Michelle Southan’s simple trick for making pancakes extra fluffy

With Michelle Southan’s simple tricks outlined in one foolproof pancake recipe, you can get golden and fluffy pancakes every time.

Holly Gerrard

3 min read

February 29, 2024 - 5:00AM

It’s probably not what you expect...

In the lead-up to Pancake Tuesday, I always get extremely excited about the treat that lies ahead.

But when the famous Pancake Day finally rolls around, nothing sours my mood quicker than stodgy, dense pancakes that absorb all the wonderful maple syrup.

Fortunately, I now have the wisdom of taste.com.au’s Food Director Michelle Southan up my sleeve.

How do I make pancakes from scratch?

While store-bought pancake mix is good for a lazy weekend breakfast, there’s no better day to make your own pancake mix than on Pancake Day.

If you’ve never made pancakes from scratch before, they might seem intimidating. Luckily, Michelle can calm your worries. She says that “when it comes to making perfect, fluffy pancakes, simplicity is key”.

Letting the batter rest is the secret to foolproof fluffy pancakes.

The one thing you can do to make your pancakes fluffier

There are many ways to help improve the texture of your pancakes that I think a lot of people know about (we’ll come to them in a minute). But there’s one easy trick to help you get that fluffy texture that people don’t know about. And it requires you to do… absolutely NOTHING!

All you need to do is rest the batter before you cook it. Michelle says: “Allowing the batter to rest for at least 30 minutes helps the flour particles to expand and creates a light and fluffy texture.”

So there you have it – letting the batter rest is the secret to foolproof fluffy pancakes. I’ve tried it, I’ve tested it, it works.

When it comes to making perfect, fluffy pancakes, simplicity is key.

More top tips for fluffy pancakes

But stop, there’s more. Michelle is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to getting the best, fluffiest pancakes every time. I always follow Michelle’s 6 other tips too:

Don’t overmix the batter. Over-mixing the batter means that the raising agent won’t aerate properly. Pancake batter should be mixed until just combined. Go against your gut instincts and don’t worry about a lumpy batter if you want to avoid stodgy pancakes.
Cook on a medium-low heat. Michelle says that this will help the pancakes cook through the centre but prevent them from burning.
Use the right pan. According to Michelle, using a non-stick frying pan with a heavier, thicker base means the heat on the bottom will be less intense and more even!
Use pre-melted butter. Greasing your pan is so important in getting a gorgeous golden colour. Michelle says to “melt the butter first and use a paper towel or a pastry brush to coat the pan in the melted butter”. I can confirm that this tip makes a world of difference.
Watch for the bubbles before flipping. It’s important not to flip the pancakes too early. Wait until you can see bubbles start to pop, then flip the pancake.
Keep your pancakes warm before serving. One of the most annoying parts of the pancake-making process is that you want to eat them all at the same time, but can only cook one! Michelle has done it again and let us in on her tip. She adds: “keep cooked pancakes warm on a baking sheet or tray in a low-temperature oven, or covered with foil on a plate outside of the oven.” We promise they won’t go soggy!

The best fluffy pancake recipe

All of Michelle’s tips and tricks are featured in this easy fluffy pancake recipe, which is one of the most popular taste recipes of all time. Every year, as Pancake Day creeps closer and closer on my calendar, I revisit my bookmarks to find this recipe… and I’m not alone! Almost 13,000 people have saved this recipe and left rave reviews, with one taste member saying they’ve “been making this pancake recipe for years and it’s my go to. So easy to make and never fails”.

Try it tonight. And don’t forget to let the batter rest.