Light and Thin Pancakes From Homemade Pancake Mix Recipe

These fluffy pancakes are thin, and just a little crisp around the edges, but still light and airy inside.

By
Stella Parks
Stella Parks
Editor Emeritus
Stella Parks is a CIA-trained baking nerd and pastry wizard, dubbed one of America's Best New Pastry Chefs by Food & Wine. She was the pastry editor at Serious Eats from 2016 to 2019.
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Updated July 03, 2023

Why It Works

  • Refined coconut oil is odorless, flavorless, and solid at room temperature, with an extraordinary shelf life that makes it the perfect foundation for a shelf-stable mix.
  • Malted milk powder helps the pancakes brown, even without butter.
  • Low-density ingredients eliminate the need for physical aeration.

These classic American pancakes are none too thick, but still fluffy and light in the middle, with crispy bits around the edges. They start with a DIY pancake mix that can be made ahead and kept on the shelf until needed. When you're ready for pancakes, just whisk in a splash of milk and an egg—no whipping involved! Depending on how much milk you add, you’ll have a batter for thick and fluffy pancakes or light and thin ones. 

A fork piercing a double-layer portion of golden light and thin fluffy pancakes drenched in maple syrup and butter

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Pancakes on the griddle, with bubbles rising up through the batter.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

This thin pancake batter works best in 1/4-cup portions and is easy to pour from a large measuring cup. Generally it takes about 90 seconds per side for thick, 1/3-cup portions on a 350°F (177°C) griddle, but feel free to peek under the hood from time to time to monitor its progress. You know the pancakes are done when they reach an even, golden brown color from edge to edge.

Golden pancakes on a wire rack.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Serve these pancakes right away with butter and maple syrup or keep them warm on a wire rack in a low oven (around 170°F) or under the griddle.

Overheat shot of plated thin and fluffy pancakes with butter and maple syrup.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

March 2019

Recipe Details

Light and Thin Pancakes From Homemade Pancake Mix Recipe

Active About 10 mins
Total 10 mins
Serves 4 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

For the Pancake Mix:

  • 4 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour, such as Gold Medal blue label (about 1 cup, spooned; 125g)

  • 1/2 ounce sugar (about 1 tablespoon; 15g)

  • 1/2 ounce malted milk powder, such as Carnation or Hoosier Hill Farms (about 2 tablespoons; 15g)

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons (6.8g) baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon (2g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use about half as much by volume or the same weight

  • 1/4 teaspoon (1.6g) baking soda

  • 2 1/2 ounces refined coconut oil, solid and firm, between 68°F and 72°F (about 1/3 cup; 70g) (see note)

For the Pancake:

  • 6 ounces milkany percentage will do, or nondairy alternatives (about 3/4 cup; 170g)

  • 1 large egg, straight from the fridge (1 3/4 ounces; 50g)

  • 1/4 ounce vanilla extract (about 1 1/2 teaspoons; 7g)

Directions

  1. In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, sugar, malted milk powder, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Process about 30 seconds to ensure the leavening agents are fully homogenized into flour.

    Side by side comparison of pancake dry mix on a food processor, before and after blending

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

  2. Add solid coconut oil and pulse only until it disappears into a dry and powdery mix, just a few seconds. It's important the coconut oil is fully combined into the flour, while also remaining powdery and dry, so use caution and avoid over-processing. (At this point, you can either continue on with the recipe or transfer the mix to an airtight container and store up to one year at or below 74°F (24°C), or until the date stamped on the package of coconut oil.)

    Side by side images showing incorporating the coconut oil into the pancake mix for a dry, powdery mix

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

  3. Preheat an electric griddle to 350°F (177°C), or heat a large, nonstick skillet to a similar temperature on the stovetop. In a large mixing bowl, whisk milk, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined. Add flour/coconut oil mixture and whisk until smooth, although a few flecks of coconut oil may dot batter.

    A three-image collage of making pancake batter: cracking in egg, whisking together egg and milk, then adding dry mix

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

  4. With a large scoop, measuring cup, or ladle, divide thin batter in 1/4-cup portions (or as desired) and griddle until golden brown on either side, and cooked through the middle, about 90 seconds per side. Serve immediately, with butter, maple syrup, fresh fruit, whipped cream, or whatever other toppings sound fun.

    Lifting a pancake up with a spatula to check doneness.

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

  5. Troubleshooting: The timing and yield of this recipe will vary substantially depending on how the pancake batter is portioned as well as the exact temperature of the griddle itself. When pancakes are excessively browned but raw in the middle, the griddle is likely too hot; when the pancakes are cooked through but too soft and pale, the griddle may be too cool.

Special Equipment

Food processor, electric griddle, large scoop, measuring cup, or ladle for portioning

Notes

This mix can be prepared with an equal amount of cold, unsalted butter to replace the coconut oil; however, this will eliminate its make-ahead qualities, and the mix will need to be prepared and used right away.

Make-Ahead and Storage

In an airtight container, the pancake mix can be stored up to one year at or below 74°F (24°C), or until the date stamped on the package of coconut oil.

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
340Calories
19gFat
33gCarbs
6gProtein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories340
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g25%
Saturated Fat 15g76%
Cholesterol 49mg16%
Sodium 499mg22%
Total Carbohydrate 33g12%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 169mg13%
Iron 2mg11%
Potassium 139mg3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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