It can be argued that Pancakes are the most popular of all the breakfast entrees, especially if you live in America. While nothing will ever beats Pancakes that are made entirely from scratch, sometimes you have those days where you just want to eat something that you can prepare quickly without making a big mess in the kitchen. Many people will simply opt for buying store-bought pancake mix, which is perfectly fine if you’re in a pinch. But in this post, I’m going to show you how easy it is to make instant pancake mix with just 3 simple ingredients. And the best part about it is, you only need to add water in order to use this mix.
Why You’ll Love This Pancake Mix Recipe
- You can make this easy homemade pancake mix in 5 minutes or less. There is minimal prep involved when you’re ready to make pancakes since it uses only 3Â simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen pantry. It only requires the addition of water as a wet ingredient.
- With this recipe, you can make deliciously light and fluffy pancakes that have perfectly crispy edges tand will serve up well with a lathering of maple syrup for a tasty hot breakfast or brunch that the whole family will love. It’s so good that your family will be begging you to make these pancakes all of the time!
- This pancake mix makes a perfect gift in a jar, whether it’s for the birthday of a friend/relative or if it’s a Christmas present for a foodie who loves cooking. Just be sure to attach a label to the jar/gift with the instructions for how to make this easy recipe!
- These homemade pancake are way healthier than grocery store box mixes. While it doesn’t use entirely natural or minimally processed ingredients, you can actually pronounce the names of all the ingredients that are used! You have full control of what goes into this mix, eliminating all of the artificial preservatives and excessive sodium that you would normally find in the store-bought products.
- In the long run, the basic ingredients you’ll be using for this mix are ultimately far less expensive on aper-batch basis than wasting money on the pre-packaged mixes, as you can make fairly big jars for a fraction of the price.
- Perhaps the best part about this recipe is that it is extremely kid-friendly. Parents often have to worry about their children who are eager for cook themselves going in the kitchen and making a big mess. But with this recipe, not only are the instructions simple to follow, but with their being far fewer ingredients invovled, you’ll have a much easier time showing your kids how to make this and they won’t have to destroy your kitchen in the process.
- There’s no need to get up and go out for last-minute runs to the supermarket on those lazy mornings when you’re craving pancakes and are ready to dig in quickly.
Tips for Making this Recipe
Do not overmix the batter. You have to be careful when you’re combining all of the ingredients to make the batter using this pancake mix (and baked goods in general). The reason why is because the flour tends to contain a fair amount of protein, and protein can lead to gluten formation when combined with water. Ultimately, you only want to mix the wet and dry ingredients until they’re just combined, meaning until the flour is no longer visible to the eye. Otherwise, not only will the pacankes not rise properly once they’re on the griddle , butt hey could also come out dense. I recommend using a cooking spoon or whisk for this, and avoid using a hand/stand mixer.
Ensure that you are using fresh ingredients. This seems like a silly tip, but I will explain exactly what I mean. The issue with powdered buttermilk is that over time, it will have to tendency to spoil. That being said, I do recommend using powdered buttermilk that you recently purchased from the store, just to be safe, for the freshest pancake mix. Self-Rising Flour is also ingredient you should ensure is fresh, specifically because it contains the leavening agent for the pancakes that will tend to become less effective over time. Always double check the expiration date on it to ensure it hasn’t expired. Otherwise, the pancakes will not rise properly once you place them on the griddle.
For best results, allow batter to rest. This step is very much optional and is not required. That being said, once you’re ready to prepare your pancakes using his easy homemade pancake mix, it is best that you allow it to rest for 5 to 10 minutes after combining the wet and dry ingredients before you attempt to place your pancakes on the griddle. By doing this, you’re allowing time for the flour to fully hydrate and that will give the pancakes a much better texture once they’re done. And in the event the pancake batter becomes a little too thick while it rests, all you would do is give it a good stir or whisk to thin it out.
Make a test pancake (or two). The problem with many stovetops and griddles, especially if they’re older, is that not all of them are properly calibrated to heat to the correct temp (some of them run too cold or even too hot). To ensure you may not have to adjust the temp higher or lower, and to ensure the griddle is at the right temperature so that the pancakes will cook properly, it may not hurt to test a single pancake (or two) from this pancake mix before attempting to cook them all at once. If you fail to do this, you could end up with pancakes that either burn too quickly or pancakes that end up flat and undercooked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you add Nuts, Berries or Chocolate Chips to this recipe?
