Fluffy Cinnamon Roll Pancakes (Print)

Fluffy pancakes filled with cinnamon swirl and topped with creamy glaze, perfect for a flavorful brunch.

# Components:

→ 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 milk

# Directions:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They taste indulgent enough for a special brunch but come together faster than you'd expect.
  • The cinnamon swirl stays gooey inside while the pancakes stay light and fluffy, somehow.
  • Cream cheese glaze turns them into something that tastes homemade but feels restaurant-worthy.
02 -
  • Don't overmix the batter—lumpy batter makes fluffy pancakes, smooth batter makes dense ones, and there's no coming back from dense.
  • If your cinnamon swirl breaks while piping, just drizzle it messily with a spoon instead; the taste doesn't care about perfect lines.
  • The cream cheese glaze sets as it cools, so if you make it ahead, let it come back to room temperature before serving or it'll be too thick to drizzle.
03 -
  • If you want deeper cinnamon flavor, add a tiny pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the swirl mixture—just a whisper, nothing more.
  • Weigh your flour if you have a scale because measuring by cup sometimes leads to too much flour, which means tighter, less fluffy pancakes.
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