Mini Pancakes (or Silver Dollar Pancakes) are the fluffy, fun-sized version of classic pancakes that we all know and love. Made in just minutes using a handful of everyday ingredients and served warm with a smattering of fresh fruit and a generous drizzle of maple syrup, they’re a breakfast favorite for adults and kids alike!
It takes only 15 minutes to make these pancakes from scratch – the same amount of time it takes to use a box mix (but minus the preservatives and filler ingredients!). They’re perfect for both busy weekday mornings and lazy weekend days, and your family is sure to request them often.
Why You'll Love these Mini Pancakes
- Better than box mix (but just as easy). No need to stock up on boxed pancake mixes that rely on artificial ingredients and preservatives–you can make better silver dollar pancakes at home using a few wholesome pantry staples.
- A big hit with kids. Kids love these mini pancakes more than regular sized Old Fashioned Pancakes – they’re fun, dippable, and easy to eat with hands or a fork. Plus, they’re super cute!
- They’re freezer-friendly. These small pancakes freeze beautifully and reheat in a flash (from frozen too!). You can prep them ahead of time and freeze for easy breezy breakfasts – just microwave or pop into the oven for a few minutes for a quick-bake and go!
Ingredient Notes
To make this delicious Mini Pancakes or Silver Dollar Pancakes, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- all-purpose flour - all-purpose flour will render the classic fluffy pancake texture, but you can try using an equal amount of measure-for-measure gluten free flour if you’re sensitive to gluten.
- baking powder - out of baking powder? Combine ½ teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar to make your own!
- granulated sugar - a granulated sugar alternative like coconut sugar, date sugar, or sugar-free substitute like Swerve will also work as a sweetener for these mini pancakes, but the sugar you choose may alter the flavor.
- salt
- milk - you can swap the cow’s milk for a non-dairy milk like almond or coconut if you need to.
- unsalted butter - you can use salted butter if that’s all you have on hand, but using unsalted will give you more control over the final flavor of the pancakes. Decrease or omit the additional salt in the recipe as needed!
- vanilla extract - an equal amount of vanilla bean paste can be used in place of vanilla extract for a more rich vanilla flavor.
- egg - out of eggs or looking for a plant-based ingredient swap? Use ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce for every egg in the recipe.
Toppings
You can serve these silver dollar pancakes plain or with your favorite toppings. We used butter, maple syrup, and raspberries.
- butter - you can substitute the butter for a vegan butter alternative if you want to make this recipe more vegan-friendly.
- maple syrup - spring for the real maple syrup if you can find it!
- raspberries - we used raspberries, but you can top your pancakes with your favorite fresh fruit like blueberries, peaches, strawberries, or apples.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, and a large skillet or griddle.
How to Make the Best Mini Pancakes (Silver Dollar Pancakes)
- Combine dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.
- Add wet ingredients. Add in together milk, melted butter, vanilla, and egg. Whisk together to combine, until just combined (It will still be lumpy, but do not overmix). If the batter is too thick, add in 1 tablespoon more milk, as needed.
- Scoop batter. Coat a large frying pan or griddle with butter. Heat pan over medium heat and add pancake batter using a small cookie scoop or 1 tablespoon of batter. Add as many as fit in your pan or griddle.
- Cook. Cook the pancakes on both sides until small bubbles have begun to form on the surface and edges and the pancake is golden brown, about 45 seconds. Flip the pancake over and cook for another 45 seconds until the other side is also golden brown.
- Repeat. Repeat until batter is used up. You may need to coat your pan with more butter as you keep cooking new batches.
- Serve. Serve on a plate with pats or butter, berries, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Recipe Variations
- Add berries. Add up to a cup of fresh berries into your pancake batter. Our favorites are blueberries, raspberries, or chopped strawberries.
- Add chocolate chips. Fold ½ cup of mini chocolate chips into your pancake batter before cooking. You can also sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top before serving.
- Make banana pancakes. Mash a ripe banana and mix it into your pancake batter. Cook the pancakes as usual and serve with sliced bananas and a dollop of whipped cream.
