Fluffy Ricotta Pancakes with Lemon and Honey

The easiest homemade Ricotta Pancakes — made with simple pantry ingredients in about 20 minutes. These pancakes are just as fluffy as classic pancakes, with extra creaminess and a subtle richness from ricotta cheese.

Want more pancake ideas? Try blueberry pancakes next!

plate of ricotta pancaked stacked on top of each other; blueberries on bottom of plate, and syrup being drizzled all over.

About This Recipe

I grew up making a classic pancake batter, but recently I tried ricotta pancakes on a recommendation—and they were excellent. You don’t taste cheese in a pronounced way; instead, ricotta lends a creamy, tender texture and a slightly richer flavor. They’re a great way to elevate a simple weekend breakfast without much extra work.

If you prefer a more pronounced cheesy note, shredded mozzarella can be stirred into the batter for a different texture and flavor.

Key Ingredients

ingredients prepped in bowls.

Dry ingredients: All-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Wet ingredients: Milk, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract.

Ricotta cheese: Use traditional ricotta with small curds so it blends evenly into the batter and gives a light, creamy texture.

Optional: For a bright, citrusy variation, add 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon lemon zest to the wet ingredients. If that thins the batter too much, stir in a tablespoon or two of flour to reach the desired thickness.

Instructions

dry ingredients being whisked in bowl.

STEP 1: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

wet ingredients in mixing bowl.

STEP 2: In a separate bowl, whisk ricotta, milk, eggs, oil, and vanilla until mostly smooth.

batter being whisked in bowl.

STEP 3: Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour the wet mixture in. Stir until JUST combined; some lumps are fine. Do not overmix.

first side of pancake being cooked in nonstick pan.

STEP 4: Heat a skillet over medium and brush lightly with oil. Pour about 1/4 cup batter per pancake. Cook until bubbles form on the surface, about 2 minutes.

second side of pancake being cooked; golden brown on top.

STEP 5: Flip and cook another 1–2 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm with maple syrup and your favorite toppings.

📋 Recipe

plate of ricotta pancaked stacked on top of each other; blueberries on bottom of plate, and syrup being drizzled all over.

Ricotta Pancakes

Fluffy, tender pancakes with a creamy lift from ricotta—an easy upgrade to a classic breakfast.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 370 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk ricotta, milk, eggs, oil, and vanilla until combined.
  3. Make a well in the dry ingredients, pour in the wet mixture, and stir until just combined. Leave some lumps; don’t overmix.
  4. Heat a skillet over medium and brush with oil. Pour 1/4 cup batter per pancake. Cook until bubbles appear, about 2 minutes, then flip and cook 1–2 minutes more until golden.
  5. Serve warm with maple syrup and desired toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 370 kcal
Carbohydrates: 41 g
Protein: 15 g
Fat: 16 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g
Cholesterol: 130 mg
Sodium: 410 mg
Fiber: 1 g
Sugar: 15 g
Nutrition information is an estimate calculated from an ingredient database.
Did you make this?
Let me know how it was!