Cinnamon Roll Pancakes (Printable Version)
Fluffy pancakes with a cinnamon swirl and creamy icing for a comforting morning.
# 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
# Step-by-Step:
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 fold until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
03 - Combine melted butter, packed 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 for piping.
04 - Beat the softened cream cheese and softened butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract, then mix until creamy and well blended. 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 tight spiral of the cinnamon mixture directly onto each pancake.
07 - Cook until bubbles appear across the surface, then carefully flip and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Wipe the skillet between batches as needed.
08 - Serve the pancakes warm, drizzled generously with the prepared cream cheese icing.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They taste exactly like a warm cinnamon roll but require zero yeast and no waiting for dough to rise
- The cream cheese icing turns an ordinary pancake stack into something people will photograph before eating
02 -
- If you pipe the cinnamon swirl too early the filling will seep through and burn on the skillet before the pancake is ready to flip
- The swirl paste hardens fast if it sits so keep it in the bag and gently warm it between your hands if it stops flowing
03 -
- A cast iron skillet holds heat more evenly than a thin nonstick pan and gives you that restaurant quality golden crust
- Chopped pecans sprinkled over the icing add a toasted crunch that makes these feel like they came from a bakery case