- Add a cinnamon roll flavor. Mix in 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar into the pancake batter. You can also make a cream cheese glaze and drizzle it over the pancakes berfore serving. See our Skillet Cinnamon Rolls for a cream cheese glaze that you can scale down.
- Make them lemony. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon zest to your pancake batter to give it a brighter citrus flavor.
How to Serve
These Silver Dollar Pancakes are a delicious and fun breakfast to serve on their own for a simple breakfast or as part of an elaborate brunch spread with all our favorite breakfast items including:
- Avocado Toast with Poached Egg
- Breakfast Strata
- French Toast
- Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
- Vegetable Frittata
- Green Smoothie Bowl
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Make things fun with a topping bar. Spice things up for a special occasion or celebrate the weekend by giving your family a choice of toppings like sprinkles, chocolate chips, whipped cream, and a fresh fruit option.
- Don’t over-mix the batter. Pancake batter should not be perfectly smooth – you want to leave a few lumps in it! Otherwise, your pancakes will turn out tough and chewy instead of light and fluffy. For this reason, it’s best to hand mix pancakes unless you’re closely monitoring a hand or stand mixer.
- Make sure your cooking surface is hot enough. Pancakes spreading too fast or sticking to the pan when you try to flip them? Give your cooking surface a few minutes to come up to temperature before adding the butter and pancake batter.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Transfer cooled mini pancakes into an airtight container or ziploc bag and refrigerate for up to one week.
How to Reheat
Reheat in the microwave on high for 20-30 seconds or on the stovetop over medium low heat until heated through.
How to Freeze
Freeze mini pancakes by transferring them to a freezer bag or airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze these pancakes for up to 2 months. You can reheat single pancakes directly from frozen in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or in the oven at 325℉ for 4-7 minutes.
More Pancake Recipes
- 50 Best Breakfast Ideas
- Old Fashioned Pancakes
- Blueberry Pancakes
- Applesauce Pancakes
- Gingerbread Pancakes
- Carrot Cake Pancakes
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Recipe
Mini Pancakes (Silver Dollar Pancakes)
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings (about 20-30 mini pancakes)
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Mini Pancakes (or Silver Dollar Pancakes) are the fluffy, fun-sized version of classic pancakes that we all know and love. Made in just minutes using a handful of everyday ingredients and served warm with a smattering of fresh fruit and a generous drizzle of maple syrup, they’re a breakfast favorite for adults and kids alike!
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup milk
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted + more for griddle
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
For serving (optional):
- butter
- maple syrup
- berries
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.
- Add in together milk, melted butter, vanilla, and egg. Whisk together to combine, until just combined (It will still be lumpy, but do not overmix). If the batter is too thick, add in 1 tablespoon more milk, as needed.
- Coat a large frying pan or griddle with butter. Heat pan over medium heat and add pancake batter using a small cookie scoop or 1 tablespoon of batter. Add as many as fit in your pan or griddle.
- Cook the pancakes on both sides until small bubbles have begun to form on the surface and edges and the pancake is golden brown, about 45 seconds. Flip the pancake over and cook for another 45 seconds until the other side is also golden brown.
- Repeat until batter is used up. You may need to coat your pan with more butter as you keep cooking new batches.
- Serve on a plate with pats or butter, berries, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Notes
How to store: Transfer cooled mini pancakes into an airtight container or ziploc bag and refrigerate for up to one week.
How to reheat: Reheat in the microwave on high for 20-30 seconds or on the stovetop over medium low heat until heated through.
How to freeze: Freeze mini pancakes by transferring them to a freezer bag or airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze these pancakes for up to 2 months. You can reheat single pancakes directly from frozen in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or in the oven at 325℉ for 4-7 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Joan says
I love your blog and your recipes. Born in 1945 into a family of restaurateurs and fabulous cooks, my grandfather used to make his grandchildren homemade "silver dollar" pancakes when we were young. He was the oldest of nine siblings, his mother taught him to cook at a young age to help her in feeding his family. My great grandmother was from France; butter and cream are a family staple.
When I saw this recipe today, I was taken back to my childhood and wonderful memories of my grandfather.