Classic, easy and delicious buttermilk blueberry pancakes. Made with standard pantry items, you’ll never need to buy a box of pancake mixagain!
This vintage Five Roses Flour recipe has been my “go to” pancake recipe for as long as I can remember. I love this one because it makes thick and fluffy pancakes, that have a lovely flavour and texture. They are also easy to make anytime, as they use pretty standard pantry items. Enjoy them with blueberries (fresh or frozen) or try one of the flavour variations below!
Pancake Variations
For plain pancakes: Increase milk to 1 1/4 cups and reduce sugar to 2 Tbsp.
For apple pancakes: Add an extra 1/4 tsp of vanilla, 1 cup shredded apple and 1/2 tsp baking soda dissolved in 1 tsp water.
For banana pancakes: Reduce sugar to 2 Tbsp and fold in 3/4 cup mashed banana at the end of mixing the batter.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Blueberries – I love wild blueberries in pancakes, but regular cultivated blueberries are fine, too. You can use either fresh or frozen blueberries. If frozen, use from frozen and allow a little extra cooking time.
Buttermilk – use real buttermilk if at all possible. If not, “soured milk” can be made by mixing 1 cup of milk with 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice and letting the mixture stand for 10 minutes before using. A higher fat milk works best for this method.
Melted Butter or Vegetable Oil – the choice is yours. Melted butter has more flavour, but produces a softer pancake. Vegetable oil has less flavour, but produces a crispier pancake.
Sugar – Adjust the amount of added sugar to your taste. I usually use 1/3 cup with blueberries, but if you prefer a little less sweet, go with the 1/4 cup.
Recipe Tips
- I never add the blueberries directly to the batter, but rather sprinkle them on top as soon as I’ve spread the batter out in the pan. This method not only prevents purple pancakes, but also allows me to distribute the blueberries evenly over the pancake.
- This batter is very thick. The trick for shaping your pancakes is to wait a couple of seconds after you drop a dollop of batter in the pan and then start swirling and spreading it out a bit. It spreads better once it starts to warm. Don’t get too hung up on trying to make these ones perfectly round or you’ll drive yourself crazy :) You also don’t want to spread them too much, as you want them nice and thick.
- As these are thick pancakes, with a thick batter, you need to cook them on medium low heat. Any higher and your outside will cook before your insides are done. Also, the thick batter means you won’t have a ton of bubbles happening (the classic sign that you should flip your pancake), so just take quick peeks at the underside to know when it’s time to flip. Flip when its lovely golden underneath. Allow to cook once flipped until cooked through.
Top Tip!
With this thick batter, you absolutely need to cook these pancakes low and slow. Don’t rush them. Medium-low heat and enough time to cook them all the way through and you will be rewarded!
Making Ahead, Storing and Freezing
You can make pancakes and re-heat in the microwave or a low oven until warmed through. Store left-over in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Pancakes freeze beautifully, as well, up to 2 months.
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Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Blueberry Pancakes
Ingredients
For batter:
- 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour, spooned and levelled
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 - 1/3 cup white sugar, to taste
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup milk, buttermilk or soured milk, *see Notes below for how to sour milk
- 3 Tablespoons melted butter, cooled slightly or vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
For topping and cooking:
- 1 - 1/2 cups frozen or fresh blueberries
- Additional butter or oil, for cooking
Instructions
- Melt the butter, if using, and allow to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. Do not combine the two until your pan is hot and ready to go.
- Heat your pan for several minutes over medium-low heat.
- When you're ready to cook, Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture. Pour the milk mixture into the well, then add the melted butter and vanilla. Quickly stir together just until mixed and batter is still lumpy.
- Add a bit of butter or cooking oil to the pan and swirl around. Add batter in 1/4-1/3 cup to hot pan or griddle. After a few seconds, spread batter out slightly and sprinkle top with blueberries. Allow to cook over medium-low heat until the underside is golden, then flip and continue cooking until batter is cooked through. **You must cook these slowly over medium-low heat, or these thicker pancakes won't cook all the way through. Be patient with them and give them the time they need to cook.
- Will make 5-6 large pancakes.
Notes
More Classic Breakfast Recipes to Love!
Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
It is March break, maple syrup season, the snow is coming down soft and fluffy, why not make some pancakes? This is the best recipe I have found. So thick and flavorful, my family just cannot have enough of them. I have double the recipe and served them with a hot chocolate drink. Superb energy combination for after skiing. We love winter! Thank you so much for this recipe Jennifer.
So glad to hear, Liliana :) Thanks so much and have a great March break!
We love pancakes. I’ve never been successful making them. I’ve refused to buy the ready-mix from the grocery store. So, I rarely made them for my family. We always went to a restaurant to eat them.
Until I found your delicious recipe. Everybody adores these pancakes. Never a failure. Have become a ritual item in my home. Thank you for such a gorgeous recipe. I am a big fun of your site. Absolutely inspiring.
Thanks so much Liliana :) So glad you are enjoying these pancakes!
I made these pancakes last year and ever since, my sister hasn’t stopped requesting for me to make blueberry pancakes. I’ve never said no because they taste amazing!!
So glad you are enjoying them, Dia :) Thanks so much!
These pancakes are PERFECT. Thank you for sharing :)
So glad you enjoyed them! Thanks :)
Hi Jennifer,
I just made the blueberries pancake followed your recipe. The result was awesome, my kids love it & so did I. It was fluffy and def tasty like you’ve mentioned above.
Thank you so much for the recipe, I would def like to do make it again for family & friend to enjoy. ???
So glad you all enjoyed them, Vicky! Thanks :)
I make these all the time! My very picky husband loves them. I sour the milk with vinegar and use frozen wild blueberries. A dollop of butter on top and they are fluffy perfection, and so quick too.
Thanks Leah :)
The pancakes are so perfectly fluffy! Happy Pancakes Day :)
Thanks Kankana! You, too :)
I love pancakes and these look perfect. I also keep a frozen bag of wild blueberries in my freezer for just this kind of recipe. LOVE that beautiful golden brown color and the addition of buttermilk! Hungry for big fat fluffy pancakes now!
Thanks so much, Tricia :)
Blueberry pancakes are my favorite, these look absolutely irresistible!
Thanks Laura :)
I’m in pancake heaven, just looking at these. They look amazing and I love all the variations!
Thanks Chris! The apple ones are really nice, too, for when you have spare apples around :)
I LOVE blueberry pancakes Jennifer! These look incredibly fluffy!
Thanks Mary Ann and yes, they are :)
You’ve got me craving breakfast for dinner, my friend! Oh my!!
Thanks Annie! We enjoy these for dinner often here. I actually enjoy them more for dinner than for breakfast :)
These are gorgeous! I do enjoy fluffy, thick pancakes, especially if they look like yours:)
Thanks Milena :)
Just in time for tomorrow! We already said we were going to have a breakfast dinner tomorrow so these would be perfect! Love blueberries in my pancakes and we just happen to have some wild ones in our freezer :)
Thanks Dawn and yes, I am definitely a blueberry pancake fan. Especially the little ones :)
I just happen to have a big bag of frozen Maine wild blueberries in the fridge, so excuse me while I go make some pancakes…
You are all set! (Love those little blueberries :)