These Viral 2-Ingredient Pancakes Are the Fluffiest I’ve Ever Had

Growing up, breakfast for dinner nights were an oddity, So, the nights my mom proclaimed it was a pancake kind of evening were simply the best—if not magical. As an adult, that magic dulled. Who would stop me if I decided on waffles instead of a sensible salad for dinner? The novelty of breakfast for dinner is gone. 

Until recently, while scrolling through TikTok I came across a breakfast (for any time of day) hack–ice cream pancakes. TikTok user Squashedpickle Snack Queen shared a short clip that brought back that breakfast-for-dinner nostalgia. The video proclaimed that the fluffiest pancakes only have two ingredients: ice cream and self-rising flour.

Of course, I needed to try this viral ice cream pancake recipe ASAP, it reminded me of the viral ice cream bread, but ice cream pancakes seemed even easier and downright delicious. Why not give it a try? 

A quick Google search will return an assortment of ice cream pancake recipes, many with more than two ingredients. But the video I saw, with more than 1 million views, is by far the simplest. The fact that the recipe had promisingly fluffy and light pancake results was just the syrup on top. 

I Tried the Viral 2-Ingredient Ice Cream Pancakes

The video didn’t specify which type of ice cream to use, just that you need one scoop. I tried adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream to 1 cup of self-rising flour, but it was too dry. I ended up adding 3 more scoops of ice cream to get a pancake batter consistency. 

Even with that adjustment, I found these pancakes to be a bit too thick, but as promised they were very fluffy in the middle. The flavor is where these really shined—they tasted just like vanilla ice cream. Plus, the ice cream made the pancake so moist, that I didn’t even feel the need to add syrup. They take on the flavor of whichever ice cream you use, so have a little fun and try mixing up the flavors. You could use strawberry ice cream for a fruity take, or try cookie dough ice cream for an upgraded version of chocolate chip pancakes. 

I also tried the batter in a waffle iron and liked how those turned out even better. The waffles cooked fast and easy inside my mini waffle press and were lighter in texture than the pancakes. They browned well on each side and were light and fluffy on the inside. 

How To Make 2-Ingredient Ice Cream Pancakes 

Ingredients 

• 2 cups ice cream 
• 1 cup self-rising flour 

Steps

1. Stir the ice cream and flour together until a smooth batter forms.
2. Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Spray the pan with cooking spray. Spoon some batter into the skillet and cook until brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until the other side is brown, 2 to 3 minutes more. Repeat with the remaining batter to get about 3 to 4 pancakes. 
3. Let the pancakes cool slightly before adding toppings such as butter, syrup, and/or whipped cream. 

My Honest Review of the 2-Ingredient Ice Cream Pancakes 

Ice cream pancakes are a clever idea for kids, sleepovers, or a fun birthday breakfast, but I personally liked the texture better when they were prepared as waffles instead of pancakes. In all  honestly, I just  prefer classic pancakes. What can I say? I am nostalgic for tradition.