out an extra bowl for. (Why? It’s science. Something about cells, membranes, and structure.) Your last tip for TV-ad-style golden brown homemade pancakes? Use a dry—yes, that means ungreased—nonstick griddle or frying pan. That way there’s no fat to bead or pool, creating hot spots that inevitably ruin that even, uniform glow. 

While we think these fluffy pancakes are delightful as is, topped with a little melted butter and maple syrup, we wouldn’t be opposed to a sprinkle of brown sugar or a slather of peanut butter if that’s your thing.

For more variations, try these vegan banana pancakes (which are also gluten-free thanks to ground oats, and packed with chocolate chips), hearty multigrain pancakes made with whole wheat flour, classic buttermilk pancakes, or ricotta pancakes served with a blueberry compote. Or head this way for more brunch and breakfast recipes, including our favorite waffles.