How to Make the Fluffiest Pancakes

Fluffy pancakes topped with maple syrup and fresh fruit.

Light and fluffy pancakes can be made in the comfort of your own home. You don't need to spend a lot of money on ingredients or be a professional chef to enjoy this treat. You may already have most of the key ingredients in your pantry. The secret to making fluffy pancakes is to mix together baking soda and an acid such as vinegar that react together to produce carbon dioxide gas, which makes pancakes light and fluffy.

Things You'll Need

• 2 tbsp. white vinegar
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tbsp. melted butter
• Cooking oil
• Spatula
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Mix together the milk and vinegar and let sit for several minutes. In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients -- flour, baking soda and salt. Whisk the butter into the egg before mixing in with the milk and vinegar. Add the dry ingredients to the liquid mixture and blend together until there are no lumps.

2. Heat a skillet on medium heat and then add cooking oil or cooking spray. Use a measuring cup to get 1/4th cup of the pancake mixture and pour it onto the skillet. Wait until you see bubbles forming in the pancake. Enough bubbles being formed means that the pancake is being cooked evenly and will be fluffy. When the bottom side has solidified enough, take a spatula and use it to flip the pancake onto the other side. Cook until both sides are golden brown.

3. Place the cooked pancake onto a plate covered with a paper towel. After the next pancake is cooked, cover the first pancake with another paper towel before placing another pancake on top. The paper towels between each pancake ensure that moisture will not be reabsorbed by the pancakes, making them soggy instead of fluffy. Remove the paper towels when all pancakes are cooked and you are ready to serve them.

4. Pick out your toppings. If you are ravenous and want a heavy breakfast, top your pancakes with real maple syrup and a dollop of butter. If you want to indulge in a sweet treat without piling on the calories, use honey instead. Add strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries as a healthy side.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't use an egg beater to beat the pancake mixture because it will cause the bonds between gluten in the flour to become weak and the mixture will get runny.

• Don't let your pancakes sit too long with maple syrup or honey on them before eating because they'll get soggy.

References

• Teaching Science With Favorite Picture Books: Enliven Your Reading Lessons, By Ann Flagg, Mary Ory, Teri Ory, page 80, Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle