Fluffy Kefir Pancakes

Name: Fluffy Kefir Pancakes (Under 30 Minutes)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour; ¾ teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; ⅛ teaspoon salt; 1 large egg (room temperature); ¾ cup Lifeway Plain Lowfat Kefir; 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Fluffy Kefir Pancakes are a tender, slightly tangy breakfast made with plain kefir instead of buttermilk, delivering extra fluffiness in under 30 minutes with just seven simple ingredients.

🌍American 🏷️Easy breakfast 🏷️Fluffy pancakes 🏷️Kefir

Total

20 min

Servings

6

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$16–$26

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Brokenovenbaking

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 large egg (room temperature)
¾ cup Lifeway Plain Lowfat Kefir
1 tablespoon maple syrup

7 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, kefir, and maple syrup really well.
3
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a spatula until combined (lumps are okay).
4
Preheat a skillet or griddle to medium-low heat. Lightly grease the surface with butter.
5
Pour ¼ cup of batter (per pancake) onto your preheated pan. When the batter starts to bubble (after about 2 minutes), flip the pancake and let it cook for another minute or so. Both sides should be golden brown (adjust the pan's heat as needed).
6
Tip: store cooked pancakes in a warm oven until they're all ready to serve.
7
Serve warm with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Use room-temperature egg and kefir for better emulsification and fluffier texture; cold ingredients can create dense spots.
Mix wet and dry ingredients just until combined—overmixing develops gluten and toughens the pancakes.
Cook on medium-low heat; high heat browns the outside before the inside cooks through, leaving a dense center.
Flip only once when bubbles appear on the surface; multiple flips release trapped air and collapse the pancakes.

Substitutions

All-purpose flour → whole wheat flour (use 3:1 ratio for texture, pancakes will be denser)
Lifeway Plain Lowfat Kefir → Greek yogurt thinned with milk (use ½ cup yogurt + ¼ cup milk, slight tang reduction)
Maple syrup → honey or agave (use same amount, may add slight flavor variation)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled pancakes in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days; reheat in a toaster or 350°F oven for 5 minutes to restore fluffiness.

Common Questions

Can I use flavored kefir instead of plain?

Plain kefir is recommended for control over sweetness and flavor. Flavored varieties will alter the taste profile and may require adjusting the maple syrup.