Over time, recipe cards become treasured heirlooms—tangible links to the cherished memories of our loved ones who wrote them. Every smudge or scribbled note tells a story of shared meals and family traditions. These nostalgic keepsakes also encourage future generations to keep their family’s culinary legacies alive.
That’s exactly what happened when Dakota Kelly stumbled across their grandmother’s recipe for Good Old-Fashioned Pancakes. “Judging from the weathered look of this recipe card,” Dakota said, “this was a family favorite.” Well, judging by the more than 15,000 five-star ratings, it’s not a favorite of just Dakota’s family but many of yours as well. By sharing grandma’s recipe with the Allrecipes community, Dakota ensured that other families would create their own culinary traditions for more generations to enjoy.
Why the Good Old-Fashioned Pancakes Recipe Is So Popular
Based on the reviews, we’re tempted to rename this recipe Good Old-Fashioned Pancakes. That’s the adjective so many community members used to describe these tender, fluffy pancakes—along with “delightful,” “fantastic,” and “best ever.”
Reviewer David said, “In my 57 years on earth, I have never once managed to make really good pancakes. No matter what type of mix I used. These turned out great. I’m only sorry it took me so long to find a simple but perfect recipe.”
Brianna Lucero gushed, “I am in LOVE with this recipe! I have never left a review on a recipe before, but I had to leave a good review for this one. The pancakes were thick, fluffy, moist, and not too sweet.…These are the best pancakes I’ve ever made. I will only use this recipe from now on. Thank you, Dakota!”
Another, more sentimental common thread appeared in the comments as well. “This tasted so nostalgic and was great fun making,” said community member Aidan. Reviewer Rhonda agreed: “This was as close to Grandma’s homemade pancakes as I’ve ever come.”
How to Make Good Old-Fashioned Pancakes
Allrecipes / Qi Ai
Don’t let the fact that this recipe is from scratch deter you from giving it a try. It’s super easy and you probably have all the ingredients on hand: flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, milk, butter, and egg. That’s it!
Eight-year-old home cook Jo makes these pancakes “all on my own and they are very delicious and easy to make!” Several grown-up reviewers said they’ve sworn off premix boxes after trying this homemade version.
Just follow a few simple steps to make these “perfect” pancakes at home.
- Sift together all of the dry ingredients.
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, then add the wet ingredients. Stir to combine.
- Pour or scoop the batter onto a lightly greased pan or griddle over medium-high heat.
- When bubbles begin to form and the edges are dry, flip the pancakes until browned on the other side.