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
Video
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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.
I made the pancakes and loved them. Because there’s only two of us I cut the cinnamon swirl recipe in half, but I ended up with half of it left over. I saved it and later added it to some flour, oatmeal and chopped walnuts for a topping for an apple crisp. It worked wonderfully for both purposes. – Margy
Thanks for the great recipe! I used this on my blog today! These were fabulous! 🙂
http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/2011/10/cinnamon-swirl-pancakes.html
I see you have a TON of comments (and compliments!) already, but I’m sure you’d like one more, no? So here’s mine: THANK YOU FOR SHARING! Oh, I have to copy this to try, they look SO delicious!
Best,
Gloria
I just made them! FANTASTIC! A few suggestions: The cinnamon mixture seemed quite thin. I would use 1/2 stick of butter. Also, when you flip the pancakes, the cinnamon mixture is now caramelizing and really gets stuck on the spatula so next time I will spray the spatula each time with nonstick spray. Other than that — they are really amazing!
You were featured on Today’s Top 20! Woot Woot! 🙂
Amanda
http://www.todaystoptwenty.blogspot.com
I could totally make this GFCF…they look divine…
Thanks for linking up to Creative Juice Thursday! Hope to see you back this week…
Pinning you!
i do love cinnamon…i would definitely take seconds on these! thank you for sharing with tuesday night supper club.
Oh wow! But not I need your grand-mother’s recipe for the pancakes… 🙂
Thanks for linking up to Making It With Allie! I can’t wait to see what you have for next week!
AllieMakes.Blogspot.com
This looks sooooo good! Another one of your recipes I want to try! Featuring it today.
http://embellishinglifeeveryday.blogspot.com/2011/04/check-out-these-great-ideas.html
Whata great pancake recipe! Love the cinnamon! Now following you!
Mmmmm…yea, sounds great!
New follower now 😉
Hope you can come by and see me too at http://willcookforsmiles.blogspot.com/
Oh my! We love pancakes in our house – in fact we usually make a homemade batch using chocolate chips – but your recipe looks absolutely divine! I think I’ll surprise my kids with it. Thank you so much for sharing and I look forward to following more recipes on your site. Nice to meet you!
Carrie
OH MY GOSH!!! I am SO making these Easter weekend when my college girls and their friend are here! What a special treat — thanks for posting and adding to the circumference of my hips!
I don’t blame you. that looks really good. what a great way to start your day, huh! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
yummy what a great treat perfect for our family gathering thanks for sharing
Yes Please!
I’ll take some of these!
You may have just given this pregnant lady her first real craving 😉
Biz
Yes, please!!! Is is wrong to make pancakes at 9 at night? I’m so going to try these!
That’s a friday’s favorite for sure 🙂
Have a great weekend.
Whoa. Those look like trouble…and totally amazing!
I must say these sure does look fabulous. My oldest daughter will probably love these and I will have to make them for her. Thank you for sharing.