Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes are warm and cozy, making the perfect breakfast for a cold day. Sprinkled with brown sugar and cinnamon, these pancakes have all the flavor of cinnamon rolls without any of the mess.
If you are love pancakes, try these Snicker inspired pancakes and these healthy Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Pancakes.
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Why this Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes Recipe is a Keeper
These homemade cinnamon swirl pancakes are topped with cream cheese frosting, and are decorated with a swirl of cinnamon and sugar. With gooey cinnamon and are super simple to make. If you love cinnamon rolls, here are a few reasons why you’ll love pancakes with a cinnamon sugar filling:
- 20 Minute Meal: Have these cinnamon pancakes ready in just 20 minutes.
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients for this cinnamon pancakes recipe can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- Family Favorite: Everyone will love these cinnamon buns pancakes topped with a delicious cream cheese icing.
How Do I Make Fluffy Pancakes?
To make these cinnamon roll pancakes fluffier, make sure to whisk all of the lumps out of the dry ingredients. You’ll also want to make sure your pancake mix isn’t expired. If you’re making these absolutely delicious pancakes from scratch, check to see how fresh your baking powder and baking soda are.
Homemade Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Recipe Ingredient Notes
- Pancake Mix: Use a storebought pancake mix, or make your own.
- Brown Sugar: Make the pancakes with brown sugar for a delicious warm, sweet flavor.
- Cinnamon: Use 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon. Add the cinnamon to the filling mixture.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Cinnamon Roll Pancake Recipe Prep Ahead Suggestions
- Pancake Batter: You can make cinnamon pancake batter ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator overnight.
- Butter: Melt the butter ahead of time and lightly grease your griddle.
- Cream Cheese Glaze: Combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Mix until smooth. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Special Equipment Needed
- Griddle: Make the cinnamon swirl pancakes on the griddle. You can also heat a large pan.
Pro Tip to Make Cinnamon Pancakes
Overmixing can lead to tough pancakes. Mix just until the lumps are mostly gone.
How to Make Delicious Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Cinnamon swirl pancakes combine easy ingredients to make the perfect breakfast recipe. If you like your pancakes a little later in the day, you can make them ahead to have breakfast for dinner. Follow the steps below to learn how to make the best pancakes with cinnamon filling.
These are the basic steps for making easy cinnamon roll pancakes Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Make the Cinnamon Pancake Batter
Prepare pancake batter according to package directions. In a large microwave safe bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until smooth. Set aside.
2. Make the Cinnamon Swirl Mixture Mixture
Microwave the cinnamon sugar mixture in 10 second increments until soft. Transfer the batter to a pastry bag with a medium tip, then pour the pancake batter onto a hot griddle or large skillet.
3. Cook the Pancakes
Pipe the cinnamon sugar mixture onto the batter in a swirl shape. When pancakes are lightly brown, flip with a spatula and cook on medium heat until done. Cook the pancakes until small bubbles form.
4. Make the Icing
Add powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla, and milk to a mixer; mix until smooth. If too thick, add more milk. Transfer to another pastry bag and squeeze onto the pancakes.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftovers
- Storing: Store leftover pancakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator. These pancakes can also be frozen.
- Reheating: Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
- Using Leftovers: The pancakes should stay good for 2-3 days after storing.
Variations and Substitutions for the Best Cinnamon Pancakes
- Waffles: Use a waffle iron to make waffles with this recipe.
- Squeeze Bottle: To make the batter with the best swirl of cinnamon, use a bottle to add a swirl and control the shape.
- Pumpkin Pancakes: Add canned pumpkin to the wet ingredients, then add a swirl of the cinnamon mixture.
- Buttermilk: Add buttermilk if you’re making these pancakes from scratch.
- Low Calorie Mix: To cut back on calories, use a low calorie pancake mix or wheat pancake mix.
Cinnamon Pancakes Recipe FAQs
Serve this recipe with these other recipes on my website: cinnamon roll ups, air fryer cinnamon rolls, or cinnamon toast crunch bars.
Use a nonstick spray on the griddle before adding the batter.
Try adding chocolate chips, blueberries, or vanilla extract.
Expert Tips for Making This Buttermilk Cinnamon Pancake Recipe
- Batter: Make sure not to overwork your batter; there should be a few lumps. Let it rest 5 minutes before cooking.
