McDonalds Pancake Recipe

ByJanell
212 Comments
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Last Updated on May 22, 2026 by Janell

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If you want delicious pancakes, you need to try this recipe for copycat McDonald’s pancakes. It's one of our favorite breakfast recipes. I love that I can recreate them at home with this easy copycat recipe. Using simple ingredients and just a few easy steps, this McDonalds pancake recipe makes the kind of fluffy pancakes your entire family will love—without the drive-thru wait!

Just like McDonald’s hotcakes, these pancakes are soft, buttery, and subtly sweet. Serve with a pat of butter and warm maple syrup, and you’ve got a delicious breakfast that rivals anything you’d get at a restaurant. Want to take them up a notch? Fold in some chocolate chips before cooking for an indulgent twist. You can also customize with favorite toppings like sliced bananas, strawberries, or whipped cream.

 

Here are a few more creative ways to McDonalds pancakes! 

  • Sprinkles! If you are making these pancakes for a birthday celebration, add some sprinkles and whipped cream. 
  • Real maple syrup and a pat of butter make these pancakes extra rich and delicious. These thick and fluffy pancakes are perfect for absorbing delightful toppings. 
  • Bacon! We put a half slice of bacon in the pancake batter on the griddle. The kids love to cover their bacon pancakes with syrup. 
  • Add some berries. When we go out to eat, my daughter loves to get strawberries with whipped cream with her pancakes. Sometimes they make them look like a Mickey face! 
  • Use different syrups! You can buy so many different kinds of syrups. So grab something other than butter or maple-flavored syrup. I love to go to iHop and try out the strawberry and blueberry syrup. I especially love the buttered pecan syrup! 

 

This McDonald's Pancake is the best pancake recipe. It's an easy pancake recipe that tastes just like McDonalds. They are fluffy and from scratch. You can even add chocolate chips to them or spread Nutella on them. It's a great recipe for kids. #pancakes #recipe #copycat #breakfast #kidfriendly This McDonalds Pancake Recipe is the perfect pancake recipe. My family thinks they are a copycat McDonalds Pancakes recipe.

Freeze the leftovers for an easy breakfast

This McDonald's pancake recipe is perfect for making a large batch ahead of time. Store leftover pancakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze them by placing sheets of parchment paper between each one and sealing them in a freezer bag. When you're ready to reheat, pop them in the microwave for 15-25 seconds or in a toaster oven for a quick breakfast on any day of the week.

This recipe isn’t just great for mornings—it’s also a fun weeknight breakfast-for-dinner dish that feels like a treat but comes together in under 30 minutes. With so many delicious toppings to try, it’s easy to change things up each time you make it.

The next time you’re craving that delicious stack of McDonald's pancakes,  try this McDonald's pancake recipe. It’s the best pancake recipe to keep in your back pocket—easy, affordable, and guaranteed to become a family favorite. Whether it’s for a lazy weekend brunch or a busy weekday morning, these fluffy pancakes make every meal feel like the best breakfast. You can make this recipe just like a professional chef would.

 

Yield: 18

McDonalds Pancake Recipe

McDonalds Pancake Recipe
Recreate the classic McDonald’s pancakes at home with this easy, fluffy copycat recipe. Perfect for a quick breakfast or make-ahead meal the whole family will love.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons of baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 Tablespoon sugar
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 2 cups of milk
  • 4 tablespoons oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat and grease a griddle or frying pan to medium heat. (I prefer a griddle.) 
  2. Combine all the ingredients until there are minimal lumps. Make sure not to overmix. Add your favorite mix-in to the batter.
  3. Let sit for about 2 minutes before your start to cook them. This will help them rise more.
  4. Pour about ⅓ cup of the batter. When the edges become dry and the top is bubbly ,flip the pancake and cook the other side for about a minute.
  5. Let cool and freeze any leftovers. Re-heat in the microwave for about 20 seconds per pancake.

Notes

I don't seprate the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients but you can if you want.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Janell
Category: Recipes

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212 Comments

  3. Thanks for you comment. I am so glad you loved them. My kids ask for them all the time!

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  6. Nice recipe, could possibly do with less baking powder, but other than that very nice. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Well, that's great! The "print" button takes me to a Pinterest login. What a crock!! And, no, I don't want to join your newsletter. I just want the recipe!!!!!

  9. Im so sorry for your frustration. The print button actually says "pin this recipe" so you can pin it on Pinterest and find it easier when you need it later. I have added a printable recipe link to it so it can also be printed.

  13. This recipe is exactly like the one from my Fannie Farmer cookbook that I have been using for year...I often add a little vanlla. They are delicious!! My family likes blueberries added or cut up strawberries on top with whipping cream...like a brakfast dessert!

