This homemade pancake mix makes it easy to whip up a batch of buttermilk pancakes at a moment's notice. Plus, DIY pancake mix is a perfect gift for almost any occasion.
Homemade Pancake Mix is my secret for an effortless made-from-scratch breakfast
I love how easy my mornings are when I have a jar of homemade pancake mix ready to go.
This make ahead pancake mix is for those mornings when you’re craving a fluffy stack of pancakes drizzled in maple syrup, but don’t have the energy to make the batter fully from scratch.
Let me show you how this DIY pancake mix is the perfect blend between homemade quality and convenience. Learn how to make homemade pancake mix and you’ll never need to buy store bought mixes again!
Why it's handy to have DIY pancake mix
When pancake cravings hit, this make ahead pancake mix makes it quick and easy to whip up a batch. Best of all, you don't need to pull out all the ingredients every time.
More reasons why I’m a fan of DIY pancake mix:
- Perfect gift for Christmas, housewarmings, teachers, friends
- Easy to store in your pantry
- Less expensive and better tasting than store-bought mixes
- No mystery ingredients
- My toddler loves them!
One benefit that I didn’t think about until I started making this dry pancake mix recipe is how much easier it is for my son to help me make the batter. Instead of measuring out each ingredient individually, all he has to do is measure out 1 ½ cups of the mix.
How to make homemade pancake mix
Curious how to make homemade pancake mix? If you’ve made pancakes from scratch before, you'll find this incredibly easy.
All you’re doing is mixing the dry ingredients together in one big bowl and then transferring the mix to a jar.
TIP: Honestly, the hardest part is pouring the mix into the jar without flour going everywhere. To help get the dry pancake mix in a jar, you can roll up parchment paper as a makeshift funnel.
If making homemade pancake mix for gifts, you can easily double or triple the recipe as needed depending on how many jars you want to make.
The recipe as-written makes enough buttermilk pancake mix to perfectly fill a 1 liter (34-ounce) jar with 3 batches-worth of pancakes (approximately 15 pancakes per batch).
Vanilla powder makes this homemade pancake mix even more special
The key to making this DIY pancake mix taste delicious is vanilla powder. If you’re not familiar with it, vanilla powder is made from vanilla beans that are dried out and then ground into a fine powder.
Not only does it give the pancakes a rich vanilla flavor, but it also means that you don’t have to add vanilla extract when you go to make them.
Now, vanilla powder is quite expensive. But I promise it makes this make ahead pancake mix taste like a mix you’d buy from a specialty store.
I also love how you can see the little specks of vanilla in the mix. It makes it look very gourmet when giving away as a gift!
I like this 100% pure vanilla bean powder as it’s made from Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans and will easily add beautiful specks and great vanilla flavor in this pancake mix.
This make ahead pancake mix makes the most delicious buttermilk pancakes
Once you have your buttermilk pancake mix made, you’ll want to include instructions for how to actually make pancakes with them. Which is why it’s important to know that this recipe is for a buttermilk pancake mix.
To help create light and fluffy pancakes, this recipe uses a combination of baking soda and buttermilk. Buttermilk is important in the recipe as it’s more acidic than regular milk.
In order for the pancake batter to rise, baking soda needs an acid to react with. This reaction also creates tiny bubbles inside the pancakes, giving them a lovely light and airy texture.
Plus, buttermilk will also give your pancakes a delicious tangy flavor.
What type of mason jar should you use for this homemade pancake mix gift?
There are lots of mason jar options to choose from. Picking the right jar is one of the most fun parts of making these as gifts.
I absolutely love this vintage Kilner jar for storing my homemade pancake mix as I think the pattern on the jar is just so beautiful. It also makes a stunning gift.
The only problem with this jar is that it doesn't fit my measuring scoop when I want to scoop out the pancake mix. It's annoying. Yet I still prefer it as it’s pretty for setting out on my countertop.
I've also recommended some wide mouth jars below that are both beautiful and practical.
Here are some other beautiful jars to gift this homemade pancake mix:
- Classic square clip top Kilner jar
- Classic round clip top Kilner jar
- Le Parfait straight terrine with stainless steel wire
- Weck Tulip Jar
- Bodum storage jar with cork lid
As I mentioned earlier, this dry pancake mix recipe makes enough to fill any 1-liter (34-ounce) mason jar. It's just the right amount to make 3 batches of pancakes — about 15 pancakes per batch.
