The Best Pancake Recipe

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The Best Pancake Recipe – This tasty pancake recipe is easy and has a secret ingredient that gives them the perfect fluffy pancake consistency.

Three sour cream pancakes stacked on a plate

My whole family loves this pancake recipe.  This has become my go-to when we want pancakes for breakfast on the weekends.

What’s the secret ingredient that makes these pancakes the best?  Sour cream.  It may sound strange but it really works!

These sour cream pancakes have a butter crisp outside and the inside is so soft it’s almost creamy.  To balance the flavor of the sour cream, I added more sugar.  So these are actually sweeter pancakes than most.  So good!

The pancake batter is made in one bowl, making this pancake recipe easy!

Close up of the soft fluffy insides of three stacked pancakes

How to make pancakes:

  • In a large bowl, add milk and sour cream.
  • Add sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
  • Whisk together.

A mixing bowl with milk, sour cream, sugar, eggs, and vanilla for the best pancake recipe

  • Add flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Stir until just combined (this batter will be VERY lumpy).

A mixing bowl with the dry ingredients on top of the wet ingredients for the best pancake recipe

  • Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat.
  • Pour pancake batter into the skillet (about ¼ cup for each pancake).

The best pancake batter being poured into a hot buttered skillet

  • Cook 3-4 minutes (bubbles will form on the top of the pancakes).
  • Flip and cook 1-2 minutes.

Bubbles forming on the top of pancake batter before flipping over

Top with maple syrup, fresh fruit, fruit syrup, nuts, chocolate chips, etc.

The best pancakes stacked with butter and maple syrup on them

Looking for more great breakfast recipes?  Try these:

Watch the step by step video for The Best Pancake Recipe below:

Find more of my recipes on TikTok

Close up of the soft fluffy insides of three stacked pancakes

The Best Pancake Recipe

5 from 135 votes
Best Pancake Recipe - This tasty pancake recipe is easy and has a secret ingredient that gives them the perfect fluffy pancake consistency.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Video

Servings 12 pancakes
Calories 113 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Butter for greasing the pan -about 3 tablespoons
  • Maple syrup for serving

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, add the milk, sour cream, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until combined. It’s ok to have small lumps of sour cream.
  • Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir just until no large clumps of dry flour remain, trying not to over mix. The batter should be very lumpy.
  • Melt about ½ tablespoon of butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat until lightly bubbling and light brown.
  • Ladle the batter into the skillet making 3-4 pancakes (about ¼ cup of batter each). Cook 3-4 minutes, until bubbles form on top of each pancake and the bottoms are golden brown.
  • Flip the pancakes. Cook 1-2 minutes, until the bottoms are golden brown.
  • Carefully wipe out any excess browned butter with paper towels. Repeat with the remaining butter and pancake batter.
  • Serve warm with maple syrup.

Notes

Nutrition information does not include butter for cooking or toppings.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/12th of the recipe | Calories: 113kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 222mg | Potassium: 138mg | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 145IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 0.9mg
Course Breakfast, brunch
Keyword best pancake recipe, how to make pancakes, pancake recipe easy
Cuisine American
Author Amanda Finks
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Comments

  1. Definitely the best pancake recipe ever!! Don’t need syrup or anything in order to eat the scrumptious things!

    Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!

  2. 5 stars
    Fabulous. I got distracted while making them and forgot the sugar. Didn’t miss it at all. Love the tang of the sour cream. Definitely a keeper.

  3. 5 stars
    Through out the bisquick and instant pancake mix!
    There is a better pancake recipe out there put out by King Arthur Flour but it’s time consuming and labor intensive.
    If you’re looking for a quick excellent pancake batter in both taste and texture this is it.
    So good I had to write a review before finishing my breakfast.

  4. 5 stars
    I just made these pancakes and all I can say is OMG! I have made different kinds of pancakes BUT these are the most delicious ones I have ever eaten. I believe the sour cream is the key to their flavor. I am so glad I spotted this recipe and decided to try it. I will be making them from now on. Thank you for posting this recipe on Pinterest.

  5. 5 stars
    Absolutely wonderful.the only thing I did different was add powdered buttermilk instead of milk and it was absolutely perfect. Thank you.

  6. 5 stars
    These are really good. Nice and fluffy, not too sweet, a little tang from the sour cream. Add blueberries or strawberries or chocolate chips or cream cheese frosting or walnuts or whatever. Versatile and easy and delicious!

  7. 5 stars
    We absolutely love this recipe and have been making it for the last couple years I believe! Hands down the best and easiest. I do have a question though…How far in advance can this be made for prep to expedite breakfast for dinner?? Thank you for this recipe!!

  8. 5 stars
    Your right, the best pancakes I have made to date which I make often. Especially today being Shrove Tuesday and half I made this recipe.
    I added fresh blueberries which added to the excellent flavour of the pancakes

  9. 5 stars
    My granddaughter & I tried numerous pancake recipes & this is definitely our favorite. She requests it quite often while spending time with us. I was out of sour cream so I substituted it with yogurt & they were just as good. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.

    1. 5 stars
      Only pancakes I make!! They are truly the best. Do you think I can use buttermilk I have in the fridge instead of milk this time?

  10. 5 stars
    When they say this recipe is foolproof they are not kidding! The man I am seeing got called into work on a Saturday leaving his kids home alone. I made due with what was in the house which meant instead of milk I used half and half and light coconut milk and instead of sour cream I used no fat Greek yogurt. Voted by all 3 kids to be the best pancakes they have ever had!

  11. 5 stars
    I’ve been trying out various pancake recipes every time I get a request for them from my boys. This one was the winner by a unanimous vote. I think the sour cream adds so much to the flavor, and the texture is perfect. Light but fluffy, and full of flavor. This is going to be my go-to pancake batter.
    Thank you for sharing it!

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About Amanda Finks

I’m a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist living in Zionsville, IN. I’m an avid cook, travel nerd, & lover of good food! I’m trained in Food Science & recipe development. It’s my mission to bring you the BEST recipes your whole family will love!

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