Fluffy Peanut Butter Pancakes

By
Jennifer Perillo
Jennifer Perillo
Jennifer Perillo
Jennifer Perillo is an experienced recipe developer, cookbook author, and blogger behind In Jennie's Kitchen.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/30/21
Peanut Butter Pancakes

The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 16 servings
Yield: 16 pancakes

Just when you thought perfect, fluffy buttermilk pancakes couldn’t get any better, guess again. Adding some peanut butter to the mix, literally, is a game changer that’ll leave you longing for weekend brunch.

The batter is easy to make with pantry staples—flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, peanut butter, an egg, and butter. The only specialty ingredient you might need to add to the grocery list is buttermilk. In a pinch, you can even make a quick buttermilk substitute at home.

Creamy vs. crunchy is a big debate when it comes to making PB&J sandwiches, but when it comes to these peanut butter pancakes there’s no contest: creamy all the way. The smooth texture ensures light, fluffy pancake batter.

A swirl of maple syrup is enough to enjoy these fluffy peanut butter pancakes hot off the griddle. You can also up the wow factor, and whisk some peanut butter into the syrup for a creamy peanut butter twist to drizzle over.

To really take these fluffy peanut butter pancakes over the top, add whipped cream, some mini chocolate chips and honey-roasted peanuts. It sounds crazy and decadent, and the perfect celebratory birthday breakfast (it is cake after all, right?)

Ingredients

For the Pancakes:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons sugar

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus a pat of butter for pan

For the Peanut Butter Syrup:

  • 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Optional Toppings:

  • Mini chocolate chips, optional

  • Honey-roasted peanuts, optional

  • Whipped cream, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Pancake Ingredients
    The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo
    Syrup Ingredients
    The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo
    Topping Ingredients
    The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo

  2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

    Dry Ingredients
    The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo

  3. In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine buttermilk, egg, peanut butter, and melted butter. 

    Wet Ingredients
    The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo 

  4. Pour buttermilk mixture over flour mixture, and stir until just mixed. It’s OK if there are a few lumps (overmixing will cause your pancakes to be flat and dense).

    Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients
    The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo 

  5. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with a pat of batter, and drop 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the hot skillet or griddle. Cook, turning once, until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side.

    Cook Pancakes
    The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo

  6. While pancakes are cooking, make the syrup. Combine the creamy peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla in a bowl. Stir until smooth.

    Sryup
    The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo

  7. Serve pancakes topped with peanut butter syrup and add chocolate chips, honey-roasted peanuts, and whipped cream, if desired.

    Peanut Butter Pancakes With Toppings
    The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo 

Tips

  • The key to cooking pancakes once your batter’s ready is a hot pan, patience, and butter for greasing the griddle or skillet. Start the heat at medium, and wait until the pan is hot before adding any batter. The skillet is ready when water sprinkled on it immediately forms tiny bubbles that “dance” across the pan and evaporate.
  • If pancakes begin to brown too quickly before they’re ready to flip, reduce the heat to medium-low, or even low depending on the power of your stovetop.
  • Patience is a crucial virtue to making a crisp, golden pancake. Pancakes should be flipped only once, and timing is key. When air bubbles form on top and the edges start to look dry, the pancakes are ready to be flipped.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
109 Calories
5g Fat
14g Carbs
3g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories 109
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 16mg 5%
Sodium 204mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 68mg 5%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 89mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)