I make these sourdough buttermilk pancakes almost every day for my family because they’re simple, fluffy, and delicious. With an overnight batter, all I have to do in the morning is stir in a few ingredients and fry them golden brown.
In my home, these sourdough buttermilk pancakes aren’t just a special treat—they’re an almost daily ritual. I love how simple the process is: mix together the base the night before, then in the morning, all I have to do is add a handful of ingredients before frying them up. It’s one of the easiest ways to bring comfort and flavor to the table, and my family never grows tired of them. The tangy sourdough combined with creamy buttermilk creates pancakes that are light, fluffy, and irresistibly good!
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Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: Mix the Overnight Batter
In the evening, combine your sourdough starter, buttermilk, and flour in a large bowl. At first, the mixture will feel quite thick—almost like you’re starting a sourdough bread dough—but trust the process. The overnight rest allows the flour to fully hydrate and the starter to develop its signature tang. Cover the bowl loosely with a towel or plastic wrap and let it sit overnight at room temperature.
How to Make Homemade Cultured Buttermilk for a Never-Ending Supply!
If you use buttermilk often, you don’t have to rely on store-bought cartons—you can easily make your own cultured buttermilk at home. All it takes is a small amount of store-bought buttermilk with live cultures and fresh milk. Mix them together, let the mixture sit at room temperature overnight, and by morning, you’ll have a fresh batch of tangy buttermilk. The best part? You can save a little from each batch to start the next one, giving you a never-ending supply right in your own kitchen! You can read more about that in my other post!
Step 2: Add the Morning Ingredients
The next day, whisk in eggs, melted butter, sugar, and salt until smooth. These ingredients enrich the batter and create a soft, tender crumb in your pancakes.
Step 3: Activate the Batter with Baking Soda
Right before cooking, sprinkle in the baking soda and gently stir. The batter will bubble and rise, which is the secret to fluffy pancakes.
Step 4: Cook Until Golden
Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat and melt a little butter for frying. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. When bubbles appear on the surface, flip and cook until golden on both sides.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Stack your pancakes high and serve them warm with maple syrup, whipped cream, or fresh fruit. They also pair beautifully with a pat of butter melting over the top.
Try My Other Sourdough Pancake Recipes
If your family loves these sourdough buttermilk pancakes as much as mine does, you’ll want to try some of my other favorite variations. For cozy fall mornings, my How to Make Sourdough Pumpkin Spice Pancakes are packed with warm spices and autumn flavor. And if you’re a chocolate lover, don’t miss my How to Make Chocolate Sourdough Pancakes—rich, fluffy, and the ultimate treat for breakfast. Both recipes use the same simple sourdough method, just with a fun twist!
Conclusion
Making sourdough buttermilk pancakes has become second nature in my home. The overnight prep means breakfast is practically effortless, and the result is a stack of soft, tangy, golden pancakes that my family looks forward to every day. Simple, comforting, and delicious—this recipe is one that always delivers.
Resources: Here are some helpful resources for further information.
- Good Old-Fashioned Pancakes Recipe – By Allrecipes
- Perfect Pancakes – By She Makes and Bakes
- Best Fluffy Pancakes – By Laura Fuentes
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use sourdough discard for this recipe?
Yes! Both active starter and discard work well since the batter ferments overnight.
2. Can I make the batter ahead of time and refrigerate it?
Yes, you can refrigerate the overnight batter. Just let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.
3. What toppings go best with sourdough pancakes?
Classic maple syrup, fresh berries, whipped cream, or even a drizzle of honey all taste amazing.
4. Can I freeze leftover pancakes?
Absolutely! Stack cooled pancakes with parchment paper between each and freeze. Reheat in the toaster or oven.
Sourdough Buttermilk Pancakes
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 cast-iron pan or skillet of choice
Ingredients
Overnight Fermentation Batter
- ¼ cup sourdough starter (active or discard)
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- 1 ½ cups cups unbleached all-purpose flour
In the Morning
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 2 tbsp white sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
For Cooking
- Butter as needed
Instructions
Overnight Fermentation Batter
- In the evening, combine your sourdough starter, buttermilk, and flour in a large bowl.
- At first, the mixture will feel quite thick—almost like you’re starting a sourdough bread dough—but trust the process. The overnight rest allows the flour to fully hydrate and the starter to develop its signature tang.
- Cover loosely and let rest at room temperature overnight.
In the Morning
- The next day, whisk in eggs, melted butter, sugar, and salt until fully combined.
- Just before cooking, sprinkle baking soda over the batter and stir gently. The mixture will bubble and thicken.
- Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat and add butter for frying.
- Pour about 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto the skillet. Cook until bubbles form on the surface, then flip and cook until golden brown.
- Serve warm with maple syrup, butter, or fresh fruit.
Summary
I hope I have inspired you to make these recipes in your cast iron skillet to enjoy and share with your friends and family.
If you were encouraged by this post, I invite you to check out my FREE Printables Page for fun free printables, planners, and charts.
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Here are some more of my cast iron cooking inspiration posts to check out!
How to Make Sourdough Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
How to Make Chocolate Sourdough Pancakes
The Best Cherry Galette Recipe
How to Cook Scrambled Eggs In a Cast Iron Skillet without Sticking!
How to Season Cast Iron for Cooking
The Best Old-Fashioned Homemade Brownies: A Cast Iron Skillet Recipe!
How to Make Dutch Oven Lasagna
How to Make Black Bean Burgers from the Garden!
Blessings,
The Off Grid Barefoot Girl
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