Light Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes

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I know–light and fluffy aren’t two words you’d typically think of to describe Whole Wheat Pancakes, which have a reputation for being dense and chewy.

Light and fluffy is, however, the perfect way to describe this Whole Wheat Pancakes Recipe.

Light and Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes? Yes! - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

This recipe was originally published over ten years ago. I shared this recipe the very first week I started blogging! It’s hard to believe sometimes that it has already been that long.

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Pancakes are my middle son Ben’s most frequent request for breakfast. While we typically eat a hot breakfast most days, we try to limit the sweet ones to once or twice a month. These pancakes never fail to make his day.

Whole Wheat Pancakes

I’ve made endless different recipes for pancakes over the years. Some have been good while others left something to be desired.

If I’m going to make pancakes for breakfast, you can be sure I want them to be nothing short of excellent. I also want whatever breakfast I make to provide my family with the energy they need to start their day.

There’s nothing wrong with eating good old traditional pancakes or buttermilk pancakes. And these Banana Pancakes are filled with coconut and pecan, making them truly irresistible.

However, I’ve often thought it would be nice to figure out a way to make this classic breakfast food a little more nutritious without sacrificing the taste.

As an added benefit, Whole Wheat Pancakes have more fiber than their white flour counterparts which makes them more filling too.

Wheat Pancakes

I first made this recipe with all-purpose flour and we all enjoyed it. After making it a few times, I realized that this pancake recipe could be great with all kinds of versions of flour.

A while back, when we were grinding our own wheat (yes, that was quite a while back), I used half whole wheat flour, all whole wheat flour, hard white wheat, soft white wheat; basically, I used whatever I have on hand in the freezer.

Now, I am more likely to make these with store-bought whole wheat flour or plain all-purpose flour when I don’t have whole wheat flour on hand.

Light and Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

The pancakes made from this recipe do not taste like any other whole wheat pancakes I have made.

While I’ve made some good whole wheat pancakes, they’ve never before turned out as fluffy as I prefer. These pancakes come out perfectly every time. We love them!

The biggest difference I’ve found with whole wheat pancakes is that we don’t eat nearly as many of them as we used to eat traditional all-purpose flour pancakes because they’re so much more filling.

If you make pancakes often, nothing beats a great electric griddle for streamlining the cooking process. A few years ago, when my 15-year-old griddle finally died, I tested every single griddle I could get my hands on.

When I finally tried this extra large electric griddle, I knew I’d found THE ONE. It’s a little on the spendy side, but I am telling you now, it beats all the others hands-down.

This nylon flexible turner is a pancake-making must-have, as is a dough whisk. If you aren’t familiar with the awesomeness that is a dough whisk for pancakes and waffles, you are missing out. It’s a crazy-looking tool, but it stirs the batter just enough without overmixing it.

I’ve tried pretty much all of the nifty pancake-pouring gadgets out there, and I stand by a good old measuring cup as the easiest way to make pancakes. I use the ¼ or ⅓ cup sizes for most pancake making – this set that I use every day will allow you to improvise for all kinds of sizes.

Super fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

Whole Wheat Pancakes Recipe

I guarantee you that this is the only Wheat Pancake Recipe you’ll ever need! They are absolutely delicious.

This batter is also a fantastic canvas for mixing in all kinds of tasty additions. To make these into blueberry whole wheat pancakes, drop a few fresh blueberries onto each pancake as it cooks on the griddle.

Chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts would be another delicious addition to this batter.

We usually make and eat them just as written here, served with plenty of our favorite pancake toppings.

If you’re looking for a gluten free option, these Light and Fluffy Gluten Free Pancakes always get rave reviews. These 2 Ingredient Cream Cheese Pancakes remain a long-time favorite with my oldest son.

Pancake Toppings

These light and fluffy pancakes are so good they deserve only the best pancake toppings!

Many times I serve these, we enjoy them with a simple classic combo of butter and pure maple syrup. Cutting into a stack of fluffy pancakes with the side of a fork and letting the maple syrup soak into the pancake is my idea of a heavenly breakfast.

Super fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes are a dreamy weekend breakfast! - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes

  1. Whisk together dry ingredients and set aside. Combine wet ingredients and then add dry ingredients, whisking until fully combined.
  2. Pour onto hot griddle and flip when lightly browned on the bottom. I like to keep the finished pancakes warm in a basket lined with a tea towel until we are ready to eat.
  3. Serve with plenty of butter and maple syrup, or with fruit and whipped cream, or with peanut butter and maple syrup, or with peanut butter and jelly as a sandwich. The possibilities abound.
Can You Freeze Pancakes?

Yes! Pancakes are the ultimate breakfast freezer meal. Let the pancakes cool completely, before storing them in an airtight ziploc bag.

Reheat the frozen pancakes in the microwave. I frequently triple this recipe for my family, so that we’ll have plenty in the freezer for easy breakfasts.

These aren't the usual Whole Wheat Pancakes! get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

I serve the butter and syrup on the side so everyone can drizzle on their desired amount. When it comes to syrup, there’s no substitute for maple but there are a few other syrups that we love just as much on pancakes!

Have you tried Buttermilk Syrup? I first encountered it served over waffles at a restaurant and was so impressed that I rushed home to recreate it. It’s a rich and caramel-y alternative to the usual maple-flavored syrups and tastes phenomenal on whole wheat pancakes.

