Pancakes Lab802 recipes

Pancakes Lab · Decision tree

Find your pancake

Three questions sort all 802 recipes into 8 groups. Each question is about one of the ingredients recipes disagree on most, and splits the recipes in front of it at their own median, so each answer keeps about half of them. Every group ends with its median recipe in grams and the real recipes nearest it.

The questions

  1. Question 1

    More fat than most, or less?

    Melted butter or oil in the batter gives a tender, less rubbery pancake.

    All 802 recipes: median 16% of the flour weight, 41 g per 250 g of flour; middle half 0.6% to 23%; 25% use none.

  2. Question 2

    More sugar than most, or less?

    A little sugar helps browning. Much more and the pancake burns before the middle sets.

    All 802 recipes: median 16% of the flour weight, 40 g per 250 g of flour; middle half 10% to 23%; 7% use none.

    Asked within each answer to question 1, split at the median of the recipes that gave it.

  3. Question 3

    More leavening than most, or less?

    Baking powder does most of the lifting. Buttermilk recipes add baking soda to use its acid.

    All 802 recipes: median 5.4% of the flour weight, 14 g per 250 g of flour; middle half 3.9% to 7.3%.

    Asked within each answer to question 2, split at the median of the recipes that gave it.

The key

Read left to right: pick an answer to question 1, then one of the answers beside it for question 2, and so on to a group. Each cell gives the answer, its bound in grams per 100 g of flour, and how many recipes give it.

Decision key: 3 questions, one per column, leading to 8 groups of recipes
1. Fat2. Sugar3. LeaveningGroup
Moreover 16%413Moreover 17%205More6.1% or more104A104
Lessunder 6.1%101B101
Less17% or less208More5.5% or more104C104
Lessunder 5.5%104D104
Little or none16% or less389More15% or more192Moreover 4.9%93E93
Less4.9% or less99F99
Lessunder 15%197Moreover 4.9%97G97
Less4.9% or less100H100

The 8 groups

Each median recipe is the median of every ingredient over the group's recipes, scaled to 250 g of flour, beside the typical batch of all 802. Bold rows are the ingredients the questions asked about.

Group A · 104 recipes · 12% of all

More fat, more sugar and more leavening

Fat over 16%, sugar over 17% and leavening 6.1% or more of the flour weight.

Median recipe of group A at 250 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 802
At 250 g flourGroup AAll
Flour250 g250 g
Liquid440 gabout 1 3/4 cups400 g
Egg100 gabout 2 large eggs100 g
Sugar55 gabout 1/4 cup40 g
Fat55 gabout 1/4 cup41 g
Leavening19 g14 g
Salt3 g2.5 g

Nearest the middle of group A

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes · completelydelicious.comfat 22% · sugar 19% · leavening 6.5%
  2. Nectarine Coconut Pancakes · jamiegeller.comfat 20% · sugar 24% · leavening 6.6%
  3. Classic Buttermilk Pancakes · acouplecooks.comfat 22% · sugar 20% · leavening 7.4%
  4. Banana Pancakes · dinneratthezoo.comfat 29% · sugar 20% · leavening 7.4%
  5. Toasted Coconut Pancakes · houseofnasheats.comfat 22% · sugar 20% · leavening 6.1%
Back to the key

Group B · 101 recipes · 12% of all

More fat, more sugar and less leavening

Fat over 16%, sugar over 17% and leavening under 6.1% of the flour weight.

Median recipe of group B at 250 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 802
At 250 g flourGroup BAll
Flour250 g250 g
Liquid390 gabout 1 2/3 cups400 g
Egg100 gabout 2 large eggs100 g
Sugar65 gabout 1/3 cup40 g
Fat55 gabout 1/4 cup41 g
Leavening11 g14 g
Salt2 g2.5 g

Nearest the middle of group B

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Chocolate Chip Pancakes · africanbites.comfat 23% · sugar 21% · leavening 5%
  2. Pumpkin Pancakes · sugarspunrun.comfat 23% · sugar 29% · leavening 4.9%
  3. Pumpkin Pancakes · jessicagavin.comfat 17% · sugar 21% · leavening 4%
  4. Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes · houseofnasheats.comfat 20% · sugar 18% · leavening 4.3%
  5. American Pancakes – das fluffige Original · emmikochteinfach.defat 17% · sugar 23% · leavening 4.1%
Back to the key

Group C · 104 recipes · 12% of all

More fat, less sugar and more leavening

Fat over 16%, sugar 17% or less and leavening 5.5% or more of the flour weight. 6 of the 104 use no sugar.

Median recipe of group C at 250 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 802
At 250 g flourGroup CAll
Flour250 g250 g
Liquid415 gabout 1 3/4 cups400 g
Egg100 gabout 2 large eggs100 g
Sugar29 gabout 2 1/2 tbsp40 g
Fat55 gabout 1/4 cup41 g
Leavening18 g14 g
Salt3 g2.5 g

Nearest the middle of group C

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Baked Blueberry Pancakes · plainchicken.comfat 23% · sugar 10% · leavening 7.4%
  2. Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes Recipe · natashaskitchen.comfat 23% · sugar 15% · leavening 6.1%
  3. Chocolate Chip Pancakes · tasteandtellblog.comfat 20% · sugar 11% · leavening 6.3%
  4. Matcha Pancakes (Green Tea pancakes) · omnivorescookbook.comfat 23% · sugar 10% · leavening 7.4%
  5. Banana Pancakes · mybakingaddiction.comfat 22% · sugar 10% · leavening 7.4%
Back to the key

Group D · 104 recipes · 12% of all

More fat, less sugar and less leavening

Fat over 16%, sugar 17% or less and leavening under 5.5% of the flour weight. 9 of the 104 use no sugar.

Median recipe of group D at 250 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 802
At 250 g flourGroup DAll
Flour250 g250 g
Liquid415 gabout 1 3/4 cups400 g
Egg100 gabout 2 large eggs100 g
Sugar25 gabout 2 tbsp40 g
Fat55 gabout 1/4 cup41 g
Leavening11 g14 g
Salt3 g2.5 g

Nearest the middle of group D

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Dark Chocolate Pancakes · tarasmulticulturaltable.comfat 24% · sugar 15% · leavening 4.9%
  2. Chocolate Chip Pancakes · bakingamoment.comfat 20% · sugar 8.6% · leavening 4.2%
  3. Funfetti Pancakes · bakingamoment.comfat 20% · sugar 8.6% · leavening 4.2%
  4. Leftover Oatmeal Pancakes · jamiegeller.comfat 21% · sugar 12% · leavening 4.5%
  5. Best Basic Old-Fashioned Pancakes · melskitchencafe.comfat 20% · sugar 8.9% · leavening 5.4%
Back to the key

Group E · 93 recipes · 11% of all

Little or no fat, more sugar and more leavening

Fat 16% or less, sugar 15% or more and leavening over 4.9% of the flour weight. 52 of the 93 use no fat.

Median recipe of group E at 250 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 802
At 250 g flourGroup EAll
Flour250 g250 g
Liquid400 gabout 1 2/3 cups400 g
Egg100 gabout 2 large eggs100 g
Sugar65 gabout 1/3 cup40 g
Fatnone41 g
Leavening17 g14 g
Salt2.5 g2.5 g

Nearest the middle of group E

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Healthy Whole Wheat Pancakes · chefsavvy.comfat 0% · sugar 16% · leavening 7.2%
  2. Whole Wheat Pancakes · thestayathomechef.comfat 0% · sugar 22% · leavening 7.9%
  3. Pumpkin Spice Pancakes · thebakingexplorer.comfat 0% · sugar 21% · leavening 6.6%
  4. Banana Blueberry Pancakes · bakerbynature.comfat 0% · sugar 17% · leavening 5.1%
  5. Chocolate Chip Pancakes! · janespatisserie.comfat 0% · sugar 29% · leavening 5%
Back to the key

Group F · 99 recipes · 12% of all

Little or no fat, more sugar and less leavening

Fat 16% or less, sugar 15% or more and leavening 4.9% or less of the flour weight. 49 of the 99 use no fat.

