Add 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons sugar to a zip-top bag or airtight container. Seal tightly and store until ready to use.
To make pancakes:
Mix dry ingredients: if you made the mix ahead, just use one bag of the dry mix
Mix the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups milk, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons butter (melted), and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
Heat the skillet. Warm a lightly greased skillet or griddle over medium heat.
Cook the pancakes. Pour about 1/4 cup batter onto the hot skillet for each pancake.
Flip and finish. Once bubbles form on top and the edges begin to look set, flip and cook until golden brown on the other side.
Serve warm. Stack them high, drown them in syrup, and enjoy your breakfast glory.
Notes
Do not overmix. Stir the batter just until combined. Overmixing can make the pancakes dense instead of fluffy.
Use medium heat. Too hot and the outside will brown before the center cooks through.
Grease lightly. A small amount of butter or oil is all you need - too much can make the pancakes fry unevenly.
Keep warm if needed. Place cooked pancakes on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven while you finish the batch.