Once you see how easy it is to make your own Pancake Mix, you’ll never buy another boxed pancake mix again!
Imagine having fluffy, made-from-scratch pancakes in minutes without relying on store-bought boxed pancake mix. With this make-ahead, shelf-stable recipe, you’ll have pancake mix on hand, whenever you need it.
Make-ahead recipes like this one and my Mason Jar Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix are a great way to stock your pantry with easy, baked-from-scratch treats! Want to make sure you never miss out on new recipes I share? I'm @betterbakerclub on all social media platforms.
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Here’s Why You’ll Love This DIY Pancake Mix
- Easy Recipe: This recipe is beginner-friendly. Just mix everything in a large mixing bowl and you’re done!
- Simple Ingredients: You’ll need a package of non-fat dry milk powder for this recipe, but everything else is simple, everyday items that you probably already have on hand, like flour, sugar, and baking powder.
- Scalable: Want to make an extra large batch? Use the Recipe Scaler feature in the recipe card to mix any size batch you need.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- This recipe can be mixed and stored in bulk, or pre-packaged as 4 individual pancake mixes.
- Flour: Use whatever flour you've got on hand—unbleached, all-purpose, or even gluten-free.
- Nonfat Dry Milk: This adds a nice creaminess while keeping the mix shelf-stable. If you're after a tangier taste, swap it out for buttermilk powder.
- Powdered Sugar: Gives a hint of sweetness and mixes in smoothly with the other dry ingredients.
- Baking Powder: For the fluffiest pancakes, make sure your baking powder is fresh.
- Salt: I like pink Himalayan salt, but any salt you have will do the trick.
Tools You May Need
- Large Mixing Bowl – A big sturdy bowl makes it easy to mix all the ingredients.
- Dutch Whisk – This tool makes blending the dry ingredients so easy!
- Measuring Cups and Spoons- For bakers who prefer to measure by volume, it’s a good idea to have a set of color-coded measuring tools.
- Kitchen Scale- The recipe card has measurements for both weight and volume. For accuracy, I prefer to weigh my ingredients and I love this scale because the pull-out display makes it so easy to read.
- Dry Mix Bags- These bags hold exactly 1 ½ cups of dry mix and are perfect for making gifts from the kitchen, or selling in your microbakery!
How to Make the DIY Pancake Mix Recipe
- Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients until well combined.
- Step 2: Transfer the mix into airtight containers for storage.
How to Prepare This Pancake Batter
- Step 1: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and lightly grease it.
- Step 2: Pour ¼ cup of batter onto the skillet for each pancake.
- Step 3: Add additional ingredients of your choice. (Try: blueberries, chocolate chips, or sliced bananas)
- Step 4: Cook until bubbles form on the top, then flip and cook on the other side until done.
Variations and Serving Suggestions
- Fresh Fruit: Add blueberries, strawberries, or bananas to the batter for a burst of natural sweetness.
- Flavor Twist: Swap vanilla extract with almond extract for a subtle, nutty flavor.
- Extra Fluffiness: Separate the eggs; beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, then gently fold them into the batter for extra fluffy pancakes.
Personally, I love these homemade pancakes with a generous pat of butter and a hearty drizzle of real maple syrup.
Mixing in Bulk
Want to save time? Try preparing your pancake mix in bulk. Here's how to do it:
- Choose Batch Size- This recipe makes 4 pouches of homemade pancake mix.
- Scale Up the Recipe: Use the recipe scaler feature in the recipe card. (2x the batch will give you 8 pouches.)
- Package the Pancake Mixes: The easiest way to do this is with a canning funnel.
Packaging Tips
- Portioning: Divide the pancake mix into 1½-cup portions; each yields about six medium-sized pancakes.
- Packaging: I like using stand-up window pouches that hold 1½ cups of dry mix because it allows customers to see the product inside.
- Labeling: Make sure your labels comply with your state's cottage food laws. Learn more about that here.
- Customer Instructions: Be sure to provide instructions for your customers. You can download and print the PDF with these instructions to include with each package.
