Fluffy American pancakes that are super easy to make! Perfect for lazy mornings, these light, airy pancakes are ideal for stacking high with all your favourite toppings. Whether you’re after a quick breakfast or a weekend treat, this recipe’s got you covered!
What is the Difference Between American and English Pancakes?
English pancakes, the type that we have on Shrove Tuesday and that my mum would absolutely serve you if you asked her for a pancake are flat, like crepes.
They are made from eggs, milk, and plain flour. The batter is like a Yorkshire pudding batter.
To me, English pancakes like this are puddings. They are great with jam or lemon and sugar, but I don’t think of them as a meal.
American Pancakes are small, light, sweeter and fluffy. They are much thicker, and I always think of them as being substantial and so perfect for breakfast. Their shape, size and texture mean that they soak up syrup beautifully, whereas syrup tends to sit on top of an English pancake.
American Pancakes mix has sugar and a raising agent in the form of self-raising flour or baking powder. The American pancake batter is still smooth and is fried in a pan very simply.
Are American Pancakes the Same as Scotch Pancakes?
While English Pancakes are the same as crepes, American Pancakes aren’t the same as Scotch Pancakes. The ingredient ratios are a little different.
Scotch pancakes are sweeter, and the texture is a little different. They are similar enough to be fairly interchangeable, though, at least in my opinion.
What do They Call Pancakes in America?
So, American Pancakes are called Pancakes in America.
But, in some parts of America, pancakes are also known as flapjacks. They can also be called hotcakes or griddlecakes, depending on where you are and who you ask.
Why I Love American-Style Pancakes
If I’m honest, I probably like American pancakes more than British pancakes. We have British pancakes for pudding on pancake day, but we have American pancakes fairly regularly. I love them because:
- They are perfect breakfast pancakes. Thick, filling and great with fruit. A proper treat that’s the perfect breakfast for birthdays, lazy Sundays and other special occasions.
- You can add anything from a simple drizzle of maple syrup to a full fruit salad.
- The flavour is amazing. The recipe is simple, but they always taste incredible.
- The kids adore American Style Pancakes, especially with Nutella.
- A light fluffy pancake recipe is perfect for breakfast or brunch with friends or family.
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Ingredients For Fluffy American Pancakes
When I make my American pancake mix, I use:
Cooking Oil – I use a spritzer bottle to spray the pan. This is the easiest way to get good coverage without using too much.
In my photos, it looks like a reduced-calorie cooking spray, but it’s not. I saved an old bottle and filled it with olive oil to spray (thrifty, I know!). I don’t recommend using any reduced-calorie type sprays, as they can damage pans.
Self-raising flour – I make my American pancakes with self-raising flour, but if you prefer, you can use plain or all-purpose flour with a teaspoon of baking powder.
Caster sugar
Eggs
Milk – I use semi-skimmed.
Some recipes add a pinch of salt, and you can, but I don’t.
You’ll Also Need
A small Pan for American pancakes is ideal. I use two of these!
That’s an affiliate link, which means I get a small commission if you buy one, but you should, they are a game changer!
Another option is something like this, which I’ve never tried but could be much faster! (Also an affiliate link) If you aren’t fussy about shape, any non stick frying pan will do.
Apart from that, I use digital scales, a large mixing bowl, a jug, and an electric hand whisk.
How to Make Perfect American Pancakes – Step-by-Step Instructions
Full, easy-to-follow instructions and quantities are available in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step One
Mix the flour and sugar (dry ingredients) in a bowl.
Step Two
Crack in the eggs.
Step Three
Whisk with an electric whisk until it resembles thick breadcrumbs. They’ll just be thick, sticky lumps, and that’s fine.
Step Four
Add the milk, whisking in a splash at a time, until it’s all incorporated. Adding a bit at a time helps you to avoid lumps.
Step Five
Whisk until the mixture is smooth. This shouldn’t take long after the last of the milk has been added.
Step Six
I use a silicone spatula to scrape the sides into the middle with the rest of the batter first and then leave it to stand for 10 minutes. This stops those bits from drying out and helps you to avoid waste.
Step Seven
Heat a little oil in a small frying pan until the pan is hot.
You don’t want too much oil, which is why a spray is better. If you do pour and end up with too much, carefully wipe with a piece of kitchen roll.
Step Eight
Reduce the heat. The pan needs to be hot before you add the first of the batter, but you can’t cook the pancakes too hot, they’ll burn.
Step Nine
Ladle a scoop of pancake batter into the pan and fry for 2-3 minutes until the top is bubbly and mostly set.
