Follow our simple step-by-step pancake recipe to make classic, thin pancakes. Top these crêpe-style pancakes with lemon and sugar.
Traditionally made on Pancake Day, British pancakes are similar to French crêpes. They’re thin and often rolled or folded with a sweet filling inside. This pancake recipe uses just four cooking essentials; flour, salt, eggs, and milk. These sweet pancakes would make a great dessert option too topped with ice cream, drizzled in chocolate sauce, and finished with whipped cream.
Ingredients
- 60g plain flour
- Pinch of salt
- 1 medium egg
- 175ml milk
- Oil, for frying
WEIGHT CONVERTER
Method
- Tip the flour into a bowl and stir in the salt. Lightly beat together the egg and milk. Pour over the flour mixture, a little at a time, whisking it well, to give a smooth pancake batter.
- Heat a frying pan and very lightly grease the base of it with a piece of kitchen paper dipped in oil. Pour a thin layer of batter over the base of the pan. Cook it until the edges start to curl back. Either toss the pancake or use a palette knife to loosen it around the edges and then use the palette knife to help flip it over.
- Cook the pancake briefly on this side, then slide it out onto a plate. Place a sheet of kitchen paper on top. Cook the rest of the mixture in the same way.
- Keep the pancakes warm if serving hot and choose your favourite pancake fillings.
Watch how to make easy pancakes
Top tips for making this pancake recipe
To test the frying pan is ready, drop a little bit of the mixture onto the heated pan. You want make sure the pan is at a medium heat so the pancakes and the pan itself doesn’t burn.
How to store leftover pancakes
Leftover pancakes can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days served hot or cold. You can also keep the leftover batter in the fridge for up to 1 day. Just cover with clingfilm in a bowl or jug. Make sure you whisk the batter vigorously before cooking with it again as the mixture may separate.
How to freeze pancakes
To freeze basic pancakes for up to 2 months, interleave them with kitchen paper and wrap them with clingfilm storing them in a freezer bag. Defrost in the fridge before using and reheating again. You can reheat your pancakes in the microwave in just a few seconds.
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Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 12 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies.
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