My boys and I also really enjoy this homemade Brown Sugar Butter Syrup on our pancakes. It’s easy to make and brings a slight toffee-like flavor to the pancakes.

And I can’t forget to mention my Grandma’s Waffle Sauce. I learned the recipe for this creamy, buttery, perfect sauce from my grandmother and it’s never felt to impress. Sweet with notes of vanilla and nutmeg, it’s just as tasty on pancakes as it is on waffles.

Blueberry Syrup and this tangy Lemon Sauce would also be a welcome sight at my breakfast table on pancake days.

Fluffy, buttery, nutty, pecan pancakes topped with maple syrup make for a tasty and easy breakfast we all enjoy.

Naturally sweet and bursting with blueberry freshness, banana blueberry pancakes are a weekday breakfast must in our home.

Plenty of times, I’ve served these pancakes with fresh fruit and whipped cream or slathered with peanut butter and jelly. However, I serve them, they’re a hit.

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Light and Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

Light Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes

4.68 from 53 votes
These fluffy white pancakes are filling and delicious.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 medium pancakes

Ingredients 

  • 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup, plus 2 tbsp milk
  • 2 tbsp butter melted and cooled

Instructions

  • Whisk together dry ingredients and set aside. Combine wet ingredients and then add dry ingredients, whisking until fully combined.
  • Pour onto hot griddle and flip when lightly browned on the bottom. I like to keep the finished pancakes warm in a basket lined with a tea towel, until we are ready to eat.
  • Serve with plenty of butter and maple syrup, or with fruit and whipped cream, or with peanut butter and maple syrup, or with peanut butter and jelly as a sandwich. Enjoy!

Notes

FREEZER MEAL: Let the pancakes cool completely, before storing them in an airtight ziploc bag. Reheat the frozen pancakes in the microwave. I frequently triple this recipe for my family, so that we’ll have plenty in the freezer for easy breakfasts.

Nutrition

Calories: 87kcal · Carbohydrates: 12g · Protein: 2g · Fat: 3g · Saturated Fat: 2g · Cholesterol: 21mg · Sodium: 129mg · Potassium: 147mg · Fiber: 1g · Sugar: 2g · Vitamin A: 112IU · Calcium: 70mg · Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!

{originally published 5/17/11 – recipe notes and photos updated 10/13/21}

Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes are a breakfast favorite! get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

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Mary Younkin

Mary Younkin

Hi, I’m Mary. I’m the author, cook, photographer, and travel lover behind the scenes here at Barefeet In The Kitchen. I'm also the author of three cookbooks dedicated to making cooking from scratch as simple as possible.

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  1. Nic says

    These are the best whole wheat pancakes I’ve had! I used half the amount of salt originally asked for in the recipe, just as a precaution based on another comment. The taste the s perfect and the texture is wonderful, this recipe is my new to-go-to recipe for pancakes, thank you!5 stars

  2. Rebecca Taylor says

    We loved them!! the fluffiest wheat pancakes I have ever made. We topped them with pumpkin butter and banana slices and had them for dinner. Saving the recipe for sure.5 stars

  3. Stacy W. says

    Hi Mary,

    Can I sub the sugar w monkfruit sweetener (granulated) and the milk and butter w nondairy ones?

  4. SV says

    These did not turn out well for me at all. Not sure what happened, as the only change I made was coconut oil in lieu of butter. The measurements were precise, yet the pancakes would get brown on the bottom and remain frothy liquid on top… Never cooking through enough to flip them properly. Cooked in cast iron on Low-Medium like I always do our pancakes. Perhaps my grain just didn’t respond well to the recipe, but I suspect the full tablespoon of baking powder is also a likely culprit.1 star

    • Mary Younkin says

      That is very strange! I’ve never had pancakes cook on the bottom and remain liquid on top. I’ve never tried them with coconut oil, but that really shouldn’t have affected the recipe. I bake with it often. I can’t even imagine what caused that if you were cooking them the same way you typically cook pancakes on the stove. I’m at a loss! I use a full tablespoon of baking powder every time I make these and it works beautifully. Were you using plain whole wheat flour? Any chance you were grinding your own flour and it was a bit too coarse? Did you by chance sub any other ingredients?

  5. Tom says

    I’m sure these would have been good if we would have used baking powder instead of baking soda. Omg, my tongue feels weird.5 stars

  6. Shira says

    Delicious!!! Fluffy and scrumptious! I made mine with a berry sauce by just heating up some berries on the stove top and adding a little bit of maple syrup- yummy 😋5 stars

  7. Sharon says

    Thank you so much for this recipe. The pancakes were very fluffy and soft despite being made of whole wheat. I always struggled for a soft whole wheat pancake. Now I have the perfect recipe 😁😊4 stars

  8. Beth says

    This is hands down the best whole wheat pancake recipe I have ever made, and I have tried quite a few! Today I tried the recipe in my waffle maker and it worked like a charm! I added two extra tablespoons of milk, to thin it out just a little bit, and the waffles were fluffy, with zero drips, which is always a win in the waffle world!5 stars

  9. Angry says

    It’s kind of hard to read, the recipe is almost at the bottom of the post, it really put me off.1 star

    • Mary Younkin says

      That’s why there is a super handy “jump to recipe” button at the top of the page. Some people like all the extra information and others do not need it.

  10. Sarah says

    These whole wheat pancakes were incredible! We added blueberries and topped with waffle sauce. We will definitely be doubling or tripling the recipe next time we make them.5 stars