Homemade Pancake Mix Recipe
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Make pancakes every morning with this Easy Pancake Mix Recipe! All you need is water, oil, and an egg for the fluffiest pancakes ever!

Pancake Mix
The only issue with pancakes I have is waking up early enough to make a batch and get my kids out the door to catch their bus. Enter this utterly divine homemade Pancake Mix. If you need the perfect way to make pancakes, this is it. It’s a fast, simple method that will give you probably some of the best pancakes out there. Plus you make the base pancake mix ahead of time so when it comes time to actually make pancakes, it’s a cinch.
Main Ingredients Needed
In the pancake mix recipe, I call for a lot of common ingredients like:
- flour
- salt
- baking powder
- baking soda…
and one, not-so-common ingredient: powdered milk! I hate to say it, but it really is my secret and the key to prosperity, success, and the fluffiest pancakes in the wooooorrrrrllllldddd. You can also use powdered buttermilk here for buttermilk pancakes.
Variations
Feel free to customize this mix and pancake recipe so it suits your needs.
If you have an egg issue going on, one of my readers suggested vegan egg powder.
If you have gluten allergies, use GF flour.
If you hate plain pancakes, spice it up with fruit or fancy syrup. (This homemade Cinnamon Roll Syrup is also highly recommended.) Other readers have added nutmeg, cinnamon, or vanilla to make their pancakes a little more special.
How to Make Pancake Mix
For all of the nitty-gritty details, see the recipe card below.
- Measure out a bunch of flour, sugar, powdered milk, salt, and leavenings into a mixing bowl.
- Stir it together and that’s it!! Pancake mix you can use for days and days.
Storing Pancake Mix
Store homemade pancake mix in an airtight container in a cool dry place (aka your pantry).
Check the expiration dates on all of the ingredients you used, whichever one is up first indicates when your mix will go bad. So use fresh ingredients for longer-lasting mix!
This would be perfect for your food storage {if you do that sort of thing} OR, even to have on hand for a faster breakfast idea.
How to Make Pancakes with Mix
For full details see the recipe card below 🙂
- To make a batch of these, simply measure out 2 cups of the mix, then add in an egg, some water, and a little oil.
- Whisk ’til the batter is smooth and fry these little dudes up. Good things happening right here!
- Eat these babies hot off the griddle. Ideally with butter. And a touch of syrup… ok, A LOT of syrup.
These will have the same texture that store-bought mixes would have, but minus all the weirdo ingredients.
Yes, you still have to stand over a stove for 10-ish minutes cooking pancakes, but that’s a small price to pay after one bite of these!
How to Make Waffles with Pancake Mix
PS- This recipe also makes waffles! Whhheeeeeee!
Simply mix the batter as directed in the recipe card below but instead of frying on a griddle, pour that batter into a waffle iron. Top with desired toppings and enjoy!

Feeling adventurous with Pancakes? Try these recipes out:
- Banana Chocolate Chip Walnut Pancakes
- Cinnamon Roll Pancake & Waffle Syrup
- Mini Chocolate Chip Doughnut Pancake Dippers
- Apple Pancakes with Caramel Syrup
- Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes
- Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
Give this Pancake Mix a whirl, you guys! You won’t be sorry 🙂
Printable recipe card and helpful video below!

Homemade Pancake Mix Recipe
Ingredients
Instant Pancake & Waffle Mix
- 6 1/3 cups all purpose unbleached flour
- 1 1/3 cups instant dry milk powder
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons salt
For Instant Pancakes -
- 2 cups pancake mix
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
For Instant Waffles -
- 2 cups pancake mix
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 1/4 cups cold water
Instructions
Instant Pancake Mix
- Measure all ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir to combine. Store in airtight containers before using.
Instant Pancakes
- Whisk all ingredients together until smooth. Fry on lightly greased griddle until golden brown.
Instant Waffles
- Whisk all ingredients together until smooth. Pour onto preheated and greased waffle iron and cook as desired.
GREAT mix recipe! I modified it a tiny bit by adding vegan powdered egg to the recipe (4 rounded tablespoons) and it turned out FANTASTIC, and even more instant (you just have to add a tad more water)!
