Every weekend morning, my whole family gathers in the kitchen. We all cook breakfast together — and one of our favourites has to be pancakes. Of course, there’s a happy mess everywhere — flour on the counter, syrup drips on the table, and kids calling out, “Can I flip the next one?” In the end, these mornings help us slow down and really feel like we’re home.
Making pancakes together is something we all look forward to. Every step becomes part of the fun. The kids take turns in whisking the batter, pouring it onto the pan, and watching carefully for those little bubbles to appear. Finally, they come out in all sorts of shapes!
What makes it even more special is the simplicity. There’s something comforting about going back to the basics. Just simple, traditional pancakes — no fancy ingredients or modern swaps. Just flour, eggs, milk, butter, and a little sugar. Generations have made it this way for years
People have enjoyed pancakes for centuries — even the ancient Greeks made them with wheat and honey. Different cultures have their own versions: the French have crêpes, India has dosa, and in America, pancakes became a classic breakfast, especially around the 1800s. People made them as a way to use up rich ingredients before Lent — that’s how Pancake Day started.
So here is our easiest go-to version — old-fashioned, soft and fluffy, with a golden crust. The kind that soaks up maple syrup like a sponge.
Pancakes
Soft, buttery pancakes just about everyone's favorite—perfect for slow weekend mornings.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 ¼ cups milk (full cream or your choice)
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp butter (for cooking)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, then add milk, melted butter, and vanilla.
- Pour wet mixture into dry and stir gently until there are no lumps.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Spread some butter over the skillet. Scoop ¼ cup of batter for each pancake. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until bubbles form. Flip and cook another 1–2 minutes until golden brown.
- Stack them high, top with butter, maple syrup, berries or bananas — or all of the above!
Notes
- Resting the batter helps: Let the pancake batter sit for 5–10 minutes before cooking. This allows the flour to hydrate fully and gives you fluffier pancakes.
- Use a medium flame: Cooking on low heat takes too long, and high heat can burn the outside while leaving the inside uncooked. Medium heat gives you that perfect golden brown.
- Pan too hot?: Sprinkle some water on the pan before the next pancake and let it sizzle dry. This bring down the heat on the pan.
- Pan too dry?: If your pancakes look dull or don’t spread well, add a tiny bit of butter or oil to the pan between batches.
- Topping ideas: Maple syrup is a classic, but don’t stop there. Try fresh berries, banana slices, chocolate chips, or a spoon of peanut butter. My kids love a mix of banana and honey.
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Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1 pancakeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 140Total Fat: 6gCarbohydrates: 18gSugar: 3gProtein: 4g
Fun Pancake Facts to Flip Over!
- Pancakes are ancient!
In fact, The earliest known pancakes were made by the Greeks over 2,500 years ago using wheat flour, olive oil, honey, and curdled milk. - There’s a Pancake Day!
Shrove Tuesday (aka Pancake Day) is celebrated in many countries before Lent. It was a way to use up rich ingredients like eggs and butter. - The world’s largest pancake… was massive!
In 1994, a pancake measuring 15 meters wide and weighing over 3 tonnes was made in Manchester, UK. Moreover, it was even flipped using industrial equipment! - In some places, people race with pancakes.
In the UK, there are Pancake Day races where people run while flipping pancakes in a pan. The world-famous Olney Pancake Race in Buckinghamshire began in 1445, when a woman ran to church mid-pancake flip, apron and frying pan in hand. To this day, local women race in aprons and scarves, flipping pancakes as they go! - Pancake art is a thing.
People now create intricate pancake portraits using squeeze bottles and timing the cook perfectly — from cartoon characters to celebrities!
Try out these Pancakes
Make your weekend extra special with these classic pancakes. Tried this recipe? Share your pancake moments and tag me @platefullofyumm — I love seeing all your creative flips and toppings. Also, don’t forget to pin this recipe or share it with a fellow pancake lover!