How to Make Homemade Pancake Mix With Pantry Staples
Learn how to make your own homemade pancake mix with simple pantry staples. This easy, make-ahead recipe is perfect for quick, fluffy pancakes anytime—just add wet ingredients and cook!
Mornings in my house used to feel like a blur—rushed, chaotic, and often fueled by boxed pancake mixes or frozen waffles I grabbed in desperation. I wanted something better for my family, something that felt nourishing but still practical for busy days. That’s when I started making simple swaps in my kitchen, replacing processed convenience foods with easy homemade alternatives.
One of my favorite swaps? A big batch of homemade pancake mix using just pantry staples. I found that his dry pancake mix recipe was the single easiest way to make weekend mornings feel elevated yet simple. It makes the perfect pancakes, and the best part is that knowing the ingredients each batch of pancakes are made of. This recipe is also a great recipe to give as a gift to new neighbor or new mom! Everyone can appreciate a homemade dry pancake mix for lazy mornings!
This mix is part of a bigger movement in my kitchen I like to call Simple Swaps for a Real Food Kitchen. These swaps don’t require fancy ingredients or hours in the kitchen—they just take a little intention and a few reliable recipes you can make ahead.
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Why Make Your Own Pancake Mix?
There are plenty of reasons to ditch the box and go homemade:
- Time-saving: Prep it once, and it’s ready whenever you need it.
- Real ingredients: No mystery additives—just flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Customizable: Want it whole wheat? Prefer less sugar? You’re in charge.
- Less processed: Every mix like this one is a step away from the overly processed foods lining grocery store shelves.
Plus, there’s something satisfying about grabbing a jar of your own homemade mix and knowing exactly what’s in it.
Pantry Staples You Need
Making your own pancake mix starts with the basics you likely already have:
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Baking powder – Tip: Always start with a fresh container. Old baking powder loses its lifting power and can make pancakes flat.
- Salt
That’s it. Four ingredients blended together, and you’re halfway to fluffy homemade pancakes.
You’ll find a full list of ingredients and step-by-step instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Homemade Pancake Mix
The process is super straightforward:
- Measure your dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Mix thoroughly – Use a whisk to combine the ingredients evenly. This ensures your pancakes rise properly and taste balanced.
- Store it properly – Transfer the mix to an airtight jar or container. Label it with the date and quick instructions for how to make the pancakes. It’ll stay fresh in your pantry for up to six months.
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These are my favorite glass storage jars that look beautiful and keep your mix perfectly sealed.
Easy Recipe for Making Pancakes From the Mix
Additional Simple Ingredients to make Pancakes
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup of milk
- maple syrup (if desired)
TIP: Once your mix is ready, pancakes are just minutes away. I recommend writing these additional ingredients on a slip of paper and taping it on to the back of the pancake mix container!
- Combine 1 cup of mix with an egg, a splash of milk, and a drizzle of oil.
- Whisk pancake batter until smooth. Don’t overmix—lumps are okay!
- Heat your skillet or hot griddle to medium heat, melt a bit of butter, and pour in the batter by the quarter-cup.
- Cook until bubbles form, then flip and cook the other side until golden.
This fluffy pancake recipe makes about 6 small delicious pancakes. Double or triple for bigger batches, and freeze any extras for later!
Make-Ahead Tips for Busy Mornings
Here are a few tricks I use to make mornings even easier:
- Pre-portion the dry mix into jars so you just have to dump and go.
- Freeze cooked pancakes in a single layer on a baking sheet, then store in a freezer bag. Reheat in the toaster or microwave.
- Set out mix-ins the night before—think chocolate chips, cinnamon, or blueberries—for an easy morning upgrade for the whole family.
More Ways to Ditch Processed Breakfasts
Swapping out store-bought pancake mix is just the beginning. If you’re ready to continue the journey toward a more whole-food breakfast routine, check out some of my other DIY staples:
- Simple Homemade Granola
- Snacks from Scratch Recipe Guide
- And my full Simple Swaps for a Real Food Kitchen guide with 25+ pantry alternatives you can make at home!
Recipe FAQs
Stored in an airtight container, it stays fresh for about 6 months.
Yes! You can replace up to half of the all-purpose flour with a different type of flour like whole wheat flour in this homemade pancake mix recipe. Just note that your pancakes may be slightly denser.
Toaster or toaster oven! It gives them a little crisp edge and warms them through.
Looking for more ideas to simplify your mornings? Browse my breakfast recipes here for more homemade inspiration. I love to always share a good recipe!
More Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love
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Homemade Pancake Mix With Pantry Staples
Equipment
- Glass Jars or Airtight Container
Ingredients
- 7½ cup all purpose flour
- 1¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup baking powder
- 1¼ tsp salt
For Making Pancakes
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup milk
Instructions
Dry Pancake Mix
- Mix all ingredients and store in glass jars or an airtight storage container.
To Make Pancakes
- Combine 1 cup of pancake mix with 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and 1/2 cup of milk.
- Heat your skillet and drop a dollop of butter in the pan. When it begins to sizzle, add about 1/4 cup of pancake batter to the skillet.
- Cook until it bubbles and then flip.
- This recipe makes about 6- 4 inch pancakes so adjust accordingly. Freeze leftover pancakes!
