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Recipe

The secret to impossibly fluffy diner-style pancakes is leaving the batter lumpy and letting it rest before it hits the griddle.

Classic Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

North America
4 servings (makes 8 pancakes)25 minutes
Sources: Cross-checked against Serious Eats and King Arthur Baking
4 servings
You’ll need
11 items · tap to check off
Make it step by step
11 steps · 19 min of timed cooking
  1. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large mixing bowl until fully combined.
  2. Whisk buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract together in a separate medium bowl until smooth.
  3. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and fold gently with a spatula just until flour streaks disappear; leave small lumps.
  4. Let the batter rest undisturbed at room temperature for 10 minutes so the leaveners can activate.⏱ 10 min
  5. Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes until hot.⏱ 4 min
  6. Brush the pan lightly with a thin film of neutral oil.
  7. Pour 1/3 cup of batter per pancake onto the pan, leaving at least 2 inches of space between each.
  8. Cook over medium-low heat for 2 to 3 minutes until bubbles pop on top and the edges look matte.⏱ 3 min
  9. Flip gently with a wide spatula and cook the second side for 1 to 2 minutes until golden brown.⏱ 2 min
  10. Transfer to a warm plate and repeat with the remaining batter, brushing the pan lightly with oil between batches.
  11. Serve immediately with a pat of butter and warm maple syrup.
💡
Chef’s tip · Never whisk the batter completely smooth; overmixing develops gluten and knocks out trapped air, turning tender pancakes flat and rubbery.
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