Plump and pillowy, IHOP Pancakes copycat is just as tasty as what you’d find in the restaurant yet costs a fraction of the price. You can easily double the recipe to feed a large crowd or add chopped fresh fruits to the batter for another layer of yum.
I usually don’t go to bed until almost dawn so it’s always a struggle for me to wake up before 10:30 AM. The only time I willingly get out of bed earlier than that is when G and I make a morning trip to IHOP for pancakes. I mean, really. Fluffy pancakes drenched in butter pecan syrup, a couple sides of crisp bacon, and a fresh pot of piping-hot coffee, who wouldn’t, right?
We used to do these delicious breakfast runs at least once a week, up until the beginning of this year when we decided to be more conscientious about our spending and limit our eating out. Nowadays, when we want our pancake fix, I make them from scratch based on an IHOP pancakes copycat recipe I found on Pinterest months ago and which quickly became a favorite in our house.
Seriously, you guys, if you’re looking to replicate the buttery buttermilk pancakes the restaurant is known for, these IHOP pancakes copycat won’t disappoint! They’re just as tasty and delicious as the original yet cost a fraction of the price.
Look at ’em! Plump and pillowy, they’re like sweet heaven on a fork!
This IHOP pancakes copycat recipe serves about four but can easily be doubled to feed large appetites a large crowd. It’s all a matter of stirring the dry and the wet ingredients together, whipping up a batch everyone in the family would love waking up for doesn’t have to be a feat.
And as if their deliciousness wasn’t awesome enough, they’re super adaptable, too. If you prefer whole wheat pancakes, just substitute equal amounts of whole wheat flour for the all-purpose. You can also add fresh berries or chopped fruits to the batter for an extra layer of flavor and texture.
Here a few tips on how to take your breakfast pancakes from good to great:
- For light and airy pancakes, do not over mix batter. Combine the wet and dry ingredients with minimal strokes until mostly smooth, a few lumps here and there are fine.
- A nonstick pan or griddle is best for easy flipping. Do not over grease the pan. Instead of melting butter directly on the pan, I like to quickly swipe a solid bar of butter or rub on melted butter with a paper towel on the surface of the pan to lightly coat.
- Make sure the pan or griddle (this is an affiliate link for the one I use at home) is sufficiently hot before you add batter. Keep on medium-low heat to ensure pancakes cook nice and fluffy on the inside while beautifully browned on the outside.
- Patience, please! I’ve ruined many pancakes in my day because I get too excited to wait. Pancakes are ready to flip when bubbles appear on the surface and the edges begin to brown.
- Do not pat or press down the pancakes as they cook. You’ll end up with heavy, dense pancakes instead of the light and airy texture you want.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons butter and more for greasing pan, melted
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In a small bowl, combine egg and buttermilk. Whisk together until blended. Add to flour mixture, stirring only until smooth. Add the two tablespoons melted butter and sugar, and stir until combined.
- Over medium low heat, heat pan or griddle. Lightly grease surface of the pan by lightly brushing with melted butter.
- Drop about 1/4 cup batter on pan in a 5-inch wide circle. Cook until bubbles begin to form on surface and edges begin to brown.
- Gently flip and continue to brown the other side. Repeat with remaining batter.
- Serve hot with butter and syrup of choice.
Nutrition Information
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
Heidi says
I made with gluten free flour. Left badder rest 10 mins ish. Added vanilla
Awesome!!!
Chris says
My grandson tells me “Nana, you make the best pancakes”. That
says it all!!
Mary says
Thank you for the delicious pancake recipe. My husband and I really enjoyed them. What a great way to use up my buttermilk. I use it for buttermilk fried chicken tenders, or cornbread. Always have leftover
buttermilk, but not now, I can use it up for pancakes. Stay safe and thanks again.
melanie says
I’ve never had IHOP pancakes so I don’t know if these taste the same. What I do know is these pancakes are SO good! The first time I made them, I followed the recipe exactly as written. The pancakes were good but I felt like there was just a little bit of something missing. The second time I made them, I added a 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla and they were amazing!
Lupe says
Delicious!
How long does the mixture last in the fridge?
Cheryl says
So happy to have this recipe. Love it 🥰
Jessica says
My batter was very thin and ran all over the pan. I followed the recipe exactly, only adding a tsp of vanilla. They looked more like crepes. They tasted great but not at all pancakes. I’m not sure what went wrong. Any tips?
Cufflinks Australia says
These look mouthwateringly good! Never even been to ihop before but can’t wait to try and whip these up in my kitchen for the family.
Lara says
Good, but the batter is a little thin. I would increase the dry ingredients next time
Michelle M says
These are absolutely delicious!!!!!!!!!
Jeanne says
I have been looking for the perfect pancake recipe for a long time, and I’ve finally found it. THANK YOU!
Gail says
Can you make these with plant based “milk” Instead if dairy? Like almond milk or coconut milk? Or does it need the dairy for a chemical type reaction during cooking?
Margi Schmick says
Best pancake recipe ever!
Tara says
❤ These pancakes were absolutely perfect!!! Now my familys favorite. Thank you for sharing! 💯
Sandra says
Our two grandchildren stayed the night last night, ages 3 and 1/2. My husband gets weekend breakfast duty, so the littles and I watched Paw Patrol while Papa prepared these pancakes. What a treat! I did have him add 1 tsp. vanilla. I’m pretty picky about my pancakes and they were everything that I had hoped! Delicious, light, fluffy and got a big thumbs up from the littles and Papa as well! So happy to have found this recipe!