Fluffy Pancakes (Soft, Thick & Homemade)

Name: Fluffy Pancakes (Soft, Thick & Homemade)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled); 2 tbsp baking powder (fresh for best lift); 2 tbsp granulated sugar; 1 tsp salt; 1 3/4 cups milk (whole milk preferred for richer texture); 2 large eggs (room temperature if possible); 4 tbsp butter (melted and slightly cooled (or use neutral oil)); 2 tsp vanilla extract (optional but recommended); maple syrup; butter; berries (strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries)

If your idea of the perfect breakfast is a warm stack of fluffy pancakes that feel cloud-soft inside and golden on the outside, this is the recipe to keep. These pancakes are made from scratch with simple pantry ingredients, and the method is designed to give you the height and tenderness you want—without complicated steps.

This post also includes easy variations (buttermilk, banana, pumpkin, and a Japanese-inspired fluffy style), plus tips to make your pancakes look pancakes aesthetic-level pretty for cozy brunches and even a pancakes and pajamas party. If you’re building out a full breakfast spread, you can also explore more ideas in our apple breakfast recipes collection.

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What Makes Pancakes Fluffy?

Fluffy pancakes come down to a few simple things:

Fresh leavening (baking powder) to create lift
Not overmixing the batter (overmixing makes pancakes tough)
Resting the batter briefly so it thickens and bubbles settle
Medium-low heat so the center cooks through without flattening

Think of it like this: you want a batter that’s thick enough to hold air, mixed gently enough to stay tender, and cooked slowly enough to rise.

Why You’ll Love These Fluffy Pancakes

Thick, soft centers with a golden, lightly crisp edge
Easy pancakes from scratch with everyday ingredients
Reliable method—no guessing with heat or batter texture
Great for weekends, meal prep, and cozy brunch vibes
Easy to customize into buttermilk pancakes, banana pancakes, and more

Ingredients You Need

Ingredients for fluffy pancakes from scratch including flour, eggs, milk, baking powder, butter, and vanilla.

Here’s what you’ll need for classic fluffy pancakes:

All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Sugar (just enough for balance)
Salt
Milk
Eggs
Melted butter (or neutral oil)
Vanilla extract (optional but recommended)

Optional add-ins (choose your vibe)

Chocolate chips
Blueberries
Cinnamon (for warm spice flavor—especially good if you love cozy bakes like these cinnamon recipes)
Lemon zest

How to Make Fluffy Pancakes (Step-by-Step)

Step-by-step collage showing how to make fluffy pancakes from scratch, including mixing dry ingredients, whisking wet ingredients, folding batter, and cooking pancakes until bubbles form.

1) Mix the dry ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt until evenly combined.

2) Mix the wet ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth.

3) Combine gently (the key to fluffy pancakes)

Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir just until combined.

What the batter should look like: thick and slightly lumpy.
If it’s completely smooth, it’s usually overmixed.

4) Rest the batter

Let the batter rest 5–10 minutes. This helps:

hydrate the flour
thicken the batter
improve lift and tenderness

5) Cook on medium-low heat

Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low and lightly grease it.

Scoop batter onto the pan (about ¼ cup per pancake). Cook until:

bubbles form on top
edges look set
the underside is golden

Flip once, then cook the second side until golden and springy.

6) Keep warm (for perfect stacks)

If you’re making a big batch, keep pancakes warm on a sheet pan in a low oven while you finish the rest.

Pancake Variations

These variations keep the same fluffy texture while matching what people commonly search for.

Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

Want that classic diner tang? Swap milk for buttermilk.
Tip: buttermilk batter is thicker—don’t thin it too much. Thick batter = fluffy pancakes.

Banana Pancakes

Mash 1 ripe banana and whisk it into the wet ingredients.
You’ll get a naturally sweet, cozy flavor that’s great with cinnamon and maple syrup. If you want to turn it into a weekend treat, this pairs perfectly with dessert-style toppings inspired by our banana split.

Pumpkin Pancakes

Whisk pumpkin puree and a pinch of warm spices (like cinnamon) into the wet ingredients.
This is a seasonal favorite, but it’s also a great way to make breakfast feel extra cozy.

Japanese Pancakes (Inspired, Easy Version)

“Japanese pancakes” can mean very tall soufflé-style pancakes, which are more advanced and usually need special technique.
For a simpler at-home version that still feels extra fluffy:

use thicker batter
cook on low heat with a lid
keep pancakes smaller so they rise evenly

You’ll get a soft, tall pancake vibe—without the full soufflé process.

Pancakes for One (Small Batch)

If you want pancakes for one, make a small batch by cutting the ingredients in half.
Tip: cook smaller pancakes so they rise better and cook evenly.

Serving Ideas (Aesthetic + Cozy Brunch)

If you want your pancakes to look like Pinterest:

Stack 3–5 pancakes neatly with aligned edges
Add a pat of butter right on top and drizzle warm syrup slowly
Sprinkle powdered sugar lightly for a clean “pancakes aesthetic” finish
Add berries on the side for color contrast

Cozy brunch serving idea featuring a stack of fluffy pancakes with maple syrup, butter, berries, and coffee on the table.

Pajamas brunch idea

For a pancakes and pajamas party, set up a simple pancake bar:

syrup + honey
berries + banana slices
whipped cream
chocolate chips
cinnamon sugar

And if you want something sweet on the side that still feels breakfast-friendly, serve a small plate of lemon sugar cookies for a bright, buttery bite between pancake stacks.

Storage & Reheating

Fridge: store pancakes in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days
Freezer: freeze in a single layer, then store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months

Reheat tips

Toaster: best for bringing back the edges
Microwave: quick, but keep time short to avoid rubbery texture
Oven: great for reheating a bigger batch evenly

For safe storage times and refrigeration guidelines, refer to the official recommendations from FoodSafety.gov.

FAQs

Why aren’t my pancakes fluffy?

Most often it’s one of these:
baking powder is old
batter was overmixed
heat was too high (outside browns before inside sets)
batter was too thin

How do I make pancakes from scratch without overmixing?

Mix wet and dry separately, then stir together gently and stop as soon as you don’t see dry flour. Lumps are good.

Can I make fluffy pancakes without buttermilk?

Yes. The classic version uses regular milk. Buttermilk is a flavor variation, not required for fluffiness.

What’s the best heat for pancakes?

Medium-low is usually best. If the outside browns too fast, lower the heat and give the pan time to stabilize.

Can I prep pancake batter ahead of time?

It’s best fresh. If you need to prep, mix the dry ingredients ahead and mix wet ingredients separately, then combine right before cooking.

Conclusion

These fluffy pancakes are everything a great breakfast should be: soft, thick, golden, and easy to make from scratch. Use the classic method first, then try the variations once you want to switch it up—banana for sweetness, pumpkin for cozy spice, or a thicker low-heat method for a Japanese-inspired fluffy stack.