  15. Yes I just add it all together in a bowl and whisk it. Then use baking spray to grease the griddle.

  20. There is no vanilla in this recipe.
    Fail
    You most definitely taste vanilla in McDonald's hotcakes

  21. Thanks for sharing your opinion but according to the ingredients in a McDonald pancake, there is no vanilla in their pancakes. But if you want to try the recipe and add vanilla - feel free to do it. 🙂

  22. So many extremely rude people commenting here!! She was kind enough to share a recipe with us, mind your manners!

    I’m getting ready to make these. Today is my son’s birthday (he turned 5!) and he just requested McDonald’s pancakes. Thank you so much for sharing! My family also loves pancakes on the weekend and it will be so easy to freeze and reheat these.

  24. My 4yr old loves McD pancakes and she's very picky about my homemade pancakes lol but she love your recipe! Thank you so much for sharing this!!!😊 Super yummy 😋

  26. Omg, thank you so much for this recipe. My 7 year old son will only eat McDonald's hotcakes for breakfast. This has been costing me a small fortune buying them on a daily basis. I made these tonight and not only did he try them but he said he loved them and will eat them... yay!!!

  29. No you need that in there to keep the right consistency and moistness. I haven't tried it - but maybe use applesauce instead. But I dont think it will have the same texture and flavor.

  30. Greetings from the Philippines! Tried your recipe today and my family loved it. Thanks for being generous with your recipe.

  31. Perfect! This is the best pancake recipe. My kids have been getting me to try different recipes and we are so glad we have finally found one to stick with. Thank-you

  33. Thanks! Just tried them and everybody loved them. Taste and look like McDonald's! Also, thanks for the printable link although "Tim" could have asked nicer and not been so ungrateful but in the end he looks like a fool...lol

    Cheers!

  35. Def the best home pancake recipe, we have tried soo many.. This is our recipe we will always use now on. Thankyou thankyou

  38. I usually set it to 350* and you can use either. My griddle is non-stick, so I usually do not put anything on it first.

  40. Awesome, me and my wife just make them now. To suprise our 12 year old with MCD pancakes during our lockdown. Thank u

  41. We have made these twice this week and my whole family is in love with them! They are soooooo good! Thank you so much for posting this! 🙂

  45. I'm glad you liked them! You have to add a nice pat of butter and syrup to get the full enjoyment! 🙂

  46. Do these pancakes have the same texture as the McDonald’s pancake? Like chewy?

  47. They are fluffy and chewy. Make sure you add a pat of butter and lots of syrup 🙂

  48. These honestly don't taste like McDonald's hotcakes, but in a way, I'm glad because they turned out to be one of the most delicious pancakes I've ever had. I've already prepared about 5 batches of these, and the whole family always devours them immediately. I just wonder if you have any recommendations for turning these into waffles? Thanks!

  49. I am so glad you liked them!! I love how they are so fluffy and delicious!
    I have never thought about turning these into waffles - but I will work on that. It's an excellent idea! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

  55. You add it to the batter. I use a non-stick griddle so I do not need to grease the pan but you may need to depending on what you cook the pancakes with.

  57. Yes - that's right! That's what makes them fluffy. You don't taste it in the pancakes because it's baking powder. It would be awful if you used that much of baking soda 🙂

  61. I would say about 15 medium sized pancakes. My kids eat them as they come off the griddle 😉 I will count the next time we make them and add it to the instructions.

  63. These are great! My kids had friends sleepover & everyone loved them even with the changes I made. Everyone said they tasted like Mc D's. The few changes were: wheat pastry flour, coconut oil, and real maple syrup instead of sugar.

  65. Hi from Australia, These hotcakes are awesome. I used self raising flour and added an additional teaspoon of baking powder. This is a keeper. So good!

  68. Yay!! I am so glad you all love them!! I get requests all the time to make these for my kids!

  70. This pancake recipe is delicious!! thank you for sharing it :))
    One question, How do you get the even brown color?

  71. Thank you for this recipe!! My kids (and dog) absolutely love these. My daughter says these are her favorite. It’s so quick, easy and not overly sweet.

  74. Just made this recipe. Pancakes tasted great. Love the McDonald's recipe and this one is great too. Thank you for sharing!!

  76. I am so glad your whole family loves them! They are so easy and have so much flavor! Thanks for leaving a comment!

  77. Pingback: 10 McDonald's Copycat Recipes: From the Comfort of Your Own Home

  78. Usually the first pancake is a weird color but after that, they are evenly brown. I keep the griddle between 325-250*

  80. Hi Janell, After reading the comments I was ready to tty your pancake recipe but want to verify if 2 Tablespoons of baking powder is correct.

