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!