These are the absolute BEST buttermilk pancakes made from scratch! Perfectly soft, fluffy with golden crisp edges. Taste amazing topped with butter, syrup and fresh berries!
Need more homemade pancakes? Try my silver dollar pancakes or chocolate chip pancakes.
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The Best Buttermilk Pancake Recipe
These are seriously the best homemade buttermilk pancakes! If we’re not making these on the weekend, then we’re probably making Belgian waffles, easy French toast, crepes or omelettes. You just can’t beat a good breakfast!
The nice thing about them is it’s easy to double the recipe and then freeze half for those mornings you don’t feel like cooking. Alternate them with this oatmeal pancakes recipe or banana pancakes recipe and you have breakfast covered for the week.
We love to serve these topped with homemade buttermilk syrup and fresh berries. They also are great on a pancake charcuterie board and for a large brunch I serve them along with my biscuit and gravy recipe. So delicious!
What Does Buttermilk Do For Pancakes?
Buttermilk is definitely the secret to fluffy pancakes! The acidity in buttermilk helps to tenderize the pancakes, making them super soft and moist. Plus it helps give them height too, so each bite is perfectly light and airy. They are fluffy like a sourdough pancake, moist and delicious.
Homemade buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, check out how to make buttermilk. It couldn’t be easier…all you need to do is add a tablespoon of vinegar to the milk and let it sit for 10 minutes. Use in this recipe or my buttermilk waffles!
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with measurements below.
- Butter: I use unsalted to be able to control the amount of salt in these buttermilk pancakes.
- Flour: I use all-purpose. Learn how to measure flour without a scale for amazing results every time.
- Sugar: Just a little sweetness makes these taste great with or without maple syrup.
- Leavening agents: I use both baking powder and baking soda to make these extra fluffy.
- Salt: This helps balance and enhance all of the flavors.
- Buttermilk: The real star of the show that adds a little tang, as well as interacts with the leavening agents to make super airy and light pancakes..
- Eggs: The necessary binder that brings it all together.
- Vanilla extract: I love to add a little for a little boost of flavor.
Favorite Buttermilk Pancake Toppings
- Melted butter
- Fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries)
- Caramelized bananas
- Buttermilk syrup
- Homemade maple syrup
- Cinnamon pancake syrup
- Strawberry sauce or blueberry sauce
- Homemade whipped cream
- Nutella
- Nut butter
- Chocolate chips
How to Make Buttermilk Pancakes
It takes less than 20 minutes to make a breakfast the whole family will love.
- Heat griddle or skillet. Preheat a griddle to 325°F or a skillet over medium-high heat. Melt butter in microwave and let cool for 3 minutes.
- Combine ingredients. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Next add in buttermilk and butter. Stir mixture just until combined. Then mix in eggs and vanilla, just until most of the lumps are gone and batter is smooth.
- Cook pancakes. Coat griddle or skillet with butter and pour 1/4 cup batter on top. Cook until bubbles appear, about 2 minutes.
- Serve. Flip and then cook on the other side for 1 minute, or just until lightly browned. Serve while warm with your favorite toppings.
Expert Tips
- Don’t over mix. Mix the wet ingredients and dry ingredients together just until most of the lumps are gone and the consistency is smooth. Over mixing can make the texture a bit chewy.
- Let the batter rest for a few minutes. I let the batter rest while my griddle is preheating. This also helps contribute to a light and fluffy texture.
- Coat the griddle or skillet with butter. This gives them that beautiful golden brown color on the outside and makes them taste extra delicious.
- Use a griddle over a skillet. If you are using a skillet, make sure you don’t turn the heat any higher than medium-low.
- Keep the buttermilk pancakes warm while you wait. Keep them on a baking sheet in the oven at 175°F until the remaining batter is be used up (or your family wakes up!).
- Add butter to the skillet in between each batch. You don’t want to lose the nonstick surface or burn them.
Recipe FAQs
Yes you can, however the texture will be slightly different. If you do decide to try gluten-free flour, I would suggest a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour (cup 4 cup is my preference) and use an egg.
