In a large bowl, add buckwheat flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to remove clumps.
Add egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla to the dry ingredients. Stir until JUST combined. There will be a few lumps in the batter - this is normal. Let the finished batter sit for 5 minutes.
If your batter looks thick, add an extra 1-2 tablespoons of milk. If your batter looks thin, add an extra 1-2 tablespoons of buckwheat flour. Buckwheat flour texture can vary brand to brand.
Heat up a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium-low heat.
Melt a small pat of butter into the pan (and repeat before each pancake). As needed, wipe out the pan to prevent leftover butter from burning around the edges.
Measure about ⅓ cup of batter into your skillet and allow pancakes to cook until browned on the bottom, you see bubbles bursting through in the center, and the edges look set. Be patient - this can take up to two minutes per side, depending on the heat of your skillet and thickness of your pancakes.
Flip and cook the second side until lightly browned and pancake is cooked through in the center. Repeat with remaining batter.
Serve pancakes with your favorite maple syrup, fresh fruit, or a dusting of confectioner's sugar.
Notes
Dark vs light buckwheat flour: This recipe works with both types of buckwheat flour. When using light buckwheat flour, I found it necessary to add an extra 2 tablespoons of flour to get the right consistency.
Pancakes not cooked through/burned on the outside? Your heat is set too high. Thick pancakes are best cooked over medium-low heat to allow enough time for the inside to cook through without burning the outside. Higher heat will cause the outside to brown before the center has had a chance to cook through.
Optional additions: Add a handful of chocolate chips, blueberries, or chopped pecans to your pancakes before flipping for a fun twist.
Storage: Leftover pancakes will keep for 2-3 days in the refrigerator or in the freezer for up to 2 months.