A light fluffy flat cake, aka: pancake, made from a rich creamy buttermilk batter and baked on a hot griddle. Also called flapjacks, griddlecakes, batter-cakes, hot cakes, or flannel cakes. Around here…we just call them “Good ol’ Pancakes!” Really GOOD!
Updated: 1-15-2025
When it comes to breakfast… Pancakes are my personal favorite! Any size or shape, I love pancakes! As a child, “silver dollar” pancakes were always my “go to” when we went out to eat.
I’ve spent YEARS perfecting the Perfect Buttermilk Pancake! And THIS is the result! They’re so light and fluffy they melt in your mouth! Most importantly…according to Mars…they HAVE to have Buttermilk! (I hate to admit it…but he’s right!)
The secret to this recipe…besides the required “buttermilk” is the addition of extra melted butter mixed in with the cold buttermilk and eggs! (Can ya have too much butter? Naw!)
So what makes that extra butter so special? I’m so glad you asked! The minute you start whisking that melted butter into those ice-cold ingredients, you get little “butter balls”! (I’m not talking about miniature Turkeys floating around in the batter friends. Lol I’m talking about real little balls of butter!) Those little butter balls are going to create the perfect little “buttery air pockets” in your pancakes as they melt while cooking. (Genius right?!!! I know! It’s amazing!)
Norine’s Top Tips
- Keep the dry and wet ingredients separate until ready to bake pancakes~No mixing them up early!
- Cook on a HOT griddle, test the griddle by flicking water across the griddle.
- Wait till most, but not all, of the bubbles burst before flipping to the other side.
- Whisk the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.
- Whisk melted butter, quickly, into other wet ingredients
- This recipe makes a LOT of pancakes, but it can easily be cut in half. Just use two eggs instead of three.
Ingredients Needed
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups buttermilk
- ½ cup milk
- 3 eggs
- ⅓ cup butter, melted
How to Make Buttermilk Pancakes
There are two components to this recipe. Your “dry ingredients” and your “wet ingredients”. Once you have all the ingredients for those two separate components prepared, you will then combine them to create the perfect pancake batter!
Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together 3 cups of flour, 3 tablespoons of white sugar, 3 teaspoons of baking powder, 1½ teaspoons of baking soda, ¾ teaspoon of salt.
TIP: It’s important to whisk those ingredients together. It’s like sifting flour, creating a lighter flour which is what we want when making cake batter. These are, after all, PanCAKES!
Wet Ingredients Instructions
In a separate bowl, beat together buttermilk, milk and eggs. Whisk them together until well combined.
Slowly drizzle melted butter into your wet ingredients while quickly whisking! THIS is the MOST important step, my friends! DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! The future life of your pancakes and the love of your children depends on this step! (Y’all probably think I’m being overly dramatic about this…and your point?)
Now I have taken this photo especially for y’all! So stop… pause… and marvel at the beauty of….wait for it…BUTTER BALLS! Yep, those little congealed balls of butter are going to make the BEST BUTTERMILK PANCAKES that have ever entered past your lips and slapped your taste buds awake…even on a Saturday morning!
You’re welcome! (Oh trust me…you are going thank me for this!)
Combining Wet and Dry Ingredients
Now this next step is also important. So please pay attention, friends!
You now have two bowls of ingredients. One dry…one wet. When it comes to pancakes…we keep things separate! We do not mix these two bowls together until the griddle is nice and hot and then…and ONLY then…do we introduce them to each other!
Why? Because the minute that creamy buttermilk mixture hits the perfectly whisked dry ingredients…it’s going to activate the baking soda and baking powder, the other key ingredients that create the “Fluff” in these amazing fluffy pancakes.
Wait until your griddle is hot, and you’re ready to start making the world’s best pancakes! Once you’re ready, add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk them together. You will have a wonderfully frothy batter!
How to Cook the Perfect Pancakes
Heat up and lightly oil your griddle! It’s time to get flipping! I generally set my griddle at 325°(F). Every griddle is different, so you’ll have to experiment with the first pancake.
TIP: When the griddle is hot…flick water across the surface and if it beads up and sizzles (kind of like me in the summer) It’s ready!
Pour or scoop the batter onto your hot griddle. Watch as they rise, and the bubbles begin to burst. (We want those little bubbles to burst!) A word of caution, do not wait for ALL the bubbles to pop! That is such a “superstition”! It drives me crazy…and only creates burned pancakes.
Flip that beautiful Buttermilk Pancake once it is golden brown.
Brown on both sides and serve hot! I like to stack them on a plate covered with a clean dishcloth, country style, until I have them all baked. (We aren’t too fancy at this Nest! Just get ’em cooked and stack ’em up!)
Aren’t those pretty? They taste even better.
