In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
In a separate small bowl, add the egg and whisk in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla.
Peel and mash the banana on a small plate. Stir the mashed banana into the wet ingredients.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until combined.Pro Tip: When making pancakes, it's important to remember not to over mix the batter. For the fluffiest, lightest pancakes, you only need to stir the batter - no whisking and no beating.
Melt 1 teaspoon of butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Ladle about ¾ cup of batter onto the skillet to make a pancake. Cook until bubbles break the surface of the pancake and the underside is golden brown, about 3 minutes.
Flip with a spatula and cook the other side for about 1 to 2 minutes more until golden brown and cooked in the middle. Remove the pancake from the pan and place on a plate.
Repeat until all of the batter is used up.
Top with maple syrup, nuts, and fresh sliced bananas, if you like.
Notes
Embrace Lumpy Batter: Don't aim for a smooth batter; a few lumps are perfectly fine. Just stir until the flour streaks disappear, but resist the urge to overmix. Lumps are a sign you've avoided overmixing, which can lead to tough pancakes.
Preheat the Pan: Make sure your pan is hot before ladling in the batter. A good indicator is when the butter has completely melted; that's when you know your pan is at the right temperature.
Choose Medium-Low to Medium Heat: Cooking your pancakes at this heat range ensures they'll be cooked evenly inside without burning on the outside. Banana pancakes can get soggy or fall apart if not cooked at the proper heat.
Check Ingredient Freshness: Especially with baking powder, make sure it's not expired. Stale baking powder will yield flat pancakes instead of the light and fluffy stack you're aiming for.
Accurate Measurements are Key: While weighing ingredients is the most precise method, if you're using measuring cups, be sure to fluff the flour first. Then, scoop the fluffed flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a straight-edged utensil for an accurate measure.