Grandma's Old Fashioned Pancake Recipe (2024)

This easy-to-make pancake recipe with all the nostalgic feels that will take us back to weekend mornings at grandma’s house or that old-school diner.

Plus all my tips (and a video) to make sure your stack comes out like this:

What are Old Fashioned Pancakes

Old-fashioned pancakes have a fluffy and thick texture that easily soaks up the butter and pancake syrup as you dive your fork into them. This is classic behavior from diner pancakes.

But the most significant difference between old-fashioned pancakes and traditional fluffy pancakes is the use of buttermilk and the oil used to grease the pan. More on this shortly. Plus, they’re never made from a pancake mix!

The first gives these pancakes their incredibly soft and thick texture, and the second the ragged and defined golden edges, making these the BEST pancakes!

The Most Important Ingredient in Old Fashioned Pancakes

Buttermilk and baking soda are the two ingredients that set old-fashioned pancakes apart from most pancake recipes. Baking soda reacts with acids in the buttermilk to create more bubbles and bring the pancakes to a whole new level of fluffy and airy.

There is no need to run to the store (unless you want to) to buy buttermilk. Making your own is easy with milk and lemon or vinegar and it only takes 5 minutes -less time than it takes to find your keys. Don’t worry, I share how in the recipe card.

Ingredients

The ingredient amounts to make old-fashioned pancake batter is below but before you go rogue and make substitutions, I include if any can be made without compromising the recipe here:

• All-purpose flour:essential for soft and fluffy pancakes.
• Sugar:makes the batter slightly and helps caramelize the edges.
• Baking powder:helps the batter rise.
• Baking soda:reacts with the acids in buttermilk for extra fluffy pancakes.
• Salt:a little to enhance the flavors of the pancake batter.
• Buttermilk:the super-star ingredient in old-fashioned pancakes that’s essential for this recipe.
• Eggs:binds the ingredients and helps the batter rise.Using an egg substitute for pancakes will change the texture of these.
• Unsalted butter:adds flavor and moisture to the batter.
• Vegetable oil:another star ingredient that makes a difference in the outcome. Yes, you can use butter or spray but know that their exterior look will be different.

How to Make Old Fashioned Pancakes

Allow me to share some helpful notes within each step to ensure your pancakes come out incredible! Some of my tried and true tips are:

1. Make the pancake batter
   Mix the dry ingredients first to ensure even distribution. Before you mix the wet ingredients with the dry, I recommend breaking up the eggs first so you don’t overmix the batter. Overmixing is a common pancake fail that yields chewy pancakes.
2. Heat the cooking surface
   Whether you use a cast iron skillet or non-stick pan or griddle, making sure the surface is hot before you grease it is essential. Once hot, grease it with oil and then immediately pour the pancake batter.
3. Cook the pancakes
   The pancakes will take about 2 minutes to cook on the first side. You’ll know they’re ready to flip when bubbles form throughout and the edges are defined. The second side takes about half the time to cook, just make sure to not press the pancakes down.
4. Stack them high!
   Serve them as you cook them or keep the pancakes warm and serve them all at once.

First time making these? Watch this quick video to ensure success!

The Best Toppings

Classic old-fashioned pancakes are so good on their own that grandma never really bothered with any of theseepic pancake toppings.At my house, I put a pat of butter on top and maple syrup or one of these easy-to-make pancake syrup recipes:

• Classic Pancake Syrup
• Homemade Blueberry Syrup
• Strawberry Syrup recipe
• Cinnamon Syrup

More Pancakes & Waffles