Batter (cooking)

Batter is a flour mixture with liquid and other ingredients such as sugar, salt, and leavening used for cooking. It usually contains more liquid than dough, which is also a mixture of flour and liquid. Batters are usually a pourable consistency that cannot be kneaded. The batter is most often used for pancakes, light cakes, and as a coating for fried foods. It is also used for a variety of batter breads.

The word batter comes from the French word battre, which means to beat, as many batters require vigorous beating or whisking in their preparation.