The main difference between regular pancakes and classic buttermilk pancakes is the buttermilk! Most regular pancake recipes or pancake mix call for regular milk, while buttermilk pancakes call for buttermilk. Buttermilk interacts with the baking soda and creates extra height with a tender crumb. They turn out super soft and moist plus are light and airy when you bite in.
This is a great trick if you’re making pancakes for a crowd. To keep them warm while you cook the others, simply place them on a baking sheet in the oven at 175°F. The low heat keeps them nice and fluffy and doesn’t dry them out. They’ll taste like they came straight off the skillet!
This will happen if you overmix your batter and it will result in pancakes that are flat, dense or worse rubbery. Gently fold your wet and dry ingredients together and stir until just combined. A few flour streaks is okay.
Storing + Freezing
Storage: Once the buttermilk pancakes have completely cooled, store them in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days.
Freeze: The nice thing about this recipe is that it’s easy to double and then freeze half the pancakes for busy mornings. To freeze, let cool completely then place in a large ziptop bag. Store in freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, reheat in the microwave or toaster oven for 30 seconds.
Reheat: Pop them in the microwave for a softer texture or the toaster for a slightly crispier bite.
Want even more breakfast recipe ideas? Try breakfast cookies, crescent roll breakfast casserole, or easy breakfast muffins.
More Pancake Variations
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Buttermilk Pancake Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter , plus more for the griddle
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 large eggs , whisked
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For serving: Syrup, Fresh berries
Instructions
- Preheat a griddle to 325°F, or a skillet over medium-high heat. Melt the butter in the microwave and set aside to cool for 3 minutes.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the buttermilk and melted butter just until combined. Mix in the eggs and vanilla, just until most the lumps are gone and the batter is smooth. If the batter is too thick, add another splash of milk. If it's too thin add 1 Tablespoon flour.
- Coat the griddle (or skillet) with butter. Pour 1/4 cup batter into individual circles. Cook 2 minutes, or until bubbles appear. Flip and cook 1 minute, or just until lightly browned.
- Serve immediately or place on a baking sheet in the oven at 175°F to keep warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Breakfast, Freezer-Friendly, Kid-Friendly, Reader Favorites, Stovetop, Sweet Breakfast
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Really are the best
I’m so glad you loved them! Thanks for the comment and review, Lisa :)
Jaimielyn these were the best buttermilk pancakes I have ever made. My husband loved them as well. Will absolutely be making these again. Your recipes never disappoint.
Yay! I’m so happy to hear this, Laura! Thanks so much for leaving a comment :)
Amazing
Made a half batch this morning. Super light and tasty. Will be freezing leftovers in a stashed bag for another day. Thanks for sharing recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! They freeze beautifully!
I Made this for a gathering and it was a hit, everyone loved it! Will definitely make it again!
Looks delicious! Can’t wait to try this with my family. I know they’d go crazy!
Very fluffy; I did think the pancakes were a little salty tasting. Could I cut back on the baking soda a little?
Hi! Did you use unsalted butter? You could decrease the salt to 1/2 tsp but I wouldn’t decrease the baking soda.
Favorite buttermilk pancake recipe ever! Fluffy and involves no whipping of egg whites. A keeper!
These were delicious and so quick and easy to make. Definitely will be making these fluffy delights again!
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed them! Thanks for you kind comment and review Erica! :)
I Will like to find out something! If I have to use the powered buttermilk ,How much tablespoons should I mix and the amount of water to be equivalent too two cups of buttermilk
Hi Sharon! I believe you can substitute 1 cup fresh buttermilk for 1/4 cup powder + 1 cup water.
Oh my goodness these were the most perfect pancakes that I’ve had in years! Thanks for making my day!
SO good!! But I want to start having buttermilk on hand all the time, it makes so many things better!
This looks fantastic! Wish I had one with my morning coffee. 😊
Buttermilk pancakes are my favorite because they’re so fluffy. Plus, they have one of the best flavors, in my opinion!
I love that I can freeze these for busy mornings! These look great!
I love how perfectly fluffy these are! I’ll have to whip these up for breakfast tomorrow!
These are such perfect pancakes! Pancakes are my favorite breakfast food.
I love how fluffy these turned out! Perfection!