These rich and fluffy pancakes with evaporated milk are a family favorite treat. They are slightly sweet and tender with perfectly crispy edges. Made with 7 pantry ingredients, this recipe can be on the table in no time! Serve them with a drizzle of maple syrup and fresh berries for breakfast or a slow weekend brunch.

fluffy pancakes with evaporated milk on the white plate with maple syrup and berries

Most homemade pancake recipes use buttermilk to make them light and fluffy. You may not always have buttermilk in your fridge, and the great thing is that buttermilk isn't the only thing you can use to make delicious homemade pancakes.

Evaporated milk is a super easy and great substitute to use if you are out of regular milk, or don't have any buttermilk.

Evaporated milk makes a wonderful batch of pancakes and it won't go bad like buttermilk in your fridge! It lasts forever and you probably already have a can of it in your pantry, so you can easily make this recipe at any time!

Recipe ingredients

Evaporated milk. Key ingredient. This thick and slightly sweet milk is used to make extra fluffy pancakes.

Flour. The main ingredient in pancakes, use regular all-purpose flour.

Eggs. To bind the ingredients together and keep the pancakes moist.

Vegetable oil. To keep the pancakes tender.

Baking powder. To help the batter rise and get light and fluffy.

Salt. Just a pinch to balance out the rest of the flavors.

Sugar. Evaporated milk is already slightly sweet, so just add a pinch of sugar for additional sweetness.

Butter. For cooking the pancakes on the griddle. It gives a nice buttery taste and crispy golden edges.

Maple syrup and fresh berries. Serve these fluffy homemade pancakes with fresh fruit and a drizzle of syrup.

How to make pancakes with evaporated milk

Whisk evaporated milk, eggs and oil in the medium size bowl. Add flour, pinch of sugar and salt and baking powder. Do not overmix.

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Prepare the griddle. Melt some butter over medium heat and spoon equal amount for each pancake. My pan usually can fit 3-4 pancakes at the same time. Cook on medium low heat for about 30 seconds to one minute on each side or when you will see some bubbles forming on the pancake surface.

Serve pancakes warm with butter on top, maple syrup and different berries. I add blueberries and fresh strawberries.

You can also serve pancakes with your favorite jam. Apricot jam is my favorite and we also like strawberry and black currant jam. So delicious!

What is evaporated milk and why use it

It is made by simmering regular milk on low heat until at least 60% of its water content has evaporated. It has a thick and creamy texture with a slight caramel flavor. After it has undergone the canning process, evaporated milk can last for up to 2 years, making it a more convenient and readily available option to use in place of fresh milk.

It can be used in a similar way as regular milk. In baking, for custards, ice cream, or added to your coffee. In pancakes, evaporated milk gives a richer flavor with a slightly sweet milky taste.

top view of cooked pancakes with evaporated milk

Tips for making the best pancakes

Don't over mix the batter. This can cause you to have flat and tough pancakes. Just mix the batter until you don't see any streaks of flour.
It's ok if the batter is lumpy. The batter will be a little thick and have lumps in it. This will help create fluffy pancakes. If the batter is too smooth you will end up with thin, flat pancakes.
Use a non-stick griddle. This will help you to flip the pancakes better without making a mess. Also, make sure to grease the griddle with butter before adding the batter to help the pancakes cook better and give them crispy golden edges.
Add sliced bananas or whole blueberries to the batter for an extra fruity flavor. You can use frozen berries, there is no need to defrost them. For this amount of batter i would use about 1 cup of berries or one banana.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between evaporated and condensed milk?

Evaporated milk is regular milk that has been cooked slowly until it has reduced in volume and most of its water content has evaporated. It is slightly sweet and very flavorful.

Condensed milk is made by simmering milk and sugar together until it has thickened and reduced by about half. It is very sweet with a thick and creamy texture. Condensed milk is used to make caramel sauce, or used in pumpkin or key lime pies.

How do I know when to flip pancakes?

When they are ready to flip, the edges will start to brown and there will be bubbles on the surface of the pancake.

Can I substitute regular milk for evaporated milk?

Yes, in most cases you can. Evaporated milk is slightly thicker than regular milk, so you might need to add a little bit of water to get the right consistency to completely replace it in a recipe.

close view of evaporated milk pancakes with berries

Leftovers

Leftover pancakes can be stored in the airtight glass or plastic container in the fridge for up to 6 days. You can also just wrap them in foil and store this way.

You can also freeze pancakes. Place them in the freezer safe plastic bag and keep in the fridge for a few months.

Fluffy Pancakes with Evaporated Milk

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup evaporated milk
1 ¼ cup flour
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
pinch of sugar
maple syrup
fresh berries
butter for the griddle

Instructions

Whisk all the ingredients together. Do not overmix.
Butter the heated griddle . Scoop some batter on to the griddle and let cook on each side for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, until bubbles start to form. Flip and cook for another 10-20 seconds.
Serve with maple syrup and fresh berries

Notes

Don't over mix the batter. This can cause you to have flat and tough pancakes. Just mix the batter until you don't see any streaks of flour.
It's ok if the batter is lumpy. The batter will be a little thick and have lumps in it. This will help create fluffy pancakes. If the batter is too smooth you will end up with thin, flat pancakes.
Use a non-stick griddle. This will help you to flip the pancakes better without making a mess. Also, make sure to grease the griddle with butter before adding the batter to help the pancakes cook better and give them crispy golden edges.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to a week.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 320Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 119mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 2gProtein: 11g