Melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter in the microwave or on the stove top. Set aside to cool.
Add 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tbsp sugar, 3 tsp baking powder, and a pinch of salt to a large bowl. Mix together.
Add the melted butter, 2 eggs, 2 cups buttermilk, and 2 tsp vanilla to the dry ingredients. Mix into a batter.
Heat a pan or griddle over medium-high heat until you can feel the heat emitting from the top when you wave your hand over it.
Test the pan by adding a little bit of batter and cooking a mini pancake.
When your pan is hot, add about a 1/4 cup of batter to it with a ladle, or pour the batter directly onto the pan from a measuring cup with a spout.(The measurement doesn’t matter; it’s just to give you a point of reference. You can make these pancakes as big or as small as you want.)
When the air bubbles rise to the top, flip your pancakes and cook for about a minute on the other side until golden brown. Your spatula should be able to glide under the pancake when it’s ready.
Repeat, making multiple pancakes, until you run out of batter.
Stack your pancakes on a plate, add your desired toppings, and enjoy.