Make This a Sourdough Pancake Mix
If you're a sourdough baker, adding dehydrated sourdough starter to your pancake mix is a great way to add more flavor and also offers a unique selling point for your mix.
- Dry Your Starter: Spread your active sourdough starter thinly on parchment paper and let it dry completely. Once dried, crush it into a fine powder.
- Add To Mix: Add 2 tablespoons of sourdough powder to the full batch of pancake mix before dividing it into four 1½-cup bags. That way, each portion gets a subtle sourdough flavor.
Once you try this homemade pancake mix, you'll never go back to store-bought versions. It's the best way to make delicious pancakes that the whole family will love.
Next time you're craving great pancakes, this mix is a breeze to prepare, even on a busy weekday morning. The best part? These pancakes taste so much better than box pancake mix. So whip yourself up a stack of pancakes and see for yourself!
📌Click Here for Printable Tags
DIY Boxed Pancake Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- 4½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup non-fat instant powdered milk
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons baking powder use more for fluffier pancakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons dehydrated sourdough flakes crushed into a fine powder (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the Dry Mix:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, powdered milk, powdered sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and dehydrated sourdough flakes (if using).
- Whisk thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Divide the mixture into four equal portions, approximately 1½ cups each.
- Store each portion in an airtight container or resealable bag until ready to use.
To Make the Pancakes:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together:
- 1½ cups of the prepared pancake mix
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or almond extract for a flavor variation)
- Stir until just combined; it's okay if the batter is slightly lumpy.
- Heat a lightly greased griddle or non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Pour ¼ cup of batter onto the griddle for each pancake.
- Cook until bubbles form on the surface and the edges look set, about 2-3 minutes.
- Flip and cook the other side until golden brown, an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Serve warm, topped with a pat of butter and a drizzle of real maple syrup.
Notes
Variations: For added flavor, try mixing in fresh blueberries, chocolate chips, or a pinch of cinnamon into the batter before cooking.
Tip: For extra fluffy pancakes, separate the egg; beat the egg white until stiff peaks form, then gently fold it into the batter.
If you enjoyed this DIY pancake mix, you might also like these homemade treats:
Cara says
Hey Allyson! I was trying to look at & print the label for these & it's saying it's not available because it's in the owners trash. I can't wait to add these to my menu & make them available at the markets I attend.
Better Baker says
Hi Cara, Thanks for catching that. The link has been fixed. Enjoy!
Cara says
It's me again 😅
So in your directions at the top, you say for every 1½ cups of pancake mix, add 2 tablespoons of the sourdough powder, but in the recipe card at the bottom it says to put 2 tablespoons in with the rest of the ingredients which makes 4 bags of 1 1/2 cups bags. I just wanted to check on this before i bagged it all up.
Better Baker says
Great catch, Cara—thank you! The correct amount is 2 tablespoons for the whole batch, but no worries if you added more. I tested it that way too and it still turns out great with extra tang!
Cara says
I might have missed it, but Im wondering how many pancakes does a package make? Meaning, if this recipe makes 4 packages, how many pancakes does each package make? I'm making up some labels to go on each package & want to let my customers know how many pancakes they can get. Thanks!
Love all your recipes & programs! 💜💜
Cara says
I might have missed it, but Im wondering how many pancakes does a package make? Meaning, if this recipe makes 4 packages, how many pancakes does each package make? I'm making up some labels to go on each package & want to let my customers know how many pancakes they can get. Thanks!
Love all your recipes & programs! 💜💜
Hadley says
I do not see baking soda in the ingredient list, but I see it listed in the instructions for preparing the dry mix. Wondering if I missed it somewhere or if the recipe does not call for it?
MiMi McGee says
Hi, I too see baking powder AND baking soda on the printable recipe but the recipe listed here on this post has only baking powder, which is better? Also, I cannot access the printable instruction tag via the link provided here. I get a message saying I need to request access. Is there another place to download the pdf or can you email it to me or give me access? thanks! MiMi
MiMi McGee says
Oh, and can you make anything else from this mix, such as waffles or scones?