These easy fresh-milled whole wheat pancakes are soft, fluffy, and made with just 6 simple ingredients. Freshly milled soft white wheat keeps them lighter than many whole wheat pancakes while still giving them rich whole grain flavor. If you’re looking for an easy fresh-milled pancake recipe without buttermilk or specialty ingredients, this is a good place to start.
How This Fits Into Our Routine
This is the kind of breakfast recipe that’s simple enough for weekdays but is still homemade with good-for-you ingredients. The ingredient list is short, the batter comes together quickly, and the pancakes stay soft without needing extra ingredients or complicated steps.
Why We Make These
- Just 6 simple ingredients
- No buttermilk or specialty ingredients
- Soft white wheat gives these pancakes a lighter texture
- Fresh-milled flour adds nutrition and flavor
- Easy enough for everyday breakfasts
Easy Fresh-Milled Whole Wheat Pancakes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Description
These easy fresh-milled whole wheat pancakes are soft, fluffy, and made with just 6 simple ingredients. Soft white wheat keeps them light while freshly milled flour adds rich whole grain flavor.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups milk
3 eggs
1/4 cup melted butter (plus more for the skillet)
1 1/2 cups soft white wheat berries, freshly milled
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
optional: toppings of your choice: maple syrup, powdered sugar, sprinkles, etc.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, measure the milk.
- Add the eggs and melted butter.
- Mill the soft white wheat berries into flour directly on top of the liquid.
- Add the salt, and baking powder.
- Stir with a fork until well combined.
- Let the batter rest for 10-15 minutes while the skillet heats. The resting of the batter is to let the fresh milled flour absorb the liquid.
- Heat a lightly greased skillet or griddle over medium heat.
- Pour the batter onto the hot skillet.
- Cook until bubbles begin forming on the surface and the edges start looking set.
- Flip and cook the second side until golden brown.
- Serve warm.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
Tools
- Grain mill
- Skillet or griddle
Ingredient Notes
Soft White Wheat Berries
Soft white wheat works especially well for pancakes because it creates a softer texture than harder wheat varieties. If you’re still deciding which grains to keep on hand, see my guide to Hard vs Soft Wheat Berries or the best wheat berries for pancakes.
Baking Powder
Baking powder provides the lift in this recipe and helps keep the pancakes soft and fluffy. If you want a deeper look at how leaveners affect pancake texture, see what baking powder does in pancakes.
Fresh-Milled Flour
Freshly milled flour absorbs liquid differently than store-bought flour. Because of that, the batter thickens slightly as it rests. See: Why Whole Wheat Flour Needs More Water
Homemaker Science
What makes this work
- Fresh-milled flour absorbs liquid differently than store-bought flour, so the batter thickens as it rests. See: Why Whole Wheat Flour Needs More Water
- Baking powder provides lift, helping keep these pancakes soft and fluffy even with whole grain flour. See: What Baking Powder Does in Pancakes.
Homemaker Notes
The practical details
- Letting the batter rest for 5-15 minutes gives the fresh-milled flour time to fully hydrate.
- If you prefer waffles, this same batter can easily be adapted into easy fresh-milled whole wheat waffles with a few small changes.
What to Read Next
- Baking Soda or Baking Powder for Pancakes?
- What Does Baking Powder Do in Pancakes?
- Best Wheat Berries for Pancakes
- What Does Buttermilk Do in Pancakes?
What to Make Next
- Hearty Fresh Milled Pancakes
- Easy Fresh-Milled Whole Wheat Waffles
- French Toast Recipe with Homemade Bread
Fresh-milled flour doesn’t have to mean complicated recipes. Sometimes simple ingredients are enough to make a dependable homemade breakfast.