Step Ten
Flip carefully and fry the other side for 2 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
Tips for Perfect Fluffy Pancakes
How to Make Pancakes Fluffier
American Pancakes with Self Raising Flour should be pretty fluffy. My top tips for making sure your pancakes are light and fluffy are:
- Don’t overmix. There shouldn’t be big lumps of flour, but you don’t need to mix for ages, either. A few minutes with an electric whisk will do.
- Let the pancake batter rest. Just leave it for 10 minutes before using it. You could even leave it in the fridge overnight.
- Don’t flip until the top is bubbly.
- Only flip once, so you don’t flatten your pancakes.
- I use individual pans to make my pancakes. I find it’s easier, and they cook more evenly. They are also great for frying eggs.
Why is the First Pancake Always Bad?
The main reason the first pancake is always bad is that we haven’t got our times and temperatures quite right.
Make sure you warm your pan before adding the batter and don’t use too much oil.
It’ll probably still take you a few to get them perfect, but the first one should be at least edible!
What Do You Put on American Pancakes?
One of the best things about Easy American Pancakes is that there’s so much that you can do with them!
Personally, I love fruit and syrup, especially bananas and strawberries piled on a stack of pancakes. I typically use golden syrup because that’s what we have in. Maple syrup is fantastic, too.
My daughter likes blueberries, but my son prefers Nutella. A dollop of fresh whipped cream can be fun, especially with other toppings too.
Bacon is another fantastic option! I like mine crispy, with a good drizzle of syrup. You might want to add some scrambled or fried eggs, too.
Variations
Pancakes are simple. This means that there’s plenty that you can experiment with and change if you want to, but you certainly don’t need to.
Use Buttermilk
Pancake mixture is absolutely fine with semi-skimmed milk or whole milk if that’s what you usually buy (I don’t recommend skimmed).
However, if you want a richer, more velvety mix, you can also use buttermilk. Try a like-for-like switch first, and adjust next time if you need to.
Use Melted Butter
Some recipes for pancakes include melted butter as well as milk. This adds a bit of richness, but I don’t bother.
Try reducing the milk slightly and adding a few tablespoons of melted butter if you want to have a go.
Add Vanilla
A teaspoon of vanilla extract with the milk adds a sweet flavour. You could also experiment with adding flavoured coffee syrups.
I prefer to keep my pancakes plain and add flour with the toppings.
Add Blueberries
Fresh berries are a great addition to pancakes. Sprinkle in some blueberries as they cook, or fold them through the mixture.
You could also try raspberries.
Add Chocolate Chips
Another option is adding chocolate chips, as you would blueberries.
Add Cinnamon
A pinch of cinnamon in the batter with the flour adds a lovely warmth. I don’t recommend any more than a teaspoon. Add some sliced apples to the top for an autumnal treat.
Leftovers
Leftover pancakes can be kept for a few days and reheated quickly in the microwave, toaster or oven. Be careful, they won’t need long.
Storage
Separate leftover pancakes so they cool quickly before wrapping or covering them and placing them in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Can You Freeze American Pancakes?
This Recipe for American Pancakes is perfect for freezing!
Leave your pancakes to cool. Then, either wrap them individually or place some baking paper in between them to stop them from sticking together.
Then, freeze portions in a sealed freezer bag.
Get them out, and either thaw in the microwave or on the side until you are ready for them. You can heat them in the oven or toaster for a few minutes.
FAQ
No, not really. But, as with everything else, eaten in moderation or as an occasional treat, they are fabulous.
Only if you eat too many, there’s no good or bad food, just good and bad habits.
Yes.
No, but they are similar.
Other Recipes
If you like this American pancakes recipe, you might also want to try:
Recipe Card
Fluffy American Pancakes
Ingredients
- Cooking Oil
- 200 g Self-raising flour
- 50 g Caster sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 250 ml Milk
Instructions
- Mix the flour and sugar in a bowl.
- Crack in the eggs.
- Whisk with an electric whisk until it resembles thick breadcrumbs.
- Add the milk, whisking in a splash at a time, until it’s all incorporated.
- Whisk until the mixture is smooth.
- Leave to stand for 10 minutes.
- Heat a little oil in a small frying pan over medium heat until the pan is hot.
- Reduce the heat.
- Ladle a scoop of pancake batter into the pan and fry for 2-3 minutes until the top is bubbly and mostly set.
- Flip carefully and fry the other side for 2 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
Notes
Any nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate. The information is provided using an online calculator and is specific to my ingredients. Please make your own calculations if you want precise information.
