Best Buttermilk Pancakes
Posted Aug 25, 2023, Updated Feb 12, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These are the best buttermilk pancakes! This fluffy buttermilk pancake recipe is easy to make from scratch with simple ingredients.
We are very passionate about pancakes in our house. I have published many pancake recipes for you (like Greek yogurt pancakes, banana pancakes, cottage cheese pancakes, etc.), but these buttermilk pancakes are some of our favorites.
This buttermilk pancake recipe is easy to make with simple ingredients. They are infused with vanilla and cinnamon and so delicious you won’t be able to eat just one!
I will show you how to make buttermilk pancakes that are thick and fluffy and so delicious you will never reach for boxed pancake mixes again.
They also freeze well and are a breeze to reheat in the toaster for an easy breakfast on busy mornings.
Buttermilk Pancakes: Ingredients & Substitutions
- All-purpose flour. You can substitute up to ½ cup of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat, white whole wheat, or whole wheat pastry flour (or check out this whole wheat pancakes recipe).
- Salted butter. Unsalted butter, ghee or coconut oil are all good substitutes for salted butter.
- Granulated sugar. white sugar, organic cane sugar, coconut sugar, and even light brown sugar can all be used in this recipe.
- Buttermilk. Use regular or low-fat buttermilk.
- Butter for cooking. Cooking pancakes in butter makes them extra delicious. You could use cooking spray or another oil if desired, but nothing beats a buttermilk pancake cooked in butter.
How to Make Buttermilk Pancakes
Let’s walk through how to make buttermilk pancakes from scratch step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.
Begin by preheating an electric griddle to 350 degrees F. If you don’t have an electric griddle, heat a nonstick fry pan or cast iron skillet (preferred) over medium heat on the stovetop.
Make the pancake batter
Then, in a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt and cinnamon, set aside.
Next, whisk together melted butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl.
Then add the eggs, buttermilk and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
Next, pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until the batter is smooth.
Cook the buttermilk pancakes
When the batter is finished and it’s time to cook the buttermilk pancakes, begin by melting ½ tablespoon of butter onto the preheated griddle and spread it out with a spatula to ensure that it is evenly distributed over the surface.
Then, pour the batter in ¼ cup portions onto the pre-heated, buttered griddle.
Cook on the first side for about 2-3 minutes or until the middle begins to bubble and the sides look set.
Then flip and cook for 1-2 more minutes until the second side is browned and the buttermilk pancakes puff slightly.
Repeat until all the batter has been used, melting fresh butter onto the griddle with each new batch of pancakes.
To Keep Warm
If you’d prefer to serve all the buttermilk pancakes at the same time nice and warm, preheat your oven to 200 degrees F.
As the pancakes come off the griddle, transfer them to a large baking sheet and put them in the oven to stay warm.
Serve
There are so many ways to enjoy these fluffy buttermilk pancakes. You can keep it simple with salted butter and pure maple syrup.
Or you can serve them with a slather of cinnamon honey butter, a dollop of whipped cream, or even a spread of homemade peanut butter (with maple syrup -yum).
I suggest serving them alongside other delicious breakfast recipes like:
- Egg casserole
- Frittata
- The best quiche recipe.
- My kids think it’s special when I serve them with homemade hot chocolate on chilly winter mornings.
How to Store Buttermilk Pancakes
Store any leftover buttermilk pancakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Also, try this recipe for homemade pancake mix to prepare the ingredients in advance!
Freeze
This buttermilk pancake recipe freezes really well. To freeze, put leftover pancakes in a single layer on a baking sheet to flash-freeze.
Once they’re frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or ziplock bag. Reheat in the microwave or toaster and you have an easy, delicious breakfast ready in seconds.
Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe FAQs
When buttermilk combines with the leavening agents, it creates irresistibly fluffy pancakes that are second to none in taste and texture. I highly recommend using buttermilk in pancakes.
Yes, I actually double it all the time since I like having leftovers to eat the next morning for breakfast. Here are the measurements for double the recipe (which would make 28 pancakes)
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
4 TBS butter, melted
½ cup granulated sugar
4 eggs, lightly beaten.
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 cups buttermilk
In this recipe the leavening agents baking powder and baking soda, along with the buttermilk and eggs, make the buttermilk pancakes light and fluffy.
The batter should pour easily but not be runny or watery.
If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!
Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter (melted)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs (lightly beaten)
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons butter for cooking
Instructions
- Preheat an electric griddle to 350 degrees F or heat a nonstick fry pan over medium heat.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt and cinnamon, set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and granulated sugar until combined.
- Add eggs, buttermilk and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
- Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir/whisk until the batter is smooth.
- Melt ½ TBS butter onto the preheated griddle and spread it out with a spatula to ensure it’s evenly distributed over the surface.
- Pour batter in ¼ cup portions onto the pre-heated, buttered griddle.
- Cook on the first side for about 2-3 minutes or until the middle begins to bubble and the sides look set.
- Flip and cook for 1-2 more minutes until the second side is browned and the pancakes puff slightly.
- Repeat until all the batter has been used, melting fresh butter onto the griddle with each new batch of pancakes.
- Serve warm with maple syrup.
Video
Notes
- All-purpose flour. You can substitute up to ½ cup of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat, white whole wheat, or whole wheat pastry flour (or check out this whole wheat pancakes recipe).
- Salted butter. Unsalted butter, ghee or coconut oil are all good substitutes for salted butter.
- Granulated sugar. white sugar, organic cane sugar, coconut sugar, and even light brown sugar can all be used in this recipe.
- Buttermilk. Use regular or low-fat buttermilk.
- Butter for cooking. Cooking pancakes in butter makes them extra delicious. You could use cooking spray or another oil if desired, but nothing beats a buttermilk pancake cooked in butter.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These were easy to make and tasted great. Not as thick and fluffy as I’d like so I need to figure out how to achieve that.