Vanilla Bean Pancakes are indeed a very tasty treat.  They even make a great gift too.  Simply combine the first 4 ingredients in a jar or zip-top plastic bag.  Seal the jar or bag and attach the vanilla bean to the gift.  Include the recipe directions in a gift card.  Shapely pancake molds and vanilla bean batter  make this recipe and gift idea novel.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar or Vanilla Sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 vanilla bean
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Preparation

• Place dry ingredients in a large bowl, and make a well in the center
• Split the vanilla bean, and scrape seeds into a small bowl
• Whisk in milk, oil, and egg until blended
• Add to dry ingredients, stirring just until blended
• Place pancake molds on a hot, lightly greased griddle
• Spray molds with cooking spray
• Pour 1/4 cup batter into each mold, spreading batter evenly to edges
• Cook until tops are covered with bubbles and pancakes pull away from sides of molds; remove pancake molds
• Turn pancakes and cook the other side 
• Repeat process with remaining batter

Yield: 12 (4") pancakes

Note: To make these pancakes without pancake molds, drop batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a lightly greased hot griddle, and cook as directed above.

Shortcut Solution: For a quick gift idea, give a box of biscuit and pancake mix, flavored syrup, and the pancake molds.