Recipes / Fast Food / The buttermilk stack, IHOP-style

The buttermilk stack, IHOP-style

Name: The buttermilk stack, IHOP-style
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 18 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: USA
Ingredients: 200 g plain flour; 2 tsp baking powder; 0.5 tsp bicarbonate of soda; 2 tbsp caster sugar; 0.5 tsp fine salt; 280 ml buttermilk; 1 egg, large; 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 2 tbsp butter, for the pan; 0 real maple syrup, to serve

Three fluffy pancakes, melting butter, real maple syrup. The diner version takes ten minutes. Yours takes fifteen and tastes like it actually has butter in it.

Published May 14, 2026 · 4 min read · Braffess Kitchen

Prep

5 min

Cook

13 min

Serves

Level

Easy

The buttermilk stack, IHOP-style - USA breakfast recipe

Method

Mix dry, then wet.

Whisk flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well. In a jug, whisk buttermilk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla. Pour into the well and stir until just combined — lumpy is correct. Rest 5 minutes.

Note. Overworking develops gluten and makes the pancakes dense. Stop stirring the moment the dry flour disappears.

Cook the first side.

Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat with a knob of butter. Pour approximately 80ml of batter per pancake. Cook until bubbles form across the surface and the edges look set — about 2–3 minutes.

Note. The first pancake is always a test for temperature. If it colours too fast, reduce the heat slightly.

Flip and finish.

Flip once and cook for 1–2 minutes more until risen and cooked through. The pancake should spring back when pressed lightly in the centre. Transfer to a warm plate in a low oven while you finish the batch.

Stack and serve.

Stack three pancakes per person. Place a generous pat of cold butter on top and let it melt down the sides. Serve with warm maple syrup alongside or poured over. Eat immediately.

A note. Resting the batter for five minutes after mixing makes a real difference — the baking powder activates and the gluten relaxes. Don't skip it.

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