Powdered egg recipe here: https://wholenewmom.com/recipes/energ-egg-substitute-egg-replacer-without-eggs/
Vegan powdered egg?! Never knew that existed, but so glad you tried my recipe and loved it!
[…] seem like the way to go. It was when on a round of aimless Pinterest browsing I discovered this Instant Pancake Mix recipe on Laurens Latest! I felt like all my prayers have been answered. I threw all the ingredients in a jar, gave it a […]
[…] The *Best* Instant Pancake Mix and […]
[…] kind of family. I suppose I went through a pancake phase, but that was 1 1/2 years and one less kid ago. Times have […]
How does this compare to your fluffy buttermilk waffle recipe? I love those waffles!!
So good! I make it on the regular since we have breakfast for dinner every Sunday night!
[…] Since I’m just getting settled back in, I thought I’d share this quick recipe to go with my updated Instant Pancake and Waffle Mix. […]
[…] dollar pancakes (just a fancy way for saying mini […]
Hi there,
What a great idea!
Do you have the measurments in grams?
Kind regards!
Necesito los ingredientes medidos en gramos para medirlos mejor gracias
[…] kind of family. I suppose I went through a pancake phase, but that was 1 1/2 years and one less kid ago. Times have […]
Oh thank you for this!! I have been looking for a make ahead mix!!
I am soooo going to try this recipe for both pancakes and waffles! I love that it’s so easy to make with simple ingredients.
I’m super excited to try this recipe! I like the ease of pancake mixes but always feel that they have funky stuff in them so this would be so much better!
This is exactly what I’m looking for! Planning on making this over the holidays for our family and some out of town guests. Thank you!
This is my all time favorite recipe for pancakes!
I enjoy all your recipes you post on your sight. I am very ill now and not eating much, but l can dream of a better day. I want to make the pancake mix so when l can eat they will be ready to make. Great idea.
Hi,
I am wondering if instead of using instant dry milk powder, fresh milk could be used in recipe replacing the water?
I enjoy following Lauren’s latest.
Thank you,
Lee
[…] The *Best* Instant Pancake Mix and […]
Hi Lauren!
We have been using your waffle mix for our after church dinner on Sundays for over a year. We love it! Thanks so much.
I collaborate on a newsletter for our HOA, and I wanted to ask permission to put your recipe with my review in the newsletter. I’d put your website with the article so you’d get credit and perhaps more readers.
Thanks for your consideration!
Becca
Sure thing! If you can send me a digital copy once you have it published, I’d love to see it!
I took 1 cup mix , adjusting other ingredients accordingly. But the water was not enough.so instead of 1/2 cup water, according to the given ratio , I used 1 cup water to attain the desired consistency.is the instruction wrong , or I am not getting something?
[…] The *Best* Instant Pancake Mix Recipe […]
How long does the powdered portion of this recipe last? Weeks, months?
I found your recipe on Pinterest recently and tried these pancakes this morning. Everyone loved them. I plan to make multiple batches for my Breakfast Basket family gifts this Christmas. thanks for sharing.
I have been looking for this for the longest time. I can’t wait to use it. Thee are so many nice pancake mixes on the market but they are so high in sodium. This looks just great!!!
I like to grate a little fresh nutmeg for amazing fresh taste. I also let any pancake or waffle batter rest for at least 5 mins. so that the ingredients have time to absorb and work their magic.
Can you sub canola oil for any other oil? Not a fan serving that stuff to my family, even if it’s a tablespoon or two.
I’ve made this recipe now at least three times! (Family of three, pancakes MAYBE once a month, but guests get them the rest of the time)- AMAZING recipe! My only question is why do mine always come out almost an inch thick! LOL People eat one pancake and they’re full 😀 Best way to feed a crowd, that’s for sure, especially with homemade fruit syrup!
My GOSH this looks so good! Those pancakes are so fluffy!!!
What are your thoughts on adding some cinnamon to this mixture?
