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Perfect Simple Pancakes Recipe – Easy & Delicious

ByLumina Liu August 10, 2025

That was me last weekend, except instead of cosmic wisdom, I was desperately seeking inspiration for something—anything—that would make my family stop asking “what’s for breakfast?” every thirty seconds.

My daughter had already suggested cereal for the fourth time, my husband was making that face that says “I’m starving but trying to be patient,” and honestly, I was one coffee-deprived moment away from just handing everyone a banana and calling it a day.

But then, like a beacon of hope shining through my morning brain fog, I remembered the most obvious solution of all: pancakes.

Not the fancy ricotta ones with artisanal maple syrup that I bookmark but never make, not the sourdough pancakes that require a three-day starter commitment I clearly don’t have—just simple, honest-to-goodness pancakes that my grandmother would recognize.

Sometimes the best solutions are hiding in plain sight, wearing flour-dusted aprons and smiling knowingly while we complicate everything else in our lives.

Why This Basic Pancakes Recipe Actually Changes Everything

Here’s the thing about pancakes—they’ve been having a moment for, oh, about the last century.

From the elaborate stack photos flooding Instagram to the endless debates about buttermilk versus regular milk (spoiler alert: both work beautifully), we’ve somehow turned this fundamentally simple dish into something that requires a culinary degree to navigate.

But the truth is, the best pancakes recipe isn’t hiding behind exotic ingredients or complicated techniques—it’s been sitting quietly in our collective kitchen wisdom all along, waiting for us to stop overthinking it.

This particular pancakes recipe comes from that beautiful tradition of no-fuss cooking that prioritizes results over process. It’s the kind of recipe your great-aunt would have written on an index card, the one that gets passed down because it simply works.

What makes it special isn’t some secret ingredient (though I’ll share a few tricks I’ve learned along the way)—it’s the understanding that sometimes the most profound pleasure comes from the most straightforward approach.

These pancakes are tender without being fragile, flavorful without being complicated, and consistently good without requiring you to perform kitchen magic at an ungodly hour of the morning.

The Essential Pancakes Recipe That Actually Works

After years of testing ratios, techniques, and ingredients, I’ve learned that the perfect pancakes recipe is less about innovation and more about understanding the fundamentals. This recipe serves 4 people generously (or 2 very hungry people, no judgment here).

Core Ingredients You Actually Need

• 100g plain flour (about 3/4 cup)
• 2 large eggs
• 300ml milk (just over 1 cup)
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil (plus extra for cooking)
• Pinch of salt
• Sugar, raspberries, and blueberries for serving

The Step-by-Step Method That Never Fails

Here’s the step by step guide on how to cook the pancakes recipe:

Step 1: Create Your Batter Foundation

In a large bowl or jug (I prefer a jug because pouring is infinitely easier), combine the flour, eggs, milk, 1 tablespoon of oil, and that crucial pinch of salt. Here’s where I learned something important: don’t overthink the mixing.

Whisk everything together until you have a smooth batter—it shouldn’t take more than a minute or two of enthusiastic whisking. Some recipes will tell you to sift your flour or separate your eggs, but honestly?

Life’s too short, and these pancakes are too forgiving for such fussiness.

Step 2: The Patience Game (Optional but Recommended)

If you can manage it—and I know weekends don’t always allow for such luxuries—let your batter rest for 30 minutes. This isn’t just fancy cookbook advice; it actually makes a difference.

The flour has time to fully hydrate, and the gluten relaxes, which translates to more tender pancakes. But if you’re dealing with hungry humans who can’t wait another second, start cooking immediately.

I’ve made this pancakes recipe both ways countless times, and while rested batter is slightly better, unrested batter still produces completely delicious results.

Step 3: Master Your Pan Technique

Set a medium frying pan or crêpe pan over medium heat. This is crucial—too high and you’ll get pancakes that are burnt on the outside and raw in the middle; too low and you’ll be standing there for hours wondering why nothing’s happening.

While the pan heats up, carefully wipe it with oiled kitchen paper. I use a folded paper towel dipped in a small bowl of oil, which gives me much better control than spraying or pouring oil directly into the pan.

Step 4: The Actual Cooking Magic

When your pan is properly heated (a drop of batter should sizzle gently when it hits the surface), pour in enough batter to make a pancake about 6 inches across.

Cook for about 1 minute on the first side—you’ll know it’s ready when the edges look set and the surface has a few bubbles.

