Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes
Light, pillowy buttermilk pancakes — quick batter, 20-minute rest and a hot hob for perfectly golden stacks.
These are the classic American-style buttermilk pancakes: cloud-like, slightly tangy and gloriously moreish. They’re brilliant for a weekend breakfast or a cheeky pancake brunch.
The secret is the buttermilk and a short 20-minute rest — that one small pause gives you better rise and a softer crumb. They’re quick to mix and forgiving to cook once you master the heat of the hob.
Ingredients
- 300 g plain flour
- 30 g caster sugar
- 10 ml baking powder
- 5 ml bicarbonate of soda
- 5 ml fine salt
- 480 ml buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 60 g unsalted butter — melted
- 5 ml vanilla extract
- 15 ml vegetable oil — for frying, plus extra as needed
Equipment
- non-stick frying pan
- measuring jug or 60 ml ladle
- whisk
- spatula
- sieve
Instructions
Sift the plain flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into a large mixing bowl. Add the caster sugar and fine salt, then whisk together so the leavening is evenly distributed.
In a separate jug, whisk the buttermilk with the large eggs, melted unsalted butter and vanilla extract until smooth.
Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet mixture. Gently fold together with a spatula until just combined — a few small lumps are fine. Do not overmix or the pancakes will be tough.
Leave the batter to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes. This hydrates the flour and gives air bubbles time to form for lighter pancakes.
Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium hob setting. Lightly brush with vegetable oil. For each pancake, pour about 60 ml of batter (use a ladle or 60 ml measure). Cook the first side for 2–3 minutes until bubbles appear across the surface and the edges look set, then flip and cook the second side for 45–90 seconds until golden. Adjust the heat if they’re browning too quickly.
As you cook, keep finished pancakes warm on a baking tray in a low oven set to 100°C fan/120°C conventional while you cook the rest (about 5–10 minutes depending on batch size).
Serve stacked with butter, maple syrup and fresh berries or your favourite toppings.
Tips
- Measure batter per pancake (about 60 ml) so they cook evenly and stack neatly.
- If you don’t have buttermilk, make a quick substitute (see substitutions) but expect a small change in tang and texture.
- Control the heat: medium on most hobs — adjust by eye. Test one pancake first and tweak temperature before cooking the whole batch.
- Keep pancakes single-layered on a tray in a low oven (100°C fan/120°C conventional) to stay warm without steaming.
- Reheat leftovers in a low oven or in a lightly oiled frying pan to retain texture; avoid the microwave which makes them rubbery.
Substitutions
buttermilk → milk (240 ml) + lemon juice or white wine vinegar (1 tbsp). Stir and leave 5 minutes before using; use same total volume
Stays closeplain flour → gluten-free plain flour blend, 1:1 by weight
Noticeably differentunsalted butter → melted vegetable oil, same weight (60 g) — use neutral oil to keep flavour clean
Stays closecaster sugar → golden caster sugar, same quantity
Stays close
Nutrition
Per serving · estimated
- 540
- Calories
- 15 g
- Protein
- 70 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Fibre
- 10 g
- Sugar
- 400 mg
- Sodium
FAQ
Can I make the batter the night before?
You can make batter and refrigerate overnight, but the baking powder will lose some lift so expect slightly flatter pancakes. Bring to room temperature and give a gentle stir before frying.
How do I stop pancakes from burning?
Lower the hob heat and wait 30–60 seconds for the pan to cool if the first batch browns too quickly. Use vegetable oil and a small knob of butter for flavour without excessive burning.
Can I freeze cooked pancakes?
Yes — cool completely, separate with baking paper, freeze in a sealed bag. Reheat from frozen in a low oven or a toaster for best texture.
Why are my pancakes dense?
Most likely overmixing the batter or using old/bad baking powder. Mix until just combined and ensure your raising agents are fresh.
Community Photos
No photos yet
Be the first to share your creation!