Found this recipe via Pinterest. My kids love pancakes and while I love the convenience of ready-made mix, I don’t care for a lot of the ingredients–namely the partially hydrogenated oils and preservatives. I made this recipe today and even though I goofed on my estimates at the store and was short a 1/3 cup of the powdered milk, these were still DELICIOUS!! Light and fluffy! To die for! My 4 yr old gobbled hers up. lol
Some could probably argue the extra steps of adding egg and oil plus the water as not nearly convenient as the store bought “just add water”. However I think not having to measure out all the ingredients every time, every morning for homemade pancakes is a time saver–plus, anything homemade is better than store bought/processed food anyway. I love the idea of a “from scratch” pancake quick! A total win-win!!
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Can I substitute buttermilk for the water to make buttermilk pancakes? Do I need to make any other adjustments?
Thank you,
Emily
can use butter milk powder instead of instant dry milk powder?thank you in advance ^_^
I was wondering g if this mix would work well in a waffle iron!
And I always wave a Thank you!!!
If you want buttermilk pancakes add powdered buttermilk in instead of powdered milk! makes better pancakes!
Made a half batch because I wanted to make sure I liked them before I put together a full batch, Kind of wish I would have done even less. They were nothing like the boxed pancake mix. When I asked my fiance how the pancakes were he said “try a different recipe” They were very dense and thick and bland. They looked as though they would be fluffy but were not. They didn’t absorb butter or syrup very well either. Weird. I will not throw out my leftover mix though. I think I will use it up by trying to add a bit of vanilla. Hopefully that will make them at least tolerable. Maybe adding a bit more water will thin them out too…. I’ll post a follow up if it improves the flavor and texture at all.
And I’m sorry but nice people don’t need a thank you to feel good about the nice thing they did.
ps. I do wave.
Should this be kept like regular pancake mix and should it last as long.Thanks.
how many pancake the 1st around will it make ?
I use dried buttermilk powder and find that the egg is unnecessary.
I love the idea of homemade pancake mix. I would add a little flax seed to it to add fiber. You don’t taste it and it adds nutrition to the mix. Can’t wait to try this.
Hi there, I am from Singapore. I am wondering what brand of instant dry milk powder you use? Kindly advise.
Can I substitute milk for the water when making the pancakes and eliminate the milk powder in the recipe?
Use buttermilk powder by SACO instead of powdered milk.
i love buttermilk pancakes! Will this recipe also work with powdered buttermilk, and would the quantity be the same?
Ah, people neglecting the hand wave. I grumble when that happens too.
I frequently do the hand wave thing twice, just to make sure the person that let me in sees it and doesn’t think I’m ungrateful. Because I’m not. Ungrateful that is.
Speaking of gratitude, this looks awesome. I don’t like buying the mixes, but sometimes you just need a quick fix, so this is great.
Consider this a hand wave of thanks. Make that two, just so you know I’m saying thanks.
OMG! These are the best pancakes ever! My husband and son loved them. I will never buy a boxed mix again. 🙂
Hi Lauren
I just made a batch of your mix to take with us on ski vacation. We are looking forward to enjoying some goooood pancakes! I always mix the mix the night before and put it in the fridge over night. That way, all the ingredients are completely hydrated. I’ve found that it makes for tastier, smoother pancakes.
Cheers Lauren and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I remember my mom would always make us pancakes before we headed out the door for school something she said we always needed warm in our bellies! But I remember when she run out of syrup she would make us some any ideas?
These look so delish. Love the photography too! Makes me want to make them straight away!
I’m wondering if you have a pancake recipe that is gluten free? My grandson, who loves to come over to Grams’ house (that’s me) on the weekends is on a gluten free diet. It’s hard to be making two different kinds of meals to accommodate him, but I do it. I have a fantastic recipe for him for chocolate, chocolate chip cookies (bought the pre-made box of chocolate chip cookies and it made half of my recipe (and they were not very good) – at twice the price of my recipe. He’s always happy to get my cookies – and limits himself to make them last longer. His dad (my son) would just gobble them up. By the way …… i absolutely LOVE your recipes, thoughts, etc. (And I, too, live in Portland!)
I’ve decided to make up a bunch of pre-made recipes and tuck them in a basket for each of my two son’s families for Christmas. Did some of that last year and they loved it. This recipe will be one of the gifts!