Fluffy Cinnamon Roll Pancakes (Printable)

Fluffy pancakes with a cinnamon swirl, topped with a rich cream cheese glaze for a brunch favorite.

# What You Need:

→ Pancake Batter

01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 1/4 cups whole milk
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Cinnamon Swirl

09 - 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
11 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

→ Cream Cheese Glaze

12 - 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
13 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
14 - 3/4 cup powdered sugar
15 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
16 - 2 tablespoons whole milk

# Directions:

01 - Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until combined.
02 - In a separate bowl, whisk milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract together. Pour into dry ingredients and mix until just blended. Let rest.
03 - Mix melted butter, light brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Transfer mixture to a piping or zip-top bag and snip a small corner.
04 - Beat softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk, whisking until pourable.
05 - Heat a lightly greased nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Pour 1/4 cup batter per pancake.
06 - Pipe the cinnamon swirl onto each pancake. Cook until bubbles form on the surface, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip gently and cook for another 2 minutes.
07 - Serve pancakes warm, drizzled generously with cream cheese glaze.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They taste like dessert for breakfast but actually come together faster than you'd think.
  • The cream cheese glaze is so good that people always ask if you went to culinary school.
  • You can have them ready while your coffee's still hot.
02 -
  • Don't overmix the batter—I learned this the hard way and ended up with tough, rubbery pancakes that felt more like sponges than breakfast.
  • The cinnamon swirl will want to sink or spread; piping it onto the batter right after you pour prevents this disaster.
  • If your cream cheese glaze breaks or looks grainy, it usually means the butter or cream cheese wasn't soft enough; start over with softened ingredients.
03 -
  • Add 1/4 tsp of nutmeg to the cinnamon swirl mixture for a subtle warmth that people can't quite identify but absolutely love.
  • Make the glaze thinner than you think you should and drizzle it slowly over warm pancakes—it's more elegant and tastes better than pouring it on thick.
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