For the Batter:

• 1-1/4 cup of flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 2-1/2 teaspoons of sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1-1/2 cup of buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons of butter

There’s something magical about pancakes on a slow morning. These are my go-to fluffy, golden pancakes. They´re super simple to make, and guaranteed to make the kitchen smell like love. Whether you’re cooking with kids, for a cozy brunch, or just for yourself (yes, you deserve pancakes anytime!), this recipe is here to deliver joy in every bite.

Start by mixing all the dry ingredients in a big bowl. Give them a little whisk to get everything evenly spread. Then pour in the milk, crack in the egg, and add the vanilla, stirring gently until the batter comes together. It doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth! In fact, a few lumps make it better somehow, like a reminder not to take things too seriously. When you mix pancake batter too much though, you’re not just blending ingredients, you’re waking up the gluten in the flour. Gluten is a stretchy protein that gives structure to bread (great for chewy loaves!), but in pancakes, we want the opposite: soft, fluffy, cloud-like goodness. Over-mixing makes the gluten too active, which can lead to tough, rubbery pancakes instead of light and tender ones.

While the batter rests for a minute, heat up a non-stick pan over medium heat and add a touch of butter. The first pancake is always the tester, sometimes it’s a bit wonky, usually a treat for Billie, but it sets the tone. I pour in the batter (about a quarter cup at a time), and when little bubbles start popping on the surface, it’s time to flip. That’s the magic moment, when golden meets golden and everything smells just right. I keep going until the batter’s gone, stacking them warm and fluffy on a plate. Then it’s all about the toppings: a drizzle of maple syrup, maybe some fruit, or even a dollop of yogurt. However you serve them, these pancakes are always a hug on a plate.

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For years, I chased the perfect pancake. For about 5 years starting circa 2017, my kitchen was a little pancake laboratory — messy bowls, half-used measuring spoons, flour dust on the counter, and that unmistakable smell of hope sizzling in the pan. I tried so many recipes, tweaking one thing, then another. Some were too thin, some too dense, some just… not it. But I kept going, because I knew what I was looking for: that golden, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth pancake that feels like a hug: warm, comforting, & just right.

Eventually, I found the one. It wasn’t flashy or fancy. Just simple, trustworthy, & delicious every single time. Since then, this recipe has been on my kitchen wall like a little secret I get to share with anyone who walks through the door hungry. It’s more than a recipe now, it’s a part of my home.

And what I love most about pancakes is that, in some way, they belong to every home. Nearly every culture has its own version of this humble, joyful food, sometimes sweet, sometimes savory, always comforting. From the paper-thin crêpes of France to the spongy injera of Ethiopia, the hearty blinis of Russia, dosas in South India, or the soft, rolled hotcakes we had growing up — pancakes are a global language of love, made from simple ingredients and shared across generations.

They show up at birthdays, lazy Sundays, street corners, & celebrations. They soak up stories and carry the taste of home, no matter where “home” is. Maybe that’s why I was so determined to find my perfect pancake…because pancakes have always been more than food. They’re tradition, connection, and care, cooked on a hot surface, flipped with hope, & served warm to someone you love.

So whether you’re flipping your very first pancake or making your hundredth batch, just know this: perfection isn’t in the shape or the stack, it’s in the joy of making something simple & delicious with your own hands. These pancakes have been with me for years now, & every time I make them, I’m reminded that the best recipes are the ones that feel like home. From my kitchen to yours, may your mornings be slow, your pancakes fluffy, & your syrup just the right amount of sticky.