• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Lifestyle of a Foodie
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • breakfast
    • desserts
    • Diets
    • Drinks
    • Savory
    • Small Batch
    • Recipe collection
  • About me
  • Contact
  • Privacy

Home » How to

7 secrets to make boxed pancakes better + mistakes to avoid + recipe

Published on April 5, 2020 - Updated on January 9, 2021 by Chahinez 43 Comments

Spread the love

Have you ever gotten boxed pancakes and were not satisfied with the way it turned out?! Well, me too! That’s why today I am here to share with you how to make pancake mix better. With these 7 secrets to making boxed pancakes better you will have homemade tasting boxed pancakes in no time!

Jump to recipe
7 Pancake tips
Mistakes to avoid

I am on youtube! Follow me for some recipe videos and more 🙂

SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST GET A FREE WEEKLY MEAL PLANNER AND RECIPE CARD!

Subscribe

* indicates required
/ ( mm / dd )
How to make boxed mix pancake better easily

Hi everyone!

Chahinez here, reporting from my house because well quarantine…

I specifically wanted to share this article on how to make boxed pancakes better with simple ingredients that you probably have at home because I have had a lot of time to experiment with all the boxed pancake mix I purchased a couple of months ago!

I have never really enjoyed boxed pancake mix because it does not compare to those you came delicious fluffy pancakes you can make from home. But hey, sometimes you just don’t have the energy or can’t go to the store to grab all the ingredients you need!

Below you will find the well hidden secrets to improve your store bought pancake mix.With these tips and tricks you will make the best breakfast staple and your family will not even know that you used box mix! Crazy huh…

Here are the 7 secrets to make pancakes from a box a whole lot better:

  1. Sift the pancake mix
  2. Use melted butter!
  3. Use milk or buttermilk
  4. Add eggs
  5. Up the leavening
  6. Add in vanilla or almond extract
  7. Don’t forget to add toppings

I will go into more detail down below and explain all the box pancakes hacks to make your next pancake batch taste much much better!

More pancake mix recipes you will love!

  • Easy Vanilla Pancake Mix Cake
  • Slice of vanilla pancake mix with thick frosting
How to make pancake mix better easily

7 Tips on how to make boxed pancakes better

1. Sift the pancake mix

The first thing you are going to wanna to do make your pancake mix more fluffy is to sift the the dry mixture. By sifting your dry ingredients you are aerating them which will then result in a lighter pancake. A great tip to sift your pancake mix would be to hold the sieve at least 18 inches of 45 centimeters above your bowl.

How to make boxed pancake better overhead shot

2. Use melted butter

Often times pancake mix does not require the use of butter.But since we are trying to make this box pancake mix better, we will need to add a little bit of melted butter, both to make the pancakes extra fluffy as well as to give it that buttery pancake flavor. Adding melted butter to my pancake mix yields pancakes that remind me of ihop pancakes!

3. Use milk or buttermilk

All I have to say for this one is that you don’t always have to follow the box pancake mix instructions! Most traditional pancakes use buttermilk, hence why they are called traditional buttermilk pancakes. But one of my favorite secrets to making your store bought pancake mix taste homemade is to add some buttermilk or whole milk. The addition of milk or buttermilk will up the fat content of the pancake recipe and will yield more tender pancakes.

Add milk to boxed pancake mix to make them better

4. Add eggs

Some boxed pancake mixes already require you to add in a couple eggs, but if your pancake mix doesn’t you absolutely should! Adding eggs to your pancake mix will give the batter a better texture and flavor, more resemblant of homemade pancakes. Something I also like to do if I want extremely fluffy pancakes, is to whip up the egg whites and fold them into the pancake batter. This technique will make the final pancakes very light and fluffy, similar to a Japanese pancake.

5. Use more leavening

I noticed that after a while my store-bought pancake mixture doesn’t get as fluffy as it should and that is because the baking powder can get weaker overtime. By not adding the baking powder you might end up with flat pancakes. So next time you are working with boxed pancakes add a little baking powder or baking soda if using buttermilk or something acidic and watch your pancakes rise!

6. Add vanilla or almond extract

Boxed pancakes can often taste a little bland, but worry no more! We have the solution for that. Adding a little vanilla or almond exact to your pancake mix will take them from okay pancakes to incredible pancakes. You can also add some cinnamon, all spice, pumpkin pie spice or even some type of citrus zest.

