Best Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

These fluffy buttermilk pancakes have a diner-style light and fluffy texture with real buttermilk flavor in every bite. Dress them up with add-ins like berries, chocolate, and more!

Good news to all my fellow pancake freaks: your search for the perfect stack of buttermilk pancakes is officially over.

I mean, what can I even say about these except they are perfection with a capital P? I’m talking crisp, lacy edges, a thick and fluffy texture, and real tangy buttermilk flavor shining through in every syrup-laden bite.

Suffice to say, you’re going to be stacking these on your breakfast agenda for a good long time.

One of my favorite things to do when I’m out for breakfast is ordering a side pancake alongside my meal. My goal for these pancakes was to replicate those diner-style pancakes you can expect to be served at breakfast.

This recipe delivers and thensome. So much so I may not need to ever leave the house for breakfast again…

These Buttermilk Pancakes feature…

• Rich and tangy buttermilk flavor
• A super light and fluffy texture
• A blank canvas for many add-ins but just as good plain with maple syrup + butter as well

Making the Buttermilk Pancakes

(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)

Ingredients You Will Need

• Unsalted butter
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Buttermilk
• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Kosher salt

Make Ahead Instructions

If would like to prep these pancakes ahead of time, combine the dry ingredients in an airtight container and store sealed at room temperature up to 2 months.

When ready to cook pancakes, whisk the liquid ingredients, fold the dry mix into batter, and cook pancakes according to recipe instructions.

Tips for Perfect Buttermilk Pancakes

1. Spoon and level flour – I use the spoon-and-level technique for measuring flour as this will prevent over-measuring your flour. Use a spoon to scoop flour into the measuring cup, then level with the back of a knife.
2. Allow melted butter to cool – wait for the butter to cool before mixing with the other ingredients to prevent curdling.
3. Gently fold batter – use a light hand when mixing batter to prevent overmixing.
4. Use real buttermilk – this gives the pancakes a rich and tangy flavor.

Recipe Variations

Try these ideas for a different twist on these pancakes.

• Add fruit – fold 3/4 cup blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, chopped strawberries, or peaches into batter.
• Make it chocolatey – fold 1/2 cup semisweet, dark, or white chocolate into the batter.
• Add banana – mash 1 small ripe banana and fold into batter.
• Try different toppings – top pancakes with a fruit sauce, whipped cream, caramel sauce, or chocolate sauce.

One bite of these melt-in-your-mouth pancakes and I think you’ll agree that your quest for the perfect pancake is over! Nobody can resist a stack of these fluffy queens with extra butter smeared on top and that nonnegotiable maple syrup waterfall.

Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.

More favorite pancake recipes to try next!

• Cornmeal Peach Pancakes
• Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes
• Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

This post was updated with new recipe adjustments and photos on 1/15/26.