Pancake Recipe Without Milk (2024)

Most Saturday mornings I make pancakes for my family, as it’s currently one of our 1-year-old son’s favorite foods. While I am not above a store-bought mix, sometimes you want to make your own pancakes from scratch OR you have run out of the mix.

I also find sometimes I am missing a critical ingredient. We are often out or running low on milk at our house, and thus I have been perfecting my homemade pancakes without milk all this year.

If you want to make pancakes but are also out of milk, I’ve got the recipe for you.

Pancake Recipe Without Milk (1)

Can I Use Water Instead of Milk in Pancakes?

Milk adds both flavor and texture to pancake batter, so if you are looking to make pancakes without milk, a simple swap to water doesn’t always do the trick. For pancakes made without milk, you’ll want to add some flavor through melted butter and vanilla extract.

But, you could also add flavor with a couple handfuls of mix-in ingredients like chocolate chips, blueberries, chopped nuts, or sliced banana.

Looking to make your own pancake mix? Try this homemade whole-grain protein pancake mix.

Pancake Recipe Without Milk (2)

Pancakes Without Milk Ingredients:

  • All-Purpose Flour
  • Granulated White Sugar
  • Baking Powder
  • Salt
  • Water
  • Melted Butter
  • Egg
  • Vanilla Extract

Plus, you will need both butter and oil (I like olive oil) for cooking the pancakes in.

Pancake Recipe Without Milk (3)

How Thick Should Pancake Batter Be?

The batter should easily pour and spread in your pan. I usually think of it as the consistency of a hearty, thick soup or a country gravy. Pancake batter will puff and become more dense as it cooks.

How Do You Get That Crispy Edge on Pancakes?

Cooking pancakes in hot oil creates that crispy outer edge. This is personal preference, but I love the crispy outer edge on pancakes. I like to cook these pancakes without milk in both oil and butter to get that crispy edge, but deepen the flavor.

Pancake Recipe Without Milk (4)

Other breakfast recipes you might like:

Pancake Recipe Without Milk (5)

I usually serve these homemade pancakes with a little melted butter on top and whatever fresh fruit we have on hand. Plus maple syrup, always. Enjoy! -Emma

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Pancake Recipe Without Milk (7)Get the Recipe

easy homemade pancake recipe to make when you are out of milk

Prep 5 minutes mins

Cook 10 minutes mins

Total 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¾ cups water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted (plus more for cooking)
  • 2-3 tablespoons oil (for cooking)

Instructions

  • In a medium size mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

  • Add the water, vanilla extract, egg, and 2 tablespoons melted butter.

  • Stir until combined.

  • In a non-stick pan, heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil over medium to medium/low heat.

  • Once the butter has totally melted and the pan is hot, pour in the batter, ⅓ to ½ cup at a time. If your pan allows, you can cook multiple pancakes at once.

  • Once the edges are set and the centers are bubbling, flip the pancake and cook the other side.

  • Continue this method until you've cooked all the batter into pancakes.

Notes

Serve warm with butter, maple syrup, and fresh fruit.

For additional flavor, you could add in 1/2 cup chocolate chips, blueberries, or chopped nuts.

© Author Emma Chapman

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keywords pancakes

Pancake Recipe Without Milk (2024)

FAQs

Can you use water instead of milk for pancakes? ›

Typically the water can replace the milk at a 1:1 ratio. Keep in mind, that milk does contribute more flavor to pancakes, so when using water instead of milk in homemade pancakes, it's a good idea to add flavor by using ingredients such as vanilla extract.

What can I use if I run out of pancake mix? ›

If you run out of pancake mix, you can make pancakes at home with just a few simple ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, and a bit of sugar. Once you mix those dry ingredients, you'll add the milk, an egg, and butter to create a terrific pancake batter.

What makes pancakes fluffy baking powder or baking soda? ›

Adding baking powder is the easiest way to make fluffy pancakes. There's more than one way to make the bubbles that make a pancake fluffy, but the easiest way is by adding a raising agent such as baking powder.

What can I use water instead of milk? ›

Mix one cup of water with 1 ½ teaspoons melted butter. Water can be used in most recipes that call for milk. According to the USDA, 88 percent of the volume of milk is water.

Why is milk important for pancakes? ›

Milk adds both flavor and texture to pancake batter, so if you are looking to make pancakes without milk, a simple swap to water doesn't always do the trick. For pancakes made without milk, you'll want to add some flavor through melted butter and vanilla extract.

Can I make bisquick without milk? ›

When you make Bisquick pancakes with water, you will have a moist batter, but miss out on the protein, flavor and browning power of milk or substitute milk. Water may be used in a pinch, but you'll likely prefer the results you get with milk or an "alternative" milk.

Can you substitute butter for milk? ›

Use 1 cup of water and 1-1/2 teaspoons of butter for every 1 cup of milk called for in the recipe. The extra butter will help your baked goods stay moist.

Can I use oil instead of eggs for pancakes? ›

Instead of one egg in pancakes, you can use one tablespoon of oil and one tablespoon of water. This recipe also calls for melted butter and milk, which provides plenty of moisture for a stack of fluffy eggless pancakes.

How do you make pancake mix thicker without mix? ›

How do you fix a pancake batter that is too thin? Slowly add small amounts of flour to get desired thickness. You may need too add a pinch of baking soda and baking powder depending on the amount of flour added. Let it rest a couple of minutes before making pancakes.

What does adding an extra egg to pancakes do? ›

Eggs are a crucial ingredient. They provide the cakes with the structure to hold light bubbles. Eggs also give the batter additional, richer flavor from the yolk fat. If you add too many eggs, you'll have “pancakes” that look more like custard or crepes.

What happens if you don't put baking soda in pancakes? ›

For baked goods that don't require too much leavening, such as cookies or pancakes, it's actually OK to leave out the baking soda completely — they just won't be as light and fluffy. If you do go this route when making pancakes, Gan recommends pouring less batter into the pan to cover the same surface area.

What is the scientific secret of fluffy pancakes? ›

When cooked, the chemical leaveners (the baking powder and baking soda) in the pancakes created large air bubbles. The loose gluten network captured the air bubbles and maintained the each pancake's shape while still keeping it fluffy with air.

What happens if you use water instead of milk for Bisquick pancakes? ›

If you want to simplify it even further, you can make Bisquick pancakes with just water or your favorite milk alternative. They turn out a little flatter when using only water in the mix, but they still come out well and taste good.

Can I use water instead of milk for Aunt Jemima pancakes? ›

While the Original Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix has great dry ingredient ratios that yield fluffy pancakes, you should not make them without milk. Using water is only recommended if you're using the “complete” mix, which includes powdered milk.

Can you substitute milk for water in baking? ›

Yes, you can substitute milk for water when preparing SuperMoist cake mixes, however, the cake may be slightly drier than if prepared with water. Also keep in mind that milk will add calories and change the nutrition slightly.

Can I use water instead of milk for mac and cheese? ›

Water actually works perfectly well as a milk substitute in mac and cheese. It adds all the liquid you need, though it doesn't have the creaminess or flavor that other substitutes add. However, if you add a little pasta water, instead of plain tap water, to your cheese sauce, you might get better results.

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