Pancakes have always been one of my favorite foods. There’s something about a fluffy stack of pancakes covered in butter and syrup that makes getting up just a little bit easier.

And though my preferences for pancakes have evolved over the years to include much healthier versions, I can always go back to enjoy a classic stack with no mix-ins or crazy flavors.

Though John and I are not required to eat gluten-free, a number of our friends are, which has not only caused us to be more considerate of their needs but also more aware of how gluten sneaks its way into so many of the foods we enjoy – including pancakes.

I was inspired to create a gluten-free pancake mix not only for gluten-free eaters, but also for those who hope to experiment with gluten-free eating or are just looking for a more wholesome, homemade everyday pancake mix.

Though I’m not a gluten-free cooking expert (yet), I do know one thing about baking gluten-free: mixing/blending flours is a must. It provides diversity and complexity, which (hopefully) provides the final product with a density and texture that is similar to that of gluten-containing goods.

For this reason I went with a wholesome mix of brown and white rice flours, buckwheat flour, GF oat flour, cornmeal, and a pinch of xanthan gum for binding. The rest is pretty basic stuff: sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

You guys, the result was amazing and exactly the GF mix I was hoping for.

Just add roughly:

1 1/2 cups milk or buttermilk

1 egg

1 Tbsp melted butter or oil

And voila! You have some seriously fluffy, delicious (and hearty) pancakes on your hands.

What do they taste like? Fluffy, not too sweet and perfect under a drizzle of melted butter and honey or syrup.

John and I both agreed that you wouldn’t be able to guess they were gluten-free if you didn’t know otherwise. That counts as a massive success in my book. Make this for yourself for quick, weekday breakfasts, or as a Christmas gift for gluten-free eaters in your life. They’ll love you forever – promise.

This recipe is also customizable! Add any spices you prefer to the mix, such as cinnamon, cardamom, or nutmeg. And if you can’t get your hands on any of the flours I list, play around with the other GF flours to compensate. It should be fairly forgiving. As well, boost their flavor by adding mashed banana, blueberries, peanut butter or chocolate chips to the batter before cooking. And lastly, don’t forget the butter and syrup (or honey, as I prefer). Enjoy!

NOTE: Recipe updated January 8, 2016 to include: Added note about raw buckwheat flour, not toasted buckwheat flour. I buy raw buckwheat groats from the store and grind them into flour!