When everything else seems lost, pancakes are always the one comfort food that we can come back to and count on to provide comfort in spades. There's something about those fluffy cakes that have a person drooling before they even reach for the butter and syrup, and watching both just melt away into a stack of them is borderline inappropriate. It doesn't matter what they're filled with or what's piled on top because when it comes to everyone's favorite breakfast meal, a pancake, quite simply, is a pancake. Or is it?
Those who are avid fans and have their usual pancake breakfast weekly are probably missing diner-style, fluffy flapjacks right about now, and we can't blame them. In this case, there are two alternatives: Whip up some pancake batter from scratch or get some boxed mix. Making pancakes from scratch might sound fun in theory and is pretty dang easy, but that also means needing to have all the ingredients on hand and a heck of a lot of dishes afterward. The good news is this: There are many great boxed mixes out there, and every one of them will soothe that aching need for breakfast comfort food.
Hungry Jack Complete Extra Light & Fluffy
Hungry Jack is good and is one of the original pancake mixes and while it's one of the best, it's not the best. That hasn't stopped it from serving up plenty of flavor and thick, fluffy pancakes, though, once you get the hang of working with this batter.
All that's required is a little water and the patience that it takes to allow the batter to sit for three minutes before dropping a generous scoop into a hot pan or onto a griddle. The batter itself is meant to be thick and these are the type of pancakes that definitely provide that stick-to-your-ribs goodness that's expected of them. These also get a nice, golden-brown crispness on the outside, boosting that diner-style nostalgia.
Mrs. Butterworth's Buttermilk Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix
For true nostalgia, though, Mrs. Butterworth's must be on the menu. This pancake mix also doubles as a waffle mix but we're ignoring their existence for now.
Not only does the flavor of these pancakes scream nostalgia but the scent of them will have many people remembering their childhood, sitting at the kitchen table on a Sunday morning awaiting these fluffy cakes. The best thing about Mrs. Butterworth's is how fluffy these pancakes actually get along with their flavor, which is sweeter than most without being overwhelming.
Bisquick Original Pancake And Baking Mix
Bisquick will always be a fan favorite and it's one of the most popular household names in the world of baking mixes. While Bisquick also makes a mean starter for dumplings, it's the pancakes that we're after today - which are just as delicious and wholesome as they always were.
The great thing about this mix is that its simple ingredient list and neutral flavor really lend well to additives, meaning anything from blueberries to chocolate chips (or both, if you so choose) is fair game.
Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix
Krusteaz is another classic that comes out slightly thinner than the other mixes which might lead to a bit of uncertainty prior to cooking, but don't worry - these pancakes bake up just perfectly.
The flavor is on-point with what one would expect from a diner pancake stack and they are slightly sweeter than the average. The best part about this mix, though, is its price, which is incredibly affordable compared to high-end brands.
Stonewall Kitchen Farmhouse Pancake & Waffle Mix
There's something about Stonewall Kitchen that evokes nostalgic memories of summers spent at a grandparent's house and family gatherings that started with gourmet spreads. While spreads are only some of what Stonewall Kitchen offers, their baking mixes are truly spectacular.
The Farmhouse Pancake & Waffle mix, in particular, is nothing short of extraordinary and blends together flavors you probably didn't realize could even exist in a pancake and while it's a bit pricier, it's well worth the splurge.
King Arthur Flour Cloud 9
Perhaps the best pancake mix, though, is King Arthur Flour Cloud 9. It's only expected that a company that produces top-quality flour would come out with a pancake mix that's above and beyond the call of any pancake need, and King Arthur delivers on every level.
The key to this batter is the blend of multiple types of flour which makes for an unbelievably smooth, perfectly-textured pancake that will convert even the most stubborn waffle lover.