Flip (I use a thin spatula and try not to overthink it), then cook for another minute until golden. Keep finished pancakes warm in a low oven (around 200°F/95°C) while you work through the rest of your batter.

Pro Tips That Actually Make a Difference

After making this pancakes recipe more times than I can count, I’ve picked up a few tricks that genuinely improve the results.

These aren’t fussy techniques—they’re practical adjustments that work with real life, not against it.

Temperature Control Is Everything

The biggest mistake I see people make with pancakes is cooking them too hot. Medium heat might feel painfully slow when you’re hungry, but it’s the sweet spot for pancakes that cook evenly.

If your first pancake burns, turn the heat down. If it takes forever to cook, turn it up slightly.

Every stove is different, and finding your perfect temperature is part of the process.

The Batter Consistency Secret

Your pancakes recipe batter should pour easily but not be so thin that it spreads like water. If it’s too thick, add milk a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency.

If it’s too thin (which happens if you’re me and get distracted while measuring), whisk in a little extra flour. The perfect batter coats the back of a spoon but still drips off easily.

Batch Cooking Strategy

I always make extra pancakes and freeze them. Once they’re completely cool, I layer them between pieces of parchment paper, wrap the whole stack in plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 2 months.

They reheat beautifully in the toaster, which means weekday breakfast just became infinitely more manageable.

The Oil Refresh Technique

Re-oil your pan every few pancakes, not after every single one. Too much oil and your pancakes will be greasy; too little and they’ll stick.

I’ve found that wiping the pan with my oiled paper towel every 2-3 pancakes keeps things perfectly non-stick without overdoing it.

Creative Variations That Keep Things Interesting

Once you’ve mastered the basic pancakes recipe, the world of variations opens up beautifully.

These aren’t complicated transformations—they’re simple additions that can turn your standard pancakes into something special without requiring a trip to specialty stores or advanced planning.

Berry Bliss Pancakes

Fold fresh or frozen berries directly into your batter just before cooking. Blueberries and raspberries work beautifully, but so do chopped strawberries or even frozen mixed berries.

The key is being gentle with the folding—you want to distribute the fruit without bursting it all over your batter. Frozen berries work just as well as fresh, and they’re often more affordable and available year-round.

Vanilla and Cinnamon Enhancement

Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to your batter for pancakes that smell like a warm hug.

This simple addition transforms the basic pancakes recipe into something that feels special enough for Sunday morning but easy enough for any day of the week.

Lemon Zest Brightness

The zest of one lemon mixed into your batter adds a subtle brightness that pairs beautifully with berry toppings or a simple dusting of powdered sugar.

I use a microplane to get fine zest, and I’m always amazed at how such a small addition can make such a big difference in flavor.

Whole Wheat Heartiness

Replace half the plain flour with whole wheat flour for pancakes with more substance and a slightly nutty flavor.

You might need to add an extra tablespoon or two of milk to keep the batter at the right consistency, but the result is pancakes that feel more satisfying and substantial.

What to Actually Expect (And Why That’s Perfect)

Let’s be realistic about this pancakes recipe—these aren’t going to be the towering, Instagram-perfect stacks you see in magazines. They’re not going to be thick enough to require architectural support or so fluffy they defy gravity.

What they will be is consistently good, reliably tender, and absolutely delicious in that comforting, familiar way that makes weekend mornings feel special without requiring you to become a short-order cook.

Your first pancake might be a little wonky—that’s completely normal and happens to everyone, even people who’ve been making pancakes for decades. Consider it your tester pancake, the one that helps you calibrate your heat and timing.

By the third or fourth pancake, you’ll have found your rhythm, and the rest will be smooth sailing.

These pancakes are forgiving in the best possible way. If you accidentally add a little too much milk, they’ll still taste great.

If you skip the resting time because tiny humans are demanding breakfast immediately, they’ll still be delicious. If you flip one a little early and it breaks slightly, it will still disappear from plates faster than you can make them.

Sometimes the most valuable thing a recipe can offer isn’t perfection—it’s reliability and the quiet confidence that comes from knowing you can feed the people you love something delicious without stress or drama.

The beauty of mastering a simple pancakes recipe like this one lies not in the complexity of the technique, but in the ease with which it becomes part of your weekend routine, a small but meaningful way to show care through food, one perfectly golden pancake at a time.