Kilner Vintage Preserve Jar, 34 Fluid Ounces, Set of 1
Kilner Square Clip Top Jar, Durable Glass Container with Airtight Seal for Home-canning, Preserving, and Storing, 34-Fluid OuncesKilner Round Clip Top Jar, 34-Fl OzLe Parfait Super Terrine - 1L French Glass Canning Jar w/Straight Body, Airtight Rubber Seal & Glass Lid, 32oz/Quart (Single Jar) Stainless WireWeck 745 Tulip Jar - 1 Liter, Set of 6 ClearBodum 8600-109-2 Yohki Storage Jar with Cork Lid, 1 L/34 oz, Cork
Ideas for decorating your DIY pancake mix jars
Once you've picked out the jar, time for the next fun part: decorating! Whether you’re giving this pancake mix in a jar as a gift or hoping to set it out on your countertop, there are a bunch of ways to give it a decorative touch.
Some of my favorites include:
- Plain chalkboard label sticker and chalk marker
- Christmas wrapping decorations on top
- Tying on one of these cute small honeycomb balls
For slightly older kids, I think decorating could also be a fun activity to do for a sleepover or as a family activity.
Making the tags
Once you have the mix made and your jars decorated, all that’s left is making the tags.
Tags are so important as they tell you, or whoever you give the mix to, what else they need and exactly how to make a batch of these buttermilk pancakes.
There are just a few simple steps for making the tags:
- Print and cut out the labels
- Glue each label onto colored paper
- Punch a hole in the top left corner
- Thread a ribbon through the hole and tie it around the pancake mix jar
While you can find fun patterned paper, I like these these handy kraft tags for gluing my labels onto.
If you don’t feel like making your own, I also created labels for you to use. All you have to do is click these links for PDF, printer-friendly labels: Letter size and A4 size.
Easy to Use Decorations and Labels
Teemico 20 Yards Mini Pom Pom Trim Ball Fringe Ribbon, WhiteALLYDREW Tiny 1-inch Honeycomb Balls (Set of 30), MixKraft Paper Tags with Twine for Arts and Crafts - 100PCS
What do these buttermilk pancakes look like when cooked?
This pancake mix in a jar makes classic, everyday pancakes that are golden brown on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside.
But thanks to the buttermilk and vanilla powder, they taste like ones you’d get out at a classic diner or cozy brunch spot.
How to make one batch of pancakes
To make these buttermilk pancakes, all you have to do is measure out 1 ½ cups of dry pancake mix into a large mixing bowl, and then whisk in three staple ingredients:
- Buttermilk
- Egg
- Butter
From here, it’s standard pancake-making: heat and lightly butter a griddle, drop pancake batter onto the heated surface, cook and flip.
I use this DIY pancake mix to make these Easy Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes. Be sure to check out the post for my go-to tips for making light and fluffy pancakes every time.
Add a personal touch to your dry pancake mix recipe
This homemade pancake mix is delicious on its own, but can also be thought of as a starting point for other flavor combinations. Here are a few recommendations to get you started:
- Ginger, cinnamon, and cloves for a hint of wintery spice
- Poppyseeds in the mix with instructions to add lemon juice and zest
- Chocolate chips and instant espresso powder for mocha pancakes
Easily make homemade pancakes whenever the craving hits
This DIY pancake mix makes mornings so much easier by only having to measure out the mix and add in butter, egg, and buttermilk. It’s definitely a recipe I like to keep on hand to make my mornings easier.
Any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below or email tina@theworktop.com.
Homemade Pancake Mix - DIY
Print RecipeEQUIPMENT
- 1 liter (34 ounce) glass jar
Ingredients
Dry pancake mix (makes enough to fill a 1 liter / 34 ounce jar for 3 batches)
- 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 4 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla powder
To make one batch of the pancakes
- 1 ½ cups dry pancake mix (above)
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
To make the dry pancake mix (makes enough to fill a 1 liter / 34 ounce jar for 3 batches)
- In a large bowl, whisk all the ingredients together.
- Carefully scoop and transfer into your desired jar. If it's easier, roll up a piece of parchment or wax paper diagonally to create a funnel to help.
To make one batch of the pancakes
- In a large bowl, add in 1 ½ cups of the dry pancake mix. Whisk in the buttermilk, egg and butter.
- Preheat a griddle on medium to medium-high heat. Brush on a bit of butter or oil on the pan. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using about ¼ cup for each pancake. Cook until there are bubbles on the surface, the underside of the pancake is lightly golden, and the edges are starting to look dry. Flip and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until the other side is light golden.
- Serve warm with your favorite toppings.
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