  81. Yes that is correct! It helps them to poof up! Now I never have raw pancake batter inside the cooked pancakes 😉

  82. We love hot cakes too. We use 1/2 pancake mix and half vanilla cake mix. Tsp vanilla and water until smooth. Truly taste identical to McDonalds hot cakes. :))

  84. Lovely recipe. I think those saying they don’t taste like McDonald’s pancakes are from the UK. In America and Australia they are just like this. The ones in the UK use vanilla and are a different type of pancake (and not to my taste hence my need to make them at home). Also it’s important to note US/UK/AU tablespoon and cup measurements differ. As this is a US recipe and I’m currently living in the UK I had to convert to grams to get the measurements right.

    Thank you so much for sharing.

  85. Thank you so much for that added information!! We lived in Mexico for many years and maybe there was a difference there too so that is why I created this recipe and used it with my kids! I am so glad you liked the recipe!

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  88. I just got braces on Wednesday, and all I can eat is applesauce and noodles, but when I tried these I could eat them and they were soooooo good! Thanks so much!

  90. I tried but it taste bitter.. i think the 2 table spoon of baking soda is too much

  91. I am so sorry it tasted bitter. The recipe actually calls for baking powder (not baking soda). The baking soda will definitely make it taste bad! Please try it again with baking powder and I think you will love them!

  92. Amazing most delicious pancakes I've ever had! Live the flavor and texture. Used a nonstick pan without greasing and the texture was identical. Kids loved them. Thanks for a great recipe and I know what my children are eating this way, which is why I'm always cooking and looking for copycat recipes. Thanks so much for sharing!

  94. I don’t know why I didn’t think of looking up McD copycat pancakes before. These are perfect and I know what goes into them!

  95. Yes! They are so easy to make. I have even subbed out half of the white flour for whole wheat flour and it was still delicious!

  96. Have you tried to half all the ingredients? Did it work out the same? As the batter is too much one person consumption.

  97. I have not done this but I freeze the leftover pancakes and my kids love to have the leftovers!

  99. Thanks for sharing, I will be giving it a go.
    When I have a lot of folk sleeping over, I make pancakes but it's time consuming doing it on the day. You've provided the perfect solution!
    I put out chopped banana, strawberries, blueberries, nutella, starwberry preserve, lemon juice, white sugar, m butter, squeeze bottle of golden syrup, pouring cream all onto a lazy Susan and everyone helps themselves. Never thought to do PB before and might add that to choice next time too.

  101. I made these for the boys this morning, added chocolate chips and chopped up bacon, they loved them..made plain ones for my husband, he liked them too..
    Our go to revipe now

  105. I am so sorry about that. You could have overmixed them. For light, fluffy pancakes, you want to mix just until the batter comes together—it's okay if there are still some lumps of flour. 🙂

  107. this is unbelievable… they taste exactly like McDonalds pancakes!!!! I’ve always struggled w making pancakes, I can never get the right consistency or texture. McDonalds pancakes are my favorite because they melt in your mouth. So happy to be able to make them at home!!!!

  108. Also, I halved all the ingredient for a half batch and it worked out wonderfully!

  109. Yay!! I feel the same way about this recipe 🙂 I am so glad you liked it and you were able to cut the recipe in half 🙂

  110. do you know how many this recipe serves/how many pancakes it makes? (looking forward to trying this out!)

  111. Usually, my kids are grabbing these as I make them - so I have never been able to get a good count! I would say it's somewhere around 20 pancakes 🙂

  112. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I'm from Malaysia and my son loves McD hotcakes. I made some this morning and he just loved it. This recipe is definitely a keeper. Thanks again 😊

  114. So Easy first 2 were perfectly round and looked like Maccers pancakes but the rest were not quite so perfect but will have another go. The taste was delicious

  116. Totally going to try this recipe out! Could you add buttermilk instead of regular 2% milk? It would probably give it a buttermilk taste right?

  118. This recipe makes Perfect Pancakes!! I’ve started making my own pancakes using this recipe every weekend and my family loves it! We love these pancakes more than the pancakes mix sold at the supermarkets! Personally, I love eating pancakes with ice cream and strawberries. Thank you again for this recipe 🙂

  119. Thanks so much for your awesome review! I will have to try them with strawberries and ice cream - that sounds amazing!

  120. Hey there just wanna tell you I tried your recipe because I was craving mcd's hotcake but too lazy and cheapskate to buy it rn. And you know what? This is good and satisfying. Just right in taste. I quarter the recipe and made enough for me to eat plus some leftover for tomorrow. Thank you!

