# Pancake recipe **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 25, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pancake-recipe/616724 "2012-03-25T00:55:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pancake-recipe/616724/1 "2012-03-25T00:55:02Z")
I’ve been using Bisquick to make pancakes for years and my kids really like them. But to me they are just okay. So I checked out the dope for a pancake recipe and found [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8281091&postcount=5) one from Chefguy: ```auto A basic recipe that produces fluffy, tasty cakes: 1 cup sifted flour 1/2 cup buttermilk 1/2 TBSP sugar pinch of salt 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda (or a bit less) 1/2 TBSP cooking oil, such as canola Mix together until not smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding either more buttermilk or more flour. Fry in a bit of butter/oil mix for that nice crunchy surface. I also like to add a tsp of vanilla and a half tsp. of Penzey's Baking Spice, but if you think that's foo-foo, then forget it. Add blueberries also and you have heaven. ``` Is this really supposed to not include eggs? I’m about to try and make these tomorrow and I’m not sure if I skipping the eggs is right or not. Another recipe later also doesn’t include eggs, but most pancake recipes I’ve found do have eggs. Further, there was [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=421602) thread in which the op said she tried that same recipe with eggs and it didn’t turn out. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pancake-recipe/616724/2 "2012-03-25T02:23:52Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > I’ve been using Bisquick to make pancakes for years and my kids really like them. But to me they are just okay. So I checked out the dope for a pancake recipe and found [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8281091&postcount=5) one from Chefguy: > > ```auto > > A basic recipe that produces fluffy, tasty cakes: > > 1 cup sifted flour > 1/2 cup buttermilk > 1/2 TBSP sugar > pinch of salt > 1 tsp baking powder > 1/2 tsp baking soda (or a bit less) > 1/2 TBSP cooking oil, such as canola > > Mix together until not smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding either more buttermilk or more flour. Fry in a bit of butter/oil mix for that nice crunchy surface. > > I also like to add a tsp of vanilla and a half tsp. of Penzey's Baking Spice, but if you think that's foo-foo, then forget it. Add blueberries also and you have heaven. > > ``` > > Is this really supposed to not include eggs? I’m about to try and make these tomorrow and I’m not sure if I skipping the eggs is right or not. Another recipe later also doesn’t include eggs, but most pancake recipes I’ve found do have eggs. Further, there was [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=421602) thread in which the op said she tried that same recipe with eggs and it didn’t turn out. One egg! Crap! :smack::smack::smack: Very sorry. Over-mixing is not good. Mix the dry ingredients together first, then make a hole in the middle and add the beaten egg, buttermilk and vanilla. Gently mix them together with the flour until just combined. Also, make sure your baking powder is not past its shelf life. I fry mine in butter and treat them gently. ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pancake-recipe/616724/3 "2012-03-25T02:50:31Z")
Thanks for the correction! I’m glad you responded so quickly. I’ll put in a one beaten egg. I hadn’t checked the shelf life on my baking powder. It probably is pretty old. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pancake-recipe/616724/4 "2012-03-25T03:26:22Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > Thanks for the correction! I’m glad you responded so quickly. > > I’ll put in a one beaten egg. I hadn’t checked the shelf life on my baking powder. It probably is pretty old. Very important. If it or the baking soda are over the hill, your cakes will not be very light. If you’re not using buttermilk, then add another half teaspoon of baking powder and delete the baking soda. ---
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pancake-recipe/616724/5 "2012-03-25T05:09:37Z")
I like to mix some ricotta cheese into my pancake batter. Yum. ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pancake-recipe/616724/6 "2012-03-25T08:36:09Z")
I use lemon juice to turn regular milk into sour milk and that works well too. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pancake-recipe/616724/7 "2012-03-25T17:19:18Z")
You might also want to bump up the baking powder to two tsp. This is what happens when you post a recipe from memory. :rolleyes: I just made buttermilk pancakes this morning and they were light and yummy. I now use White Lily self-rising flour, which also makes a difference in texture. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pancake-recipe/616724/8 "2012-03-25T17:48:29Z")
I was gonna say, the key to fluffy tasty pancakes is usually to put in a heaping spoon of the leavener, instead of the level spoon that whatever recipe calls for. I like to make Nigella’s pancake recipe with half white and half wheat flour. Hers explicitly calls for the heaping teaspoon of baking powder–probably a measurement conversion thing, but it works. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pancake-recipe/616724/9 "2012-03-25T18:23:48Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I was gonna say, the key to fluffy tasty pancakes is usually to put in a heaping spoon of the leavener, instead of the level spoon that whatever recipe calls for. > > I like to make Nigella’s pancake recipe with half white and half wheat flour. Hers explicitly calls for the heaping teaspoon of baking powder–probably a measurement conversion thing, but it works. The old standby Betty Crocker cookbook calls for three tsp, which is a bit heavy, but they would sure be tall. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pancake-recipe/616724/11 "2012-03-29T11:55:46Z")
> [@Steph00013](#): > > I was actually searching for some recipes _spam link deleted_(ricette) which makes pancakes a little bit fluffier. I do it with lemon, and I might consider following your suggestion. Thank you, my kids will surely like it. Link goes to a food blog in Italian. Reported.