• Make the buttermilk: In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk and lemon juice. Stir gently and let it sit for about 3 minutes. This creates a quick buttermilk reaction, which helps give the pancakes a soft, fluffy texture.
• To the buttermilk mixture, add the mashed banana, Greek yogurt, egg, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and melted butter (or coconut oil). Whisk until smooth and well combined.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon so everything is evenly distributed.
• Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and gently fold together with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix — the batter should be thick, slightly lumpy, and resemble scoopable cake batter.
• Let the batter rest for 10 minutes. This allows the flour to fully hydrate and helps create extra thick, fluffy pancakes when cooking.
• Fold in the diced strawberries right before cooking, mixing gently to avoid breaking them down or adding excess moisture.
• Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat and lightly grease if needed. Scoop ~1/4 cup of pancake batter onto the pan and cook until bubbles form on the surface and the edges begin to set. Flip, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the pancakes are golden and cooked through. Do not press down on the pancakes — this keeps them tall and fluffy.
• Serve warm with homemade strawberry syrup and your favorite toppings like whipped cream, fresh strawberries, mint leaves, or spoonfuls of strawberry pulp for extra flavor and color.

Strawberry Syrup

• Add the chopped strawberries, water, and maple syrup to a small saucepan and stir to combine.
• Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and let the mixture simmer for 10–15 minutes, gently pressing the strawberries with a spoon as they soften to help release their juices.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract for extra flavor.
• Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl or jar, pressing lightly to extract the liquid. Save the softened strawberries to spoon over the pancakes if desired.