These Cinnamon Roll Pancakes are the breakfast mashup that makes weekend mornings special. Fluffy pancakes swirled with cinnamon sugar filling and topped with cream cheese glaze for that classic cinnamon roll flavor. Takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. I make these Cinnamon Roll Pancakes whenever I want something that tastes indulgent but cooks faster than actual cinnamon rolls.
Why You'll Love This Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Recipe
Real talk, these Cinnamon Roll Pancakes are one of the easiest cinnamon roll pancake recipe versions I've made and my family fights over the last one.
What Actually Works: This Cinnamon Roll Pancakes recipe makes basic pancake batter, swirls cinnamon filling into each pancake while cooking, then tops with cream cheese glaze. Simple stovetop technique, about 30 minutes total. Comes out with fluffy pancakes, gooey cinnamon swirls, and that signature cream cheese frosting.
Why Other Methods Fail: Most cinnamon roll pancake attempts mess up by making filling too thin which just dissolves into batter instead of creating swirls. Others flip pancakes too early before swirl sets and everything bleeds together. Some use cold filling which hardens on contact and won't spread properly.
The thing that changed everything: Understanding that you need thick filling and proper timing for Cinnamon Roll Pancakes success. My first attempt I used regular cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top thinking it would create swirls. The sugar just dissolved immediately and I got plain pancakes with no visible cinnamon pattern.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Recipe
- What You'll Need for Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
- How to Make Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
- Top Tip
- Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- Storage and Reuse Instructions
- What to Serve With Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
- My Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Journey
- FAQ
- More Recipes You'll Love
- Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
- Related
- Pairing
What You'll Need for Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Basic ingredients you probably already have. This is the easiest how to make cinnamon pancakes you'll try.
For the Pancakes
- All purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Whole milk
- Large eggs
- Unsalted butter, melted
- Vanilla extract
For the Cinnamon Swirl
- Unsalted butter, melted
- Brown sugar, packed
- Ground cinnamon
- Cornstarch (for thickness)
For the Cream Cheese Glaze
- Cream cheese, softened
- Powdered sugar
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Vanilla extract
- Milk (to thin)
Optional Add-Ins
- Maple syrup
- Chopped pecans
- Extra cinnamon sugar
- Whipped cream
- Fresh berries
Exact measurements in the Recipe card.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
This Cinnamon Roll Pancakes recipe comes together with simple swirling technique. Works on any griddle.
Step 1: Make the Pancake Batter
Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. In separate bowl, mix milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla for your cinnamon roll pancakes base.
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir just until combined with some lumps remaining. Don't overmix or pancakes will be tough instead of fluffy.
Step 2: Prepare Cinnamon Filling
Mix melted butter with brown sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch in small bowl. The mixture should be thick like paste for proper ihop cinnastack pancakes recipe style swirls.
Transfer filling to squeeze bottle or zip-top bag with corner snipped off. This makes swirling onto cooking pancakes much easier for pancakes cinnamon roