Short Stack Pancakes for One Recipe

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You will flip for these made-from-scratch short-stack pancakes! These pancakes are made with simple and wholesome ingredients like flour, eggs, milk, and butter, which are tender, fluffy, and oh-so-delicious. Grab the skillet and spatula if you’re looking for a cozy weekend breakfast for one.

if you enjoy breakfast then this apple dutch baby for one, single serving french toast recipe and , Nutella is a great topping for pancakes and French toast! Also, don’t miss my single blueberry muffin recipe.

This recipe uses simple ingredients most of you will have at home, so throw away the boxed mix and try this fluffy small-batch pancakes recipe for one.

For a Sunday morning treat sprinkle with powdered sugar, drizzle the short stack, (two pancakes) with pure maple syrup, a homemade blackberry jam, or fresh fruit with a dollop of whipped cream.

No complex instructions, this pancake recipe can be prepared and cooked in minutes.

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe will give you far tastier pancakes than any box of store-bought pancake mix.
These fluffy American pancakes use simple ingredients most of you will have in your stores at home.
This is a versatile recipe, I’ve flavored the batter with cinnamon and vanilla, but you can play with the flavors and spices.
Serve these pancakes for one exactly how you like them, I’ve made some suggestions for toppings later in the post.

✔ Main Ingredients Notes

Full ingredient list, with quantities and instructions, are located in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Vanilla extract, flour, baking powder, salt, butter and sugar measured out for pancakes.

Flour: Use all-purpose flour.
Raising agent: Baking powder gives the pancakes a light and fluffy texture.
Sugar: Use granulated white sugar or a combination of white and brown sugar.
Salt: You need the salt to enhance the flavor and balance the sweetness of the sugar. I just use an iodized table salt, nothing fancy.
Egg: The whole egg gives the pancakes that fluffiness.
Milk: I mainly use either low fat or whole milk. Buttermilk is also very good for this recipe and if I have it on hand I’ll definitely use it for the batter.
Vanilla: Vanilla extract adds flavor depth.
Spices: I’ve added a pinch of ground cinnamon, this is entirely optional and you can leave out if you prefer.
Butter: Use melted salted butter, if you use unsalted then increase the added salt.
Oil: A bit of cooking oil for the skillet or an electric griddle

✎ Recipe Directions

Step Once: In a large measuring cup add the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Use a whisk to mix the ingredients together, If using cinnamon add now.

Step Two: Mix in the beaten egg, vanilla extract, and melted butter. Slowly add in the milk until you have a thick but easily poured consistency.

Step Three: Heat the cooking oil in a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Pour 1/2 for two pancakes or 1/3 of the batter for three pancakes onto the hot griddle. Mixing in a measuring cup makes it easy to get the right amount of batter onto the griddle.

Cook until bubbles form and start to break, usually about 2-3 minutes.

Step Four: The underside of the pancake should now be a nice golden brown. Use a large spatula to flip the pancake and cook for about one more minute.

Place the cooked pancake on a warmed plate or in a warm oven and repeat for the next pancake.

Sydney’s 5 Tips for Perfect Pancakes

Use the right ingredients. The batter mix usually contains baking powder, which helps to make them fluffy. Be sure to follow the recipe carefully and don’t add too much or too little of any ingredient.
Use a non-stick pan. This will help to prevent the pancakes from sticking to the pan and making them difficult to flip. If you like those crispy edges use a griddle, just make sure to add oil. The 10-inch cast-iron griddle version from Lodge is so useful.
Cook over a medium heat. If you cook them on too high of a heat, they will be burnt on the outside but not cooked through in the middle.
Flip them at the right time. Don’t flip the pancakes until they are ready – when they start to form small bubbles on the surface, they are ready to flip.
Toppings. Serve them with your favorite toppings.

Serving Suggestions

Top the stack exactly how you want it. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Serve with butter and syrup, or your favorite jelly or jam.
Add a spoon of whipped cream or thick Greek yogurt.
Top with crispy bacon and drizzle over some maple syrup for that perfect sweet/savory combination.
Serve with some fresh fruit, eg blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, sliced bananas, mango or pineapple. The options are endless.
You can even add flavor to the batter, add blueberries to the batter; stir through some finely shredded lemon or orange zest; or toss in a few chocolate chips.

plate oh homemade pancakes topped with berries and powdered sugar

Helpful tools for this recipe

This post contains affiliate links that won’t change your price but I may be paid a small commission which helps fund this blog.

Non-stick pan: A large skillet makes it so much easier to make pancakes, they won’t stick and will be easier to flip over. For a crispier pancake I like to use a cast-iron skillet.
Whisk: Use a whisk to remove lumps and ensure a smooth batter.
Spatula: A flat silicone spatula makes easy work of flipping pancakes.

How to store leftovers

Once cooked and cooled, store leftovers in an airtight container on the counter top for 1-2 days.

？Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a short stack and a full stack of pancakes?

A short stack of pancakes generally contains two pancakes, while a stack of pancakes can contain three or more pancakes.

Can pancakes be made ahead?

Pancakes are best made fresh, however you can store leftovers once they are cooked. What I do like to do is make up bags with the dry ingredients, ready to make pancakes any time I want. Measure out the dry ingredients for one serving, and place into a Ziploc bag. Date and label with directions, then just add the wet ingredients when you are ready to cook.

Can you freeze cooked pancakes?

Yes, you can freeze cooked pancakes. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or place them in a freezer bag. They will keep for up to 1 month for the best quality. When you’re ready to eat them, thaw the pancakes overnight in the refrigerator or reheat them directly from the freezer (no need to thaw) in a toaster oven.

My pancakes didn’t come out fluffy, what went wrong?

You may have over-mixed the pancake batter resulting in gluten forming and this results in a chewy pancake. For fluffy pancakes only whisk the batter to smooth and lump free, then stop.

Can I save leftover pancake batter?

Yes! Simply place the batter in a covered container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to use it again, just give it a good stir before cooking.

How hot should the skillet be to cook pancakes?

Most people believe that the skillet should be hot enough to make a drop of water sizzle when it hits the pan. However, if the skillet is too hot, the pancakes will burn on the outside while remaining raw in the center. The ideal temperature for cooking pancakes is between 375° and 380° Fahrenheit. Use a Digital Temperature Gun for Cooking to check the temperature of your skillet before cooking the pancakes.

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