- Double: Double the recipe to make as many pancakes as you want. Store in freezer bags to save for later.
- Griddle: Preheat your griddle ahead of time. Wait until bubbles form on the top of the pancakes to flip.
Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes
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Ingredients
Pancakes
- 3 cups Pancake Batter
- 8 tablespoons Butter, softened
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Cinnamon
Cream Cheese Icing
- 2 cups Powdered Sugar
- 2 ounces Cream Cheese
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 4 tablespoons Milk
Instructions
- Prepare pancake batter according to direction.
- In a large microwave safe bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until smooth.
- Microwave on high for 10 second increments until it is soft and can be squeezed through a pastry bag.
- Transfer mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a medium tip. Or, you can use a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off.
- Pour pancake batter onto hot griddle.
- Pipe cinnamon mixture onto batter in a swirl shape.
- When pancakes are lightly browned, flip and cook until done.
Cream Cheese Icing
- Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of an electric mixer
- Mix until smooth.
- If icing is too thick add more milk until desired consistency is reached.
- Transfer the icing into another pastry bag or Ziploc bag.
- Squeeze it over the prepared pancakes.
Christina’s Notes
- Batter: Make sure not to overwork your batter; there should be a few lumps. Let it rest 5 minutes before cooking.
- Double: Double the recipe to make as many pancakes as you want. Store in freezer bags to save for later.
- Griddle: Preheat your griddle ahead of time. Wait until bubbles form on the top of the pancakes to flip.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
This looks absolutely delicious. Now I want some pancakes.
These look sooooo good!!!
Those sound devilishly good! We’re definitely going to have to try these…I LOVE cinnamon rolls and pancakes — so why not together 🙂
Sounds like a keeper! Can’t wait to try!
These look incredible!
This looks darn delicious, might just have to make it!! Found you through blog hop and am your newest follower. 🙂 Feel free to follow back.
http://helpfuldaddy.blogspot.com
WOW! These look out of this world and I am booking mark this now!
Thanks for stopping by THIS WEEK’S CRAVINGS! Each week we feature a different recipe and TODAY is “EGG ONLY” recipes! We would love for you to come back and link up a delicious “egg” recipe! Scrambled, Fried, Casserole or Quiche… any Egg Recipe will do! Please come back and link-up again!
http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/2011/04/this-weeks-cravings-linky-party-24-egg.html
OH WOW! Last night we had chocolate-chocolate chip pancakes and they were DECADENT, to say the least. After the meal I mentioned that I wanted to try to find other ways to jazz up our favorite breakfast style dish. And then this morning… I found this blog … and I cannot wait to try this! Thanks 🙂
They look perfectly delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Ooooo… w/ cinnamon glazed peaches on the side… or dip in cinnamon applesauce (w/out the icing)… the possibilities are YUM-A-LICIOUS!!!
These look SO amazing. Yum Yum!
Im your newest follower from the hop!
-Hannah
This looks so good! I will have to give it a try! I can say – everyone loves that banana bread recipe on here – I make it about once a week and give a loaf away each time – everyone loves it. My mom (who hates banana bread and doesn’t like anything I cook) even said how great it was!
looks good! I am following you (suelee1998) from the blog hop, you have a great site. Would you please follow me back? http://susansdisneyfamily.blogspot.com/
thank you 🙂
Yummy!
Blog hopping! I’m your new follower and would love a follow back! Thanks!
I saw this recipe from her too and have it bookmarked! They look awesome! THanks!
My daughter will LOVE these!!! I’m a new follower! Found you through a blog hop. I’d love it if you’d follow back!
http://www.toeuropewithkids.com/
Thanks!
OOOO yummy! I’m following you from follow me back Tuesday. You can visit me at http://www.scrappinstampers.blogspot.com
Hi, I am your new follower from Totally Tuesday BH.
Hope you can follow me back at Kids e-Connection
Welcome! Thanks for the follow! I returned the favor! 🙂
I am a new follower and would love it if you could follow me back. Those pancakes look DELICIOUS!!! I will definitely be making those sometime soon!
Hope
I am a new follower and would love it if you could follow me back. Those pancakes looks DELICIOUS!! I will definitely have to try those out!
Hope
http://www.peanutbutterandhopey.com