Stir only enough to combine the ingredients. Over stirring causes tough pancakes. The batter will be lumpy.
Stir in the melted butter, gently combining.
Add in the chocolate chips.
For the Coconut Syrup:
In a saucepan, melt the butter, sugar and buttermilk together.
Stir frequently.
Bring it to a boil and boil for 1 minute.
Remove from heat and add the soda and extract.
It will bubble up a bit, but just stir until the fizz goes down.
Notes
The pancakes can be made ahead and frozen. Place pancakes on a parchment-lined baking sheet in the freezer for an hour then transfer to a ziplock bag. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in the toaster.