Cinnamon Roll Pancakes (Printable)
Fluffy pancakes swirled with cinnamon filling and topped with creamy icing for a comforting breakfast treat.
# What you'll need:
→ Pancake Batter
01 - 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon baking powder
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - 1 ¼ cups milk
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 3 tablespoons melted butter
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Cinnamon Swirl
09 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
10 - ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
11 - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
→ Cream Cheese Icing
12 - 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
13 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
14 - ½ cup powdered sugar
15 - 2 tablespoons milk
16 - ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
# Directions:
01 - Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until evenly distributed.
02 - Whisk together the milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
03 - Combine the melted butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon in a small bowl and mix until smooth. Transfer the mixture into a small zip-top bag and snip off a tiny corner to create a piping tip.
04 - Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract, then mix until creamy and well combined. Set aside.
05 - Preheat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat and lightly grease with butter or nonstick spray. Pour ¼ cup of batter per pancake onto the hot surface.
06 - Once bubbles begin to form but before the surface is fully set, pipe a spiral of the cinnamon mixture onto each pancake.
07 - Cook until bubbles appear across the surface, then carefully flip each pancake and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Wipe the skillet clean between batches if needed.
08 - Stack the warm pancakes and drizzle generously with the cream cheese icing.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It tastes exactly like a cinnamon roll but requires zero yeast and no waiting for dough to rise
- The cream cheese icing turns a regular stack into something people will photograph
02 -
- Piping the cinnamon swirl too early will cause it to sink and burn before the pancake sets, so wait for those first bubbles
- The zip-top bag trick for the swirl is nonnegotiable because trying to drizzle it with a spoon ends in a sticky mess
03 -
- Greek yogurt replaces some of the butter in the batter for a slightly lighter version that still tastes indulgent
- Chopped pecans folded into the cinnamon swirl add a toasted crunch that takes these over the top