Whether you ran out of milk or just want a recipe for pancakes without milk that uses water, today’s recipe and tips will show you how to make fluffy no milk pancakes every time!
This recipe has saved pancake morning at my house on more than one occasion and I’m so happy to be able to share it with you today.
Can You Make Pancakes Without Milk?
Of course, you can make no milk pancakes, that’s why we’re here today!
Flavor aside, the purpose of milk in a pancake recipe is to dissolve the flour and other ingredients and to provide the liquid structure. This means that any liquid will do the trick.
If you’re still weighing your breakfast options for today, you can also make French toast without milk!
Making Pancakes with Water
Making pancakes with water is as simple as making regular pancakes. The main difference with a water-based pancake recipe and a milk-based recipe will be the flavor of the cooked pancakes.
Whether you use dairy milk or non-dairy milk in a recipe, using “milk” adds a creamy flavor to pancakes. Even pancake mixes that say “just add water” have powdered milk in the ingredients.
So, if you want great tasting pancakes with water, make sure to not skimp on the melted butter, vanilla, and the little bit of sugar that’s added to the recipe.
If you try a pancake or two and find them a little bland, add one of the “flavor add-ins” listed below.
No Milk Pancakes Ingredients
To make no milk pancakes, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Granulated sugar
- Water
- Egg
- Butter
- Vanilla extract
If you have those ingredients, let’s keep going!
Pancake Batter Consistency without Milk
The consistency of pancake batter without milk is the same as my milk-based pancake recipe.
Check out this video so you can learn the consistency of good pancake batter. Granted, I add milk to the bowl, but the consistency is the same.
Other Milk Substitutes for Pancakes
Milk adds both flavor and the “liquid” to a pancake recipe. There are other milk substitutes for pancakes and below I share both options: for flavor and liquid texture.
Liquid Milk Substitutes for Pancakes
As a liquid substitute for milk, use equal parts of:
- almond milk
- oat milk
- soy milk
- hemp milk
- half & half + water (50/50 ratio)
- heavy cream + water (50/50 ratio)
- cashew milk
- rice milk
- coconut milk
- eggnog (check out this eggnog pancake recipe)
- water
Milk Substitutes for Pancakes to add flavor
If you’re using water to make a pancake recipe, you’ll need to add a little more “flavor.” Here are some add-in options:
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons almond extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons maple extract
- 1 extra tablespoon melted butter
- 1 cup blueberries, chopped berries
- ¼ cup jam or jelly
- Zest of 1 orange
After you make your traditional pancakes or fluffy gluten-free pancakes be sure to try one of these pancake toppings to make your breakfast complete.
PrintPancakes without Milk
No milk? No problem! This recipe for pancakes without milk uses water instead and still yields a fluffy and delicious stack.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15-20 minutes
- Yield: 10 pancakes
- Category: Breakfast
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ Tablespoons sugar
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
- Make a well in the middle and pour in the water, egg, butter, and vanilla extract. Mix with a whisk or fork until smooth.
- Heat a non-stick griddle or large pan over medium-high heat, I set my griddle at 300-350 F.
- Pour or scoop ¼ cup of batter for each pancake. Wait until bubbles form to flip. Continue cooking for an additional minute to cook through, and brown on the other side. Remove from the pan or griddle and serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 pancakes
- Calories: 158
- Sugar: 3.9g
- Sodium: 239.6mg
- Fat: 0.4g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1g
- Carbohydrates: 35.7g
- Fiber: 1.2g
- Protein: 3.9g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: no milk pancakes, milk free pancakes
Erin
It’s Pancake Tuesday so I decided to use this recipe because it seemed like a simple and healthy recipe but its just that on Tuesday I am really busy doing online meeting but I just managed to make some delicious pancakes even though it was a bit busy in my kitchen.
★★★★★
Debby
Hi!
Love the recipe
but is there an alternative if I don’t have butter?? can I replace it with oil?
I know is not going to taste the same but I would love to know if I ran out of butter.
Thank you!!
Laura Fuentes
You can use oil that’s mild-flavored instead.I highly recommend not omitting the vanilla extract to maintain some flavor.
Christine
The pancakes were really good! 🙂 Even my son enjoyed them and he’s really picky.
★★★★★
Sharisse
Omg!! Whipped these up for last minute recipe without milk…. AMAZING!!! Best addition to our Xmas morning breakfast!! I’m so excited I’ve found a recipe that I’ll keep forever ❤️
Laura Fuentes
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe for pancakes without milk! Here is to many more “stacks”!
Jacob
Way too much baking soda. I thought I did it wrong. Went back and tried it again. Same result.
★
Laura Fuentes
This recipe doesn’t use baking soda.
Aftyn
I loved this recipe cause I have pretty busy day and I really don’t wanna go to the store right now and my daughters hungry, and picky so this is one thing she’ll eat. I used brown sugar and a touch of cinnamon. I did 1C water + 1 egg to equal just about 1 1/4 cup liquid.
★★★★★
Dana
What a fraud Laura is. She adds milk. #attentionwhore
★
Laura Fuentes
You must need glasses because this recipe is WITHOUT milk. If you watched the batter or when to flip video, then surely you read that the video is for something else using a different batter. In this post I show you exactly how the recipe turns out using WATER.