  122. I am currently trying this now, cooking still and am confused of the baking powder 2 tablespoon?

  124. Thank u so very much for sharing this recipe. For someone who loves McDonald's hotcakes, this taste exactly like it & so easy to make! Happy kids, happy mummy! Love from Singapore. ❤️

  126. I tried these today 10/18/21
    they were delicious. I’m going to freeze the rest for a later date

  128. We like them. As close to USA McDonalds as I've ever made. We cut sugar and salt in half at it was fine. Next time I'll try reducing the oil too. Thanks for posting. Printed fine (though took a minute to load the page).

  133. I've tried so many box and from scratch recipes, but this is an amazingly delicious and easy recipe! Thank you so much for sharing! Happy New Year!

  135. These are the best pancakes ever. I've been making them for a few months, my 3 kids love them so much i quadruple the recipe and freeze them, this happens twice a month! I need a pancake factory for these kids lol. Really appreciate this recipe for my fussy eaters!

  138. Been making only these the past couple years and leave the salt out.

    I use 3 cups flour and use 3 tablespoons baking powder and 6 tablespoons of sugar 6 tablespoons of vegetable oil 3 eggs 3 cups milk all mixed together makes 11 pancakes that absolutely freeze well, reheat for about a minute in the microwave after add lots of butter and syrup. Very close if not identical to McDonald’s pancakes as for taste. I use a complete 1/2 measuring cup for each pancake cooked for 5mins one side and about 3 mins the other side cooked about medium to low or on number 4 burner on my stove.

    I may just double this recipe some day and make a ton of these. They absolutely freeze exceptionally well and reheat super easy. We love these!!

    Do not change the recipe as in adding vanilla extract as some in other reviews mention, I tried that thinking it would be great but it actually kind of ruins them and changes the taste.

    Usually one or 2 pancakes is plenty even for a guy with a giant appetite.

    Great with eggs and bacon or served with maple sausage. Highly recommended this recipe!! Enjoy!!

  139. Thank you for the recipe - I have not made them yet but can't wait to try them because I love McDonald's pancakes!

    I am curious if you have ever made them with buttermilk for family who like fluffier pancakes.

  140. I'm so glad you liked them!! I love to make a big batch when I have milk that is about to expire and then freeze the pancakes.

  141. I just made these and they are fantastic. Absolutely perfect. Thanks for a wonderful recipe.

  142. I really like McDonald's pancakes and this really tastes like it a lot, thank you so much!

  145. These are the only pancakes I've ever been able to make successfully every time - they are so unbelievably easy and delicious!

  146. Thank you!! I feel the same way. I could never make pancakes that were cooked in the middle and golden brown on the outside. Thanks for your comment 🙂

  148. It's not as thick as a cake mix - If it feels too runny you can add a little more flour. Or the next time use a little less milk.

  149. I think I did something wrong cause mine were not fluffy at all and they had some weird taste to it that wasn't very nice. I'm from Australia could I have used the wrong sort of ingredients due to different names to different products in different countries? Heeelp pls

  150. Im so sorry. I think it was probably the different products in Australia. Could you have used baking soda instead of baking powder? That would give it a bad taste and they wouldn't become very fluffy.

  151. My pickiest eater gobbled these up. I made them like the recipe and added vanilla. All the kids loved them. They’re fluffy on the inside just like mcDonalds

  152. WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER! KEEPER,DELICIOUS! FAMILY LOVED THEM! THANK YOU!!!! GOD BLESS!

  154. Good recipe - have made it twice for family but the two tablespoons of baking powder is definitely too much and adds a noticeable bitterness. I would reduce down to under 1.5 tablespoons. Otherwise good.

  156. Just made these I added a splash of vanilla and a package of syrup from McDonald's into the batter as I don't usually have toppings and these were absolutely the best pancakes I've ever made! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

  157. That makes me so happy to hear! I really need to try it with the vanilla. And the syrup was a nice addition too!

  160. Just saw this recipe today. I decided to try it for lunch. I’m an 80 year old widower and the recipe seemed rather large to me so I halved it. This made 6 pancakes for me, and they turned out great, although I do agree that adding vanilla extract would be a plus. For the milk, I used raw milk that is just starting to sour, so using buttermilk would also work great. Very simple, adaptable recipe.

  161. Im so glad you liked it! I recently added vanilla to a batch I made and it was very yummy 🙂

  162. I have an app where I store all my recipes and these were so good I deleted the rest of my pancake recipes. Incredibly light and fluffy. Thank you for sharing your recipe!

