The Secret Ingredient for the World’s Best Pancakes & Waffles
This easy breakfast recipe for the world’s best pancakes comes with a family secret ingredient. Have delicious pancakes at every family gathering where a special breakfast recipe is needed.
Hey, y’all, Tiffany here, and I’ve got the a recipe for the world’s best pancakes for you!
About six years ago, my grandparents were called on their fourth mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the time, Phillip and I had just moved to Houston and our oldest was born. I was in and out of the hospital a lot, and life was really, really difficult.
Guess where my grandparents were called?
That’s right, Houston.
To the same mission that we were living in.
Is Heavenly Father amazing, or what?
We had some amazing times together with my grandparents with our new baby (their first great-grandchild!). We played cards in the hospital (anyone else play Hand & Foot?), and they came to our house several times to check on us.
Even though they were extremely busy with their missionary responsibilities, they made time to come over and make us dinner: the world’s best pancakes.

Family Tradition
Now, these are no ordinary pancakes. This is a secret family recipe that my grandparents have been using since they met teach other in college 60 years ago.
And you want to know what the secret ingredient is for the world’s best pancakes? A 60 year old griddle.
Yep, that’s right – my grandparents are still cooking pancakes on the same griddle they’ve been using for 60 years! It’s still going strong, and it’s cooked probably hundreds of thousands of pancakes over the years. Between family reunions (and my dad has 7 siblings), missionaries (they’ve served four missions!), and Fourth of July church breakfasts, that griddle has been put to work!
Meanwhile, Phillip and I are on like our 3rd griddle in 10 years of marriage. They sure don’t make things the way they used to! Thankfully this Presto griddle here has held up for at least five of those years.
Another thing that makes these pancakes amazing is my grandmother’s copycat recipe for Magleby’s buttermilk syrup.
Recipe for the world’s best pancakes
Okay, I know y’all don’t have a 60 year old griddle hanging out in your kitchen, but you can still have the world’s best pancakes with my grandparents’ secret recipe.
(And unlike the Bush’s Beans dog, I have permission to share this).
Bowl #1
- 1 cup flour
- 1Tbsp white sugar
- 1 t baking powder
- 1/2 t baking soda
- 1/4 t salt
Sift together the above ingredients.
Bowl #2:
- 1 c buttermilk (or 1 c milk with 1 T white vinegar, let stand for 5 minutes)
- 1Tbps oil
- 1 egg
Combine:
Pour the wet ingredients bowl into the dry ingredients bowl while you stir. You can use this for pancakes or waffles.
Scoop onto a griddle, and cook until you see bubbles start to form on the top – that’s how you know it’s ready to be flipped over!

I love topping the world’s best pancakes with this delicious maple syrup that my grandparents discovered on their second mission to Canada. Pancakes for dinner at my grandparents’ house is a family tradition that I’ve carried on to my children – preserving it for four generations!
Making Waffles
The best part about this recipe is that it works perfectly for waffles, too! Just put the batter in your favorite waffle pan instead of a griddle!
One last tip for the world’s best pancakes
One of my 6 tips for parents with chronic illness is to double dinners on the days you feel well and freeze them.
This world’s best pancake recipe is perfect for that!! I just put the contents of Bowl #1 into a ziploc bag. On the outside, I use a Sharpie to write the 3 remaining ingredients. It’s like having my own boxed pancake mix!
This tip is also great for babysitters to use as well. You can even provide this cute Pig & Pancakes Letter Recognition Activity for them to use along with the pancakes recipe!

World's Best Pancakes & Waffles
This easy breakfast recipe for the world's best pancakes comes with a family secret ingredient. Have delicious pancakes at every family gathering where a special breakfast recipe is needed.
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1Tbsp white sugar
- 1 t baking powder
- 1/2 t baking soda
- 1/4 t salt
- 1 c buttermilk (or 1 c milk with 1 T white vinegar, let stand for 5 minutes)
- 1Tbps oil
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl, then set aside.
- In a second bowl, mix the remaining ingredients.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together.
- Scoop about 1/2 cup of mixture and put on the griddle (or waffle make). Cook until bubbles start to form, then flip over.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10Amount Per Serving: Calories: 150
Pin It!
If you like these pancakes, then please share this pin for the world’s best pancakes on Pinterest!

Very easy recipe to follow and a good one to have on file – Shared!
Mm, now I’m craving pancakes. I need to work on making better ones because I always end up burning them or making them too thick!
Who knew pancakes could be so easy!!
Definitely will try this. My kids love pancakes.
Good read, informative and well written.
Looks easy a recipe. I like pancakes with chocolate syrup and berries. Thanks for posting.