Monica
I loved this easy recipe. I was out of milk and sour of store bought pancake mix but, I had all the other ingredients. I had some leftover mix, which I stored in a glass jar. The next morning, the pancakes were fluffier. I think next time I plan on making pancakes, I will make it the night before and store in the fridge.
Laura Fuentes
I often store the mix in the fridge and make them the next day too and find that sometimes they are fluffier. I am glad you enjoyed these pancakes without milk!
Monika
This recipe was delicious! Used almond milk and added in some all spice with cinnamon. Texture was still light and fluffy, def will make again!
Maiz
Thank you, these were delicious! I made a triple batch for my crowd, and added a scoop of plain yogurt and a touch less water to make up for it. I flavored them up with almond extract and blueberries. Next time I’ll add lemon zest, They were fluffy and delicious.
★★★★★
Laura Fuentes
sounds delish!
Aftyn
Omg blueberry lemon version of these ! So yes !
★★★★★
Shakeela
Fluffy, easy to make! I did half heavy whipping cream and half water. They were amazing. Thank you Laura!
★★★★★
mutinta beene moonga
Very nice recipe enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing
David Ralph
I just made to these pancakes and I think they turned out wonderful. I didn’t have milk or vanilla, Lol. I smothered them with real pure maple syrup.
Thanks Laura!
Laura Fuentes
I’m so glad you enjoyed your pancakes without milk, David! Maple syrup sounds delish!
Poua Yang
Omg. The best pancakes I’ve ever made or ate in my entire life. I used almond milk and added a couple more splashes than suggested because it was slightly too thick, orange zest, cinnamon, blueberries, and bananas. It was amazing and don’t skip the tips! They were so helpful in making these pancakes AMAZING.
★★★★★
Ben Hawkes
Batter was nicer to work with than the milk variant, I added about 4 teaspoons of cinnamon. Excellent recipe!!
★★★★★
Gracia
Great recipe! Super tasty and so easy! And love the no milk! Thank you
★★★★★
Tiffany Broadwater
The best pancake recipe! Thank you Laura!
★★★★★
Beth
Delicious! I added some cinnamon and fresh blueberries! They turned out great!
★★★★★
Laura Fuentes
I love cinnamon in pancake batter! Good thinking.
Laura
These were SO great! I used almond extract for added flavor. I also forgot to add the egg, which made them accidentally vegan which is an added bonus. I’ll definitely be making these again, with or without the forgotten egg
★★★★★
Tonya
Ours were good but not fluffy. Not sure what I did wrong.
★★★★
Laura Fuentes
If they weren’t fluffy, was your baking powder “active”? Baking powder is good for about 9months after opening.
Tonja Latham
These are literally THE best pancakes I have ever made. They’re super light and fluffy. I didn’t have milk so I used water and added the recommended amounts of cinnamon and extra vanilla extract for flavor. I also added the extra tablespoon of butter as advised. The flavor was incomparable. I like pancakes that I can eat without syrup if I’d like. These are THAT good! I’ve shared this recipe with everyone I know. Please tell me you have a waffle recipe you can share. I’d be ecstatic. Thanks for sharing this!
★★★★★
Laura Fuentes
Thank you, Tonja for your raving recommendation! I have a waffle recipe that I often use water (instead of buttermilk) and I double the butter listed in the recipe + vanilla extract. You can check it out here.
Janice
I made these pancakes without milk – we ran out- and they were perfect! I added maple extract and OH my! less calories without milk and taste was EPIC. will be making these again
★★★★★
Michael Gutierrez
They turned out great! I love the consistency as the batter is easy to work with on the thinner side but the cakes still come out thick and fluffy. I used almond milk, added a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg, plus I added some fresh lemon juice (from 1/2 lemon) so maybe that’s why the batter was a bit runnier?
Laura Fuentes
Hi Michael! Definitely the lemon juice made it runnier. That is about 2 tablespoons of extra liquid to a recipe with “tight margins”. Next time, for a lemon-infused taste, use the zest and you’ll be golden. I’m glad you enjoyed them none-the-less!
Kelvin
Stomach saver
Laura Fuentes
I’m glad you enjoyed these.
Jacqueline
I made these pancake today I love this recipe will do these again
★★★★★
Deb Polson
We are camping and don’t want to go out for milk. This recipe is perfect for campfire cooking.! Delicious
★★★★★
Laura Fuentes
I’m thrilled these saved the day on your camping trip, Deb!
Tara
I’ve been using this recipe every morning for our Thanksgiving break. I thought I had box mix but realized I’d ran out so I found this recipe instead. I’ve never made pancakes from scratch before. I’ll never go back to the box!! I’ve used this recipe with water and milk. Kids are very happy campers!! Thank you!!
★★★★★
Laura Fuentes
I’m thrilled you and your family enjoyed this recipe!
Paula
Oh my goodness this pancake recipe is a lifesaver! I hate it when I run out of milk, but I promised the kids pancakes… So much better to just make pancakes without milk than to run to the store first thing in the morning.
★★★★★
Jill
Wow! These were amazing. Light and fluffy. Any time I’ve ever used a box mix, the pancakes have always been so heavy. These? I could have eaten the entire batch!!