  164. This looks so delicious. The kids love pancakes, but it's a lot of work, and in the mornings. Making these ahead of time, and adding some vanilla and syrup like someone else suggested.

  165. Can't wait to try these!! Just wondering how many pancakes this recipe makes. Sorry if I missed it in the description. Thanks!!

  166. I think it makes about 20. I really need to update that but the kids eat them as fast as I make them so I can never count them! 🙂

  167. Yesterday as kiddo asked me to take him to this restaurant for hot cakes. A quick search led me to this recipe. I loved that I could print it and the recipe was so simple. I'm not sure whether these taste exactly like the restaurant recipe, but they were a hit so this will be my go to. Thanks for simplifying my breakfast routine.

  174. Wow! I've been trying to emulate McD Hotcakes for years and THIS recipe nails it!! I halve the mix and make six perfect pancakes for two. Unbelievably happy right now. Thank you for sharing!!

  178. The key to this seems to be low heat. Sugar burns more easily so I turned the heat from my normal pancake level down about 1/4 (so I normally cook them on 4 and I cook them on 3 instead, glass top stove).

    Otherwise they burn 😂

    But turned out great after the first 3 once I found the sweet spot. Go lower on temp than usual!

  179. Thanks for the tips! I use my griddle and keep it around 350* and it seems to work. Sometimes I turn it down when we add chocolate chips 🙂

  180. I used 9 tablespoons of sugar and added 2 tablespoons of vanilla and my daughter said this is pretty close to McDonald’s

  181. Damn people are awful in these comments. I couldn’t imagine being this rude to someone giving me a recipe or anything for free.you could just not make it and move on? Thank you for taking the time to do this.

  186. I love McDonalds pancakes. To be honest, I would rather have their pancakes than the fanciest restaurant. That being said, these are the best pancakes ever. Super fluffy (I think this is the key to McDonalds pancakes), very easy to make, and sooooo good! You have absolutely nailed it, and believe me, I have finally stopped my search for the ultimate recipe...this is it!!

  187. This is the best comment 🙂 Thank you for your sweet message. We do think they are amazing and it's good to know that others love them too!

  189. Pancakes look awesome. My brother was a Manager at Mc'Ds for 10 years and he says they also add 1 teaspoon cinnamon to the mixture. Not enough to overpower it just a little hint of sweetness.

  192. This is my go to pancake recipe. It never fails. My family love it coz its soft, fluffy and fine texture

  194. I stumbled across this recipe last year,I've tried sooo many recipes and did not like any! I love maccas hotcakes and this recipe is bang on! It is now my go to! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
    All the way from N.Z

  196. Hi.
    I just love macca's pancakes but they are too expensive now and i have been buying ready made golden pancakes
    from woolworths that were just ok.
    I tried your recipe and wow
    They are amazing.
    The best pancakes i ever had and yes, better that macca's.
    They were gone fast and i will be making more.
    Foolproof recipe even for a 67 year old man.
    Thank you for the best pancake recipe ever.
    Cheers.
    Gary.

  197. I am so glad you love them! They are so easy. Sometimes we like to add a splash of vanilla to the batter.

  198. We used to eat them for breakfast on Sundays when Cleo and Tegan when they were younger we loved them

  200. I have never tried that so I am not sure. But I dont feel like it will work.

  201. I found the batter to thick and they still burned even on medium heat I'd there anyway to fix this

  202. You can add some extra milk to thin out the batter. Maybe your stove is hotter than other stoves? I haven't had any issues with it cooking too fast.

  203. Thank u so much for sharing! This is my go to recipe for past 2 years and tastes exactly like maccas pancakes! I even made a whole lot for when the kids from neighbourhood would come by and they even said “ taste like McDonald’s pancakes”

  205. Best pancake recipe I have found! Just made them for my family and it was hit! Thanks for the great recipe.

  206. Yay! Thank you for letting me know. I am so glad your family loved them. If you get a chance can you Pin it on Pinterest? It really helps more people to see my recipes 🙂

  207. Really disgusting, awful pancakes. Way too salty. Had to bin the lot. Was like eating play dough.

  209. These were amazing! Back making them for the second time this week! I add a little shot of maple syrup (as suggested in a comment) and a splash of vanilla (because I basically add it to everything). Super tasty and leftovers stay good in the fridge for days! Great Recipe. Highly recommend!

  210. genuinely delicious recipe!! added some vanilla but otherwise didn't change them, would recommend!

  211. Im so glad you love this pancake recipe! My family thinks it's the best pancakes!

  212. I love the additions! We usually add vanilla too. But I will need to try the maple syrup next time.

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