1️⃣ Preheat & Prep
Preheat your oven to 190 °C (375 °F). Lightly grease a 23 × 33 cm (9 × 13 in) baking dish with cooking spray or softened butter, coating all sides and corners.

2️⃣ Cook the Sausage
In a skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage, breaking it into small crumbles. Continue until browned and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Drain off excess fat and set aside.

3️⃣ Mix the Batter
In a large bowl, whisk together pancake mix, milk, egg, vanilla extract, and melted butter. If using, stir in maple syrup and cinnamon. Mix just until combined—the batter should remain slightly lumpy.

4️⃣ Layer the Bake
Pour half of the pancake batter into the prepared dish, smoothing it into an even layer. Sprinkle the cooked sausage evenly over the batter, then add a layer of shredded cheddar if desired. Dollop the remaining batter over the top, gently spreading to cover the sausage and cheese completely.

5️⃣ Bake
Place the dish in the center of the oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the top is deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

6️⃣ Rest & Serve
Allow the bake to rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve warm, with extra maple syrup on the side if you like.