Rise and Shine with 21 Perfect Pancake Recipes

By Southern Living Editors
Updated January 05, 2021
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Hot off the griddle, thick, fluffy, crispy on the outside, cloud-like on the inside, stuffed with bananas, sprinkled with chocolate chips, loaded with blueberries, or drowned in sweet cane syrup. No matter how you like your homemade pancakes, we have a fluffy pancake recipe for you. There’s something about waking up early on a Saturday morning, slowly heating up a griddle and filling your house with the smell of fluffy pancakes hot off the stove. Here are some of our best pancake recipes to make your breakfasts (or brunches) a little sweeter.

From unique pancake recipes with sophisticated toppings like creamy ricotta cheese, rich brown butter, and fresh and sweet blueberry compote drizzle, to classic fluffy pancakes that are so light they’ll make your heart float away. For a traditional twist, try a big-batch pancake casserole to feed your brunch crowd. These decadent perfect pancake recipes are certainly company-worthy. But you may not want to share.

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Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

These cinnamon roll pancakes sure are stunners. With a signature cinnamon swirl and a simple vanilla glaze, these pancakes are fit for an indulgent celebratory breakfast.

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Sheet Pan Berry Pancakes with Honey-Butter Syrup

Credit: Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Recipe: Sheet Pan Berry Pancakes with Honey-Butter Syrup

Making pancakes on a sheet pan is the best way to ensure that you're not standing over the stove flipping pancakes all morning. You can choose to make them with whatever fruit you have on hand or serve them plain. 

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Easy Homemade Pancakes

Credit: Tjahjono Soekardjk

Recipe: Easy Homemade Pancakes

Some days, you've just gotta stick to the classics. Keep this homemade pancake recipe in your back pocket for easy, breezy homemade breakfasts.

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Bacon Pancakes

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Bacon Pancakes

A strip of crispy bacon, griddled right into a fluffy flapjack? This may just be the best of both worlds. Sweet, salty, and savory combine in a new breakfast favorite.

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Ricotta Pancakes with Brown Butter-Maple Syrup and Blueberry Compote

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Ricotta Pancakes with Brown Butter-Maple Syrup and Blueberry Compote

These light and fluffy pancakes are great on their own, but even better when they're topped with our Brown Butter-Maple Syrup and Blueberry Compote.

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Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Casserole

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Casserole

Pancake casserole is a fabulous way to serve up a big-batch brunch for the whole family. This dish can be prepared in advance to make your meal prep a breeze.

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Red Velvet Pancakes

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Red Velvet Pancakes

Layered with sweet cream cheese butter, these thick, cake-like pancakes are fit for any special occasion or a simple Saturday morning. 

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Sweet Potato Casserole Hotcakes

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole Hotcakes

If sweet potato casserole is a favorite dish on your holiday dinner spread, your family and friends will adore this new way to repurpose the leftovers.

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Dutch Baby Pancake

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Dutch Baby Pancake

This light, airy Dutch Baby pancake is sure to stun as the centerpiece of your brunch spread. The recipe itself is oh-so-simple and can be enhanced by creative fillings, like whipped cream and fruit or drizzled chocolate.

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Pancake Casserole

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Pancake Casserole

Topped with melty pats of butter, this casserole looks and tastes like those oh-so-special breakfasts of your childhood. You can't go wrong with this big-batch twist on a morning staple.

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Hummingbird Pancakes

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Hummingbird Pancakes

These fruity, toasty pancakes pay homage to our favorite hummingbird cake. 

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Peaches-and-Cream Pancakes

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Peaches-and-Cream Pancakes

Southern peaches and cream packed into fluffy, buttery pancakes. We can't think of a better way to start our morning.

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Oatmeal Pancakes

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Oatmeal Pancakes

Start your morning off right with this healthier twist on the classic pancake. Oat flour gives these pancakes a whole wheat flavor while still maintaining that lovely, fluffy flapjack texture.

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Pancake Bake with Cinnamon Streusel

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Pancake Bake with Cinnamon Streusel

The cinnamon streusel adds a sweet, festive flair to this breakfast casserole. Its warm flavors are perfect for the holidays– plus, it can be made ahead to lighten your load on Thanksgiving or Christmas morning.

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Blackberry-Lemon Griddle Cakes

Credit: Helen Norman; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Blackberry-Lemon Griddle Cakes

Blackberry and lemon are a match made in heaven. This recipe provides the perfect way to use up all that extra summer fruit for a light, delicious breakfast.

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Pecan Pancakes with Caramel Apple Topping

Credit: Luca Trovato

Recipe: Pecan Pancakes with Caramel Apple Topping

Warm, toasty pecans meet decadently sweet caramel apples in the ultimate Southern pancakes. This recipe is perfect for the fall, and buttermilk keeps our oven pancakes extra fluffy.

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Gingerbread Pancakes

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Gingerbread Pancakes

In the heart of the holiday season, these creative and flavorful gingerbread pancakes are sure to be a breakfast crowd-pleaser.

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German Chocolate Pancakes

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: German Chocolate Pancakes

Celebrating a birthday over breakfast? Light a few candles atop this decadent German Chocolate Pancake tower.

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Caramel Cake Pancakes

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Caramel Cake Pancakes

Take your simple homemade pancake recipe to the next level with the addition of sophisticated caramel syrup.

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Banana Pancakes

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Banana Pancakes

"Make you banana pancakes, pretend like it's the weekend now... there ain't no need to go outside." Jack Johnson said it all, folks.

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Sheet Pan Buttermilk Pancakes

Credit: RealSimple.com

Recipe: Sheet Pan Buttermilk Pancakes

Sheet cakes are our favorite hack to bake homemade dessert for a crowd– so why not change up your big-batch breakfast routine and try making these sheet pan pancakes?

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