These are truly the BEST Buttermilk Pancakes! They are everything a really GREAT buttermilk pancake should be. Light, Fluffy, and Melt-in-your-mouth delicious! (I know I’ve said it a bazillion times in this post, but it deserves repeating… They are the BEST!)
Before I go, I just want to point out one other thing…a good pancake ALWAYS has an outer golden ring! Do you see it? That’s the sign of a great pancake!
The buttery flavor of these Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes is just one of the many things that make them a “stand out” among all the other “hot cakes”. This recipe truly combines all the best baking elements into one pile of fantastic flapjacks!
If you really want to “up” your hot cake game, you can toss some blueberries on top of each pancake as they are baking before flipping…you’ll have the BEST Blueberry Pancakes!
Favorite Pancake Recipes
- Homemade Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes
- Cranberry Orange Pancakes
- Fresh Blueberry Pancakes with Fresh Blueberry Lemon Zest Topping
- Simple Sprouted Oats Pancakes from A Red Spatula
Thanks for stopping by. These pancakes come together super quickly, about 25 minutes from start to finish!
Add your favorite syrup, grab a fork, and let’s get this Pancake Party started!
Happy Nesting!
Free Printable Recipe Card
Classic Buttermilk Pancakes
A very light and fluffy buttermilk pancake that makes the BEST Pancakes you'll ever have!
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 Tablespoons sugar
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups buttermilk
- ½ cup milk
- 3 eggs
- ⅓ cup butter, melted
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, beat together buttermilk, milk, and eggs.
- In a separate microwave safe bowl, melt butter. Using a whisk, drizzle melted butter into buttermilk mix, whisking quickly as mixing.
- Keep the two mixture separate until you are ready to cook.
- Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Flick water across the surface...if it beads up and sizzles, it's ready for cooking.
- Pour wet mixture into the dry mixture. Mix until just combined. Do not over stir.
- Pour or scoop batter onto the hot griddle.
- Brown on both sides and serve hot.
Notes
This recipe can be cut in half by using two eggs and cutting all other ingredients in half.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12 servingsServing Size:
3 pancakesAmount Per Serving: Calories: 219Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 592mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 1gSugar: 6gProtein: 7g
Meet The Author
Hi! I'm Norine, the cook, baker, and recipe creator behind Norine's Nest. I love sharing and creating recipes that invite family, friends, and neighbors to gather around the dinner table. Sharing good food and creating memories with those we love brings me happiness. Thanks for stopping by my Nest!
Crystal
Friday 23rd of February 2024
OMG!!! I have been looking for a recipe for pancakes like my mom used to make when I was a kid. This is it!!!! They made me very happy. Thanks for aharing
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Tuesday 12th of March 2024
Hi Crystal! I'm so glad this recipe met Mom's standards! A high compliment indeed! This is hands down my very favorite pancake recipe! I make them almost weekly for my crew and love the texture and taste of these fluffy homemade buttermilk cakes! I'm happy to hear you enjoyed them too. Thank you for taking the time to visit and share with me. You made my day! Norine
Sandy
Sunday 23rd of October 2022
Hi Norine, Is it ok to use All purpose gluten free flour?
Thank you Sandy
Pam
Thursday 12th of January 2023
@Sandy, I'm not sure why you are asking about Gluten Free but if you are not celiac you might try Sunrise Flour Mill or Einkorn flours for these pancakes. These are both wheat flours, however they are heritage wheat grains or ancient wheat grains free of recent alteration of the grains. I am allergic to wheat, I stop breathing, and I can eat these wheat grains.
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Monday 24th of October 2022
Hi Sandy! I haven't made this recipe using gluten free flour. I would say use your best judgement. If you bake frequently with gluten free flour you probably would know better than I. I would think it would work. I find this to be a super forgiving recipe. I've made it dairy free with wonderful results. Sorry I'm not much help. Norine
Deirdra
Thursday 18th of August 2022
How can I halve the recipe?
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Friday 19th of August 2022
Hi Deirdra! If you just scroll down or hit the "jump to recipe" button at the top of the page it will take you right to the recipe that is free and printable.
Norine
debby newpol
Saturday 20th of June 2020
Best pancakes ever!! And the recipe was very well written. New family fave!
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Tuesday 23rd of June 2020
Hi Debby! Thanks! I make this recipe at least once a week, every week! My husband LOVES fresh blueberry buttermilk pancakes so I make them for him every week using this recipe. I have to agree that this recipe makes the BEST pancakes! I consider myself a pancake expert...lol! (Eating them, not making them) Thanks for stopping by and sharing! Hope you have a great week and stay safe! Happy Nesting! Norine
Rosemary Mach
Friday 22nd of May 2020
Made these before, gotta make them again!
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Tuesday 26th of May 2020
Hi Rosemary! I love these pancakes so much! Make them all the time! All. The. Time! I'm so glad you stopped by. Hope you'll visit again soon. Happy Nesting! Norine