I’m personally not a fan of having these extra ingredients in my Pancakes (personal preference), which is why I officially excluded them from my recipe. That being said, if you prefer having these items in your pancakes, you can certainly add them. The best time to add these items would either be when you’re combining the wet + dry ingredients or when you place the pancake batter onto the griddle
Can I top my Pancakes with fruit or whipped cream?
Absolutely! I personally can take or leave having these extra ingredients on top of my pancakes, which is why I officially excluded them from my recipe. That being said, if you prefer having these extra items as toppings on your pancakes, you can certainly add them after you combined the pancake mix with the wet ingredients, once the pancakes are done cooking and when you’re ready to eat/serve them.
Can I substitute the powdered buttermilk for powdered milk?
While you certainly can substitute the powdered buttermilk for an equal amount of powdered milk, just know it will change both the flavor and texture of the pancake mix. Powdered milk pancakes will end up milder tasting as they would lack the tanginess that is typically associated with powedered buttermilk. On top of that, powdered milk pancakes will end up flatter as thry lack the acicldic component that would produce mors air bubbles to support taller/flufflier pancakes associated with powdered buttermilk.While you certainly can substitute the powdered buttermilk for an equal amount of powdered milk, just know it will change both the flavor and texture of the pancake mix. Powdered milk pancakes will end up milder tasting as they would lack the tanginess that is typically associated with powedered buttermilk. On top of that, powdered milk pancakes will end up flatter as thry lack the acicldic component that would produce mors air bubbles to support taller/flufflier pancakes associated with powdered buttermilk.
Can I use milk as my wet ingredient in place of water?
You certainly can! If anything, the addition of milk alongside the powdered buttermilk will make for even richer-tasting pancakes as you’re not just contributing moisture to the pancake mix, but you’re also adding even more fat beyond what’s in the powdered buttermilk. That said, it’s certainly not required that you use milk for this recipe, and the pancakes do come out plenty tasty with just plain water.
Can you freeze the Pancake Mix And if so, for how long?
You can definitely freeze this pancake mix! For the best results, you should place it in an airtight freezer bag or container, in order to prevent moisture buildup. Once in the freezer, it should maintain their freshness for at least 9 months. While they may still be safe ton eat beyond 9 months in the freezer, the pancake mix will gradually lose its flavor and texture after 9 month has passed. However, once 12 months have passed, it is best that you discard the pancake mix. You can them use it immediately once you combine it with the wet ingredient.
How long can you store this Pancake Mix without freezing?
As long as the pancake mix is stored in an airtight container or bag, it should maintain its freshness for at least 6 months in the refrigerator. While the pancake mix may still be safe to eat beyond 6 months in the refrigerator, it will have a tendency to gradually lose its flavor and texture. After 9 months of refrigeration has passed, I would advise that you dispose of the pancake mix as it may no longer be edible.
Try These Other Recipes
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Easy Belgian Waffles
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Easy 3-Ingredient Frech Toast
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The Perfect Scrambled Eggs
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Savory Grits
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Easy 2-Ingredient Microwave Gravy Recipe
Easy 3-Ingredient Pancake Mix Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Whisk
- Measuring Cups/Spoons
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
- 1 32oz Mason Jar w/ Lid (optional)
- 1 Canning Funnel (optional)
Ingredients
Pancake Mix
- 3 Cups Self-Rising Flour
- 3/4 Cup Powdered Buttermilk
- 1/3 Cup White Granulated Sugar
To Make Pancakes
- 1 Cup Pancake Mix
- 3/4 Cup Cold Water
- 1 Each Egg (optional)
- 1 TSP Vanilla Extract (optional)
Instructions
To Make Pancake Mix
- To a large mixing bowl, add flour, sugar and powdered buttermilk then whisk until well combined for around 30-60 seconds
- Transfer pancake mix to mason jar (or other airtight container), seal container, and place in refrigerator until ready to use. Mix should maintain freshness for at least 6 months.
To Make Pancakes
- Warm griddle or skillet on medium heat (grease skillet is desired for crispy edges!)
- In mixing bowl, separate 1 cup of pancake mix and add water
- Stir pacanke mix together with water until just combined. If there are a few lumps in the batter, that is fine.
- Using 1/4 measuring cup size, add batter to hot skillet or griddle.
- Cook pancakes for 2-3 minutes or until bubbles form on the surface and the edges look set and dry, then flip the pancake and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until the bottom is golden brown.
- Remove pancakes from skillet or griddle and serve hot.
Notes