Median recipe of group F at 250 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 802
At 250 g flourGroup FAll
Flour250 g250 g
Liquid320 gabout 1 1/3 cups400 g
Egg100 gabout 2 large eggs100 g
Sugar55 gabout 1/4 cup40 g
Fat6 gabout 1 1/4 tsp41 g
Leavening9 g14 g
Salt1 g2.5 g

Nearest the middle of group F

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Erdbeer Ofen Pancakes – ein Rezept für fantastische, einfache Pfannkuchen · zuckerzimtundliebe.defat 0% · sugar 19% · leavening 3.4%
  2. Pancakes chocolat · mesinspirationsculinaires.comfat 11% · sugar 19% · leavening 3.7%
  3. Fluffy Earl Grey Pancakes · siftandsimmer.comfat 11% · sugar 23% · leavening 4.1%
  4. Pancakes alle fragole: una colazione per veri golosi · ricettedellanonna.netfat 0% · sugar 33% · leavening 3.1%
  5. Japanese Pancakes (Hot Cakes - ホットケーキ) · pickledplum.comfat 2.4% · sugar 26% · leavening 3.6%
Back to the key

Group G · 97 recipes · 12% of all

Little or no fat, less sugar and more leavening

Fat 16% or less, sugar under 15% and leavening over 4.9% of the flour weight. 43 of the 97 use no fat. 20 of the 97 use no sugar.

Median recipe of group G at 250 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 802
At 250 g flourGroup GAll
Flour250 g250 g
Liquid380 gabout 1 1/2 cups400 g
Egg100 gabout 2 large eggs100 g
Sugar20 gabout 1 1/2 tbsp40 g
Fat23 gabout 1 1/2 tbsp41 g
Leavening18 g14 g
Salt1.5 g2.5 g

Nearest the middle of group G

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Cinnamon Roll Pancakes · spendwithpennies.comfat 11% · sugar 10% · leavening 8.6%
  2. Blueberry lemon pancakes · laurasbakery.nlfat 13% · sugar 1.9% · leavening 7.1%
  3. Kerst pancakes · laurasbakery.nlfat 13% · sugar 1.9% · leavening 7.1%
  4. Pancake Recipe · spendwithpennies.comfat 11% · sugar 10% · leavening 8.6%
  5. Lemon Pancakes · thepioneerwoman.comfat 15% · sugar 13% · leavening 7.4%
Back to the key

Group H · 100 recipes · 12% of all

Little or no fat, less sugar and less leavening

Fat 16% or less, sugar under 15% and leavening 4.9% or less of the flour weight. 57 of the 100 use no fat. 29 of the 100 use no sugar.

Median recipe of group H at 250 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 802
At 250 g flourGroup HAll
Flour250 g250 g
Liquid340 gabout 1 1/2 cups400 g
Egg100 gabout 2 large eggs100 g
Sugar23 gabout 2 tbsp40 g
Fatnone41 g
Leavening9 g14 g
Salt1 g2.5 g

Nearest the middle of group H

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Peach Pancakes · wellplated.comfat 0% · sugar 8.3% · leavening 3.6%
  2. Giant Instant Pot Pancake · kirbiecravings.comfat 0% · sugar 10% · leavening 4.6%
  3. Rice Cooker Pancake · kirbiecravings.comfat 0% · sugar 10% · leavening 4.6%
  4. Pancakes maison · chefsimon.comfat 0% · sugar 13% · leavening 2.8%
  5. Pancake-Spieße · backenmachtgluecklich.defat 6.8% · sugar 13% · leavening 3.8%
Back to the key

How the questions are chosen

Each ingredient is ranked by how much recipes disagree on it: the width of the middle half of recipes (25th to 75th percentile) divided by the median, less 4% for each place it sits down this lab's list of ingredients, so the ones that define the dish win near ties. For pancakes the order is fat (1.36), sugar (0.83), leavening (0.63), egg (0.50) and liquid (0.44), and the first 3 are asked. Salt is never asked about: recipes differ on it mostly by brand and taste.

Every split is at the median of the recipes in front of it, rounded to the percentage shown. Recipes exactly at the median go to whichever side leaves the two halves more even. No answer may keep fewer than 5 recipes; a group that could not be split further says so.

The recipes listed under each group are the 5 nearest its median on every ingredient at once, each scaled by how much recipes vary on it. Every recipe page links to the original for the method.