This article is about the food. For the Irish style bread, see Soda bread. For the Jack Johnson song, see Pancake batter recipe without eggs Between Dreams. For the album by the Darkness, see Hot Cakes.

The pancake’s shape and structure varies worldwide. In the United Kingdom, pancakes are often unleavened and resemble a crêpe. Commercially prepared pancake mixes are available in some countries. Like waffles, commercially prepared frozen pancakes are available from companies like Eggo. When buttermilk is used in place of or in addition to milk, the pancake develops a tart flavor and becomes known as a buttermilk pancake, which is common in Scotland and the US.

Pancakes may be served at any time of the day or year with a variety of toppings or fillings, but they have developed associations with particular times and toppings in different regions. In North America, they are typically considered a breakfast food and serve a similar function to waffles. The Ancient Romans called their fried concoctions alia dulcia, Latin for “other sweets”. These were much different from what are known as pancakes today.