Fluffy Pancakes - the Softest and Fluffiest Pancake Recipe - Quick, Easy and 5-miniute Prep. (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to soft pancakes? ›

A Little Bit of Science. To dive into a little bit of pancake science, fluffier pancakes are caused by bubbles that form in the batter followed by the solidification of those beautiful bubbles! When you add baking powder to your pancake batter, you're encouraging the release of gas, which forms bubbles in the batter.

Pancakes and waffles typically both contain baking soda, which causes them to rise. As soon as the baking soda is combined with the wet ingredients (which contain an acidic ingredient, like often buttermilk), it starts producing carbon dioxide gas bubbles that cause the batter to rise.

The experts in the King Arthur Baking test kitchen share this handy hint: A recipe with equal volumes of flour and liquid (such as 2 cups all-purpose flour and 2 cups buttermilk) will result in a thicker batter that makes taller, extra-fluffy pancakes.

Milk helps make pancakes fluffier than water. Since milk is thicker than water, it creates a thicker batter. Further, if you use whole milk or low fat milk, the fat content helps yield tender, fluffy results.

First thing's first: whisk up your batter with cold water. Warm water prematurely heats up the batter's gluten, which can deflate fluffy pancakes before they even hit the frying pan. Be sure not to overmix, which can turn pancakes tough and chewy.

Adding baking powder is the easiest way to make fluffy pancakes. There's more than one way to make the bubbles that make a pancake fluffy, but the easiest way is by adding a raising agent such as baking powder.

Baking powder (double acting) provides two rises: The first occurs when the baking powder comes into contact with a liquid, the second when it's exposed to heat. Too much baking powder will create a very puffy pancake with a chalky taste, while too little will make it flat and limp.

Yes, adding milk to your pancake batter can make them softer and fluffier than if you use water. Milk contains fat and protein, which contribute to the texture and structure of the pancakes. The fat in the milk coats the flour particles, making the pancakes more tender and giving them a richer flavor.

It's important not to use too much baking soda in recipes, as it can result in a metallic, soapy flavor. It is much more powerful than baking powder – you only need about 1/4 teaspoon baking soda per cup of flour to leaven baked goods.

What happens if you put too much egg in pancakes? ›

Eggs are a crucial ingredient. They provide the cakes with the structure to hold light bubbles. Eggs also give the batter additional, richer flavor from the yolk fat. If you add too many eggs, you'll have “pancakes” that look more like custard or crepes.

However, if you're in a pinch, the substitution is one teaspoon baking soda equals three teaspoons baking powder. Baking soda is also much stronger than baking powder and, by trying to provide enough leavening, you may wind up with an unpleasant metallic, salty taste in the final baked product.

Flat pancakes are nearly always because of expired baking powder, too little baking powder for the recipe size, or too thin of a batter. How to fix flat pancakes: First, test your baking powder by adding a teaspoon of baking powder in a glass and adding a tablespoon of water or two.

When the surface is sufficiently hot, the bubbles in the batter can form and harden quickly enough to give the pancakes their full shape. On the other hand, if your pan isn't hot enough, the bubbles in the batter will form too slowly and pop before they can solidify. A solid temperature to aim for is 375 degrees.

Stir your batter until the dry and wet ingredients are just incorporated. That means mixing until the flour streaks have disappeared, but leaving the pesky lumps. If you over-mix, the gluten will develop from the flour in your batter, making your pancakes chewy instead of fluffy.

1/3 cup potato starch (this is the "secret" ingredient that makes them so tender!) Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Whisk flour, potato starch, sugar, salt, and baking powder together in a medium mixing bowl.