7. Don’t forget to add toppings

When I think of homemade pancakes I think of Sunday mornings with my family, lots of bonding time… and what better thing to bond over than pancakes. To make this an even more incredible experience have a toppings bar. I always like to add fruits to my pancakes but some more ideas of what I put out for my pancake topping bar would be:

  • Fruits
  • Nuts
  • Chocolate Chips ( dark, milk and white)
  • Sprinkles
  • A variety of syrups
  • Yogurts
  • Bacon
  • Peanut butter and nutella

The choice is yours, you have the control on how boxed pancakes taste no matter what brand you use! These 7 tips will allow you to wow everyone during breakfast.

How to make pancake mix better
I topped my tasty pancakes with caramelized bananas and powdered sugar.

How to make buttermilk at home?

I understand that you might not have buttermilk at home. I also understand that with everything that is happening it can be a bit hard to get your hands on some buttermilk.

If you do not have a buttermilk here is how you can easily make it at home:

You will need 1 ½ cup of butter milk for this recipe so grab 1 ½ cup milk, while milk or low fat would work and 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice or white vinegar.

  1. Measure your milk
  2. Stir the lemon juice or the vinegar into the milk. LEt the mixture sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. By now the milk shoul dbegin to curdle and become acidic.
  3. Use it in place of the buttermilk in this recipe.

If you want to prepare your homemade buttermilk ahead of time, store it in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container of course.

Mistakes to avoid when trying to make your pancake mix better

Now that I shared the 7 tips on how you too can make your store bought pancake mix better, I want to share with you some common mistakes many of us often end up making.

Don’t over mix your batter

You might think it is a good idea to vigorously stir your pancake batter to break any residual lumps, but by doing so you can create other issues with your batter.

Why does over-mixing ruin pancakes?

The reason why I say that you shouldn’t over mix your batter is because it will deflate all the air bubbles that were created by the leavening agent. Another reason as to why over mixing is a no no when it comes to pancakes is gluten development. Gluten development is often something we want to have when want a certain foods to be chewy, but who wants chewy pancakes.

Solution :

After adding your wet ingredient to the dry mix, stir gently to maintain as much of the air bubbles created by the leavening agent as possible. Mix just until the ingredients are combined. Don’t worry if the batter stir has some small lumps. By doing this you will keep your pancake slight and airy and avoid developing gluten.

If you are a beginner baker, try counting your strokes. Aim for 8-10 strokes when you add in the wet ingredients. That should be enough to get everything incorporated without developing gluten or deflating the air bubbles.

Fork full of boxed pancakes to show texture

So next time you are wondering what to add to pancake mix to make it better, you will have this whole article to refer to!

Follow me on Instagram

How to make boxed pancakes better recipe

If you tried and enjoyed this recipe make sure to give us a 5 star rating below!

How to make boxed pancakes better

7 secrets to make boxed pancakes better + mistakes to avoid + recipe

If you love pancakes but don't love the boxed pancake flavor, this recipe is for you! With a few tweaks you won't be able to tell that these pancakes were made using box mix!
5 from 72 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Calories

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cup pancake mix
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cup buttermilk At room temperature
  • 2 teaspoon butter melted
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs at room temperature

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, sift the pancake mix, baking soda, and salt. Then, set aside.
  • In a medium bowl mix all the wet ingredients, starting with the buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla and eggs. Whisk until well combined.
  • Pour the wet mixture over the dry mixture and stir until all the ingredients are combined. Do not over mix.
  • Heat a griddle on medium heat and spray it with non-stick cooking spray. I usually only do this once at the beginning! When the griddle is hot enough, pour ¼ cup of the pancake batter for each pancake on the griddle. When bubbles appear and the edges lose some of their shine it's time to flip and cook the other side. Cook until golden.
  • Once the pancakes are ready, serve them with some butter and warm syrup or your favorite pancake toppings.
Keyword box mix pancake, how to makepancake mix better, pancake mix, pancakes
Tried this recipe?Follow us and tag us on Instagram! @chahinez_tbt

Shop this recipe

This post may contain affiliate posts, meaning that at no cost to you I will get a small percentage of every purchase you make!

If you enjoys reading this article on how to make pancake mix better make sure to pin this article for later!

  • How to make boxed pancake better for pinterest
  • How to make boxed pancake better for pinterest

Sending
User Review
3.11 (143 votes)
« Blood Orange Upside Down Cake
M&M’s chocolate chip cookies without brown sugar »

Filed Under: breakfast, Everyday, How to, Weekend Brunch Tagged With: boxed pancake, How to, how to make pancake mix better, pancake mix

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim

    February 23, 2022 at 10:01 am

    5 stars
    Your tips work great! I just need to ask if skim milk will work with lemon juice or vinegar to make buttermilk? I’ve used whole milk n it works great, but I rarely buy anything buy skim these days. Also, unrelated, I would love to know how u pronounce ur name. It’s a beautiful name, however u pronounce it. Thanx so much for the tips!

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      April 07, 2022 at 4:52 pm

      Yes! You can use skim milk 🙂
      My name is pronounced Shaneenaz!

      Reply
  2. Kelly Lee

    February 17, 2022 at 7:36 pm

    I have no doubt that these tips will lead to a better boxed pancake! (But if we are adding more eggs, milk and leavening, melted butter, vanilla, etc, why wouldn’t we just make them from scratch? This article didn’t make sense to me, sorry)

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      April 03, 2022 at 6:35 pm

      After the Pandemix craziness, many of us had a few extra boxed of pancake mix in our pantries. Sure making them from scratch seems the same but those pancake mix boxes had to get used somehow. I hate waste so I found a way to make them better! 🙂
      Chahinez

      Reply
  3. Treatme Glutenfree

    October 15, 2021 at 6:52 pm

    Your blog is very nice. These tools are really very helpful…:-)

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      April 03, 2022 at 6:51 pm

      Thank you!
      Chahinez

      Reply
  4. Lauretta

    September 18, 2021 at 8:35 am

    I just made pancakes this morning using a few of your tips, adding eggs, melted butter, milk, sifting the mix, and not over mixing. My husband loves blueberry pancakes, so of course added those. They turned out amazing! 🤗 They were buttery, light & fluffy…. they were so amazing, that he asked if I had made them from scratch! Of course I said, yes, only a 1/2 truth! 🤫. LOL. Thanks so much for sharing your tips! 😀

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      April 03, 2022 at 6:58 pm

      So happy to hear this Lauretta!
      Chahinez

      Reply
  5. Arleen

    February 04, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    Not wanting to sift my pancake mix I decided to try taking a wisk to the dry ingredients. Made some buttermilk, added vanilla, eggs and a bit of sugar. Thanks for the tips as my pancakes turned out light and fluffy!

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      February 05, 2021 at 5:08 pm

      Hi Arleen,

      Thank you so much for letting me know how your pancakes turned out. I’m so happy to hear that!
      Hope you enjoy many more pancake days 🙂

      Chahinez

      Reply
  6. Isabella

    January 03, 2021 at 10:53 am

    My kids helped me make breakfast today and we followed some of your tips. The pancakes turned out wonderful, wow!

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      January 04, 2021 at 8:01 am

      So happy to hear that this pancake recipe helped you create some memories!
      Happy Monday,
      Chahinez

      Reply
  7. Karen

    December 29, 2020 at 6:32 am

    I’m definitely going to try these! Not being a morning person boxed pancake mix is a staple in my house & I always wondered why they didn’t get fluffy enough!

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      December 29, 2020 at 9:47 am

      Well now you know! Thesd tips will make your pancakes incredible 🙂
      Chahinez

      Reply
  8. amediashop

    December 29, 2020 at 6:27 am

    Hi Chahinez! Please don’t approve this.I’m leaving another 1 with my name.

    Reply
  9. amediashop

    December 29, 2020 at 6:26 am

    Not being a morning person boxed pancake mix is a staple in my house. I will definitely try these! Especially the tip about adding more baking powder. Always wondered why they don’t get fluffy enough!

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      July 06, 2021 at 7:57 am

      I love that tip a lot! It makes them a lot more fluffy!

      Reply
  10. Sandy

    December 28, 2020 at 7:13 pm

    Oh my gosh! I’m totally doing this tmrw morning!

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      December 28, 2020 at 7:15 pm

      So happy to hear this! Let me know how it turns out 🙂

      Reply
  11. Kathleen

    December 27, 2020 at 6:55 pm

    These are great tips! I think my favorite is using Buttermilk! Buttermilk really does make everything better – especially pancakes!

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      December 27, 2020 at 7:56 pm

      Buttemilk is the magic ingredient when it comes to pancakes for sure!

      Reply
  12. Summi_kitchen

    December 27, 2020 at 1:08 pm

    Came across these great tips. I have been doing it l wrong. Definitely going to keep these in mind. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      December 27, 2020 at 1:10 pm

      You are so welcome! Hope you enjoy your boxed pancakes for breakfast soon!

      Reply
  13. La marquisette

    December 27, 2020 at 12:21 pm

    It’s look like delicious, thnx

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      December 27, 2020 at 12:33 pm

      So happy you like it 🙂

      Reply
  14. Amanda

    December 27, 2020 at 11:21 am

    I love the tips you shared! Gonna try out this recipe soon!

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      December 27, 2020 at 11:25 am

      So happy these pancake mix tips helped you out!

      Reply
    • Cheryl wilson

      March 29, 2022 at 8:01 am

      You mention adding baking powder then baking soda! Which one is it?

      Reply
      • Chahinez

        April 03, 2022 at 6:32 pm

        For the recipe that I shared it’s baking soda!
        Chahinez

  15. Angel

    December 27, 2020 at 10:41 am

    Can we all just take a moment to say how amazing the pancakes turn out with these doctored up pancake mix tips!? Everyone loved them today!

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      December 27, 2020 at 10:42 am

      Hi Angel! I am so happy your family loved your pancakes today!
      Have a great Sunday,
      Chahinez

      Reply
  16. Jackson

    December 21, 2020 at 6:36 am

    I made this these boxes pancakes yesterday and everyone loves them thank you

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      December 21, 2020 at 9:21 am

      I am happy everyone enjoyed your pancakes Jackson!

      Have a great day,
      Chahinez

      Reply
  17. Jessie

    December 21, 2020 at 6:34 am

    I tried a few of these pancake mix hacks and my pancakes came out amazing! I always like doctoring up cake mixes and pancake nice so this was right up my alley!

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      December 21, 2020 at 6:38 am

      So happy to hear that you loved this pancake mix hacks post!
      Have a great day,
      Chabinez

      Reply
  18. Bob G

    December 16, 2020 at 1:20 pm

    I am new to cooking pancakes. I am going to try your tips tonight! Thanks so much for the great details! 😀

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      December 18, 2020 at 7:21 am

      So happy to hear you be trying out pancake mix hacks! Hope your pancakes turned out amazing!

      Reply
      • Doc

        January 18, 2022 at 5:49 pm

        5 stars
        Hi, I seen banana pancakes 1 banana 2 eggs but they were thin thinking about adding some mix to try make them fluffy should I add milk to ? This is a test run ..beginner here..thanks ,or just do the mix add bananas?

      • Chahinez

        April 11, 2022 at 6:53 pm

        You have to see how thick or thin your batter it before adding in any milk So definitely test it first!

  19. Jessica

    September 06, 2020 at 4:55 am

    Please tell us how you make those delicious looking caramelized bananas!

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      September 06, 2020 at 9:44 am

      Hi Jessica! To make the caramelized bananas, I added some butter into the pan ( about 1 tbsp butter) then add about 2 tbsp honey. Stir to combine then add your bananas and cook then about 2-3 minutes on each side on medium high heat. Let me know if this helps 🙂

      Chahinez

      Reply
    • Mellusia

      April 24, 2021 at 9:53 am

      The pancake mix I have have dried eggs in it. Is it still okay to add fresh eggs to it?

      Reply
      • Chahinez

        May 04, 2021 at 3:15 pm

        I have never tried adding eggs to pancake mix that already has eggs. Please let us know if it worked out if you tried it!

        Chahinez

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About me

Hey there! My name is Chahinez, and I’m the brains behind the blog, Lifestyle of a Foodie. LOAF was started back in 2018 during my last semester ...

Read More

Categories

Footer

Most popular posts

Crumbl copycat cookies

In the past few months, Crumbl cookies have gotten so popular! Tiktok went crazy for them the second I shared my first chilled sugar cookie recipe on there. Since then I have put my baking expertise to test by going through their whole menu and bringing you the best Crumbl copycats found online! The hundreds of reviews on the Crumbl cookie recipes that have been posted throughout the past few months can be proof of that! In this article I have 39 Crumbl cookie copycat recipes to satisfy all your cravings, so get ready!

Social Slider

No images found

Copyright © 2022 Lifestyle of a Foodie on the Foodie Pro Theme