### Instructions
#### Prepare the Pancake Batter:
1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix gently with a whisk or spatula until just combined. A few lumps are okay; do not overmix, as this can lead to tough pancakes.
#### Prepare the Brown Sugar Cinnamon Swirl:
1. In a small bowl, combine the packed light brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Mix well.
2. Add the melted butter to the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture. Stir until it forms a thick, paste-like swirl.
#### Cook the Pancakes:
1. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or non-stick pan over medium heat.
2. Pour about ¼ cup of pancake batter onto the hot griddle for each pancake.
3. Immediately after pouring the batter, drizzle about 1-2 teaspoons of the brown sugar cinnamon swirl mixture in a spiral pattern over the wet pancake batter. You can use a spoon or a squeeze bottle for more precision.
4. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until bubbles appear on the surface of the pancake and the edges look set.
5. Flip the pancakes and cook for another 1-2 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
6. Repeat with the remaining batter and swirl mixture.
#### Serve:
1. Serve your Brown Sugar Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes warm, stacked high.
2. Garnish with a dusting of powdered sugar, a dollop of whipped cream, or a generous drizzle of maple syrup for extra indulgence. Enjoy!
### Short Tips
* **Don’t Overmix:** Overmixing the pancake batter will activate the gluten, resulting in tougher pancakes. Lumps are a sign of perfectly mixed batter!
* **Rest the Batter:** Let the pancake batter rest for 5-10 minutes before cooking. This allows the baking powder and soda to activate, leading to fluffier pancakes.
* **Even Swirl:** For a more defined swirl, you can transfer the brown sugar cinnamon mixture to a small squeeze bottle.
* **Keep Warm:** To keep cooked pancakes warm while you finish the batch, place them on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at 200°F (95°C).
* **Adjust Sweetness:** Feel free to adjust the amount of brown sugar in the swirl to your preference.
* **Buttermilk Substitute:** If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a measuring cup, then filling the rest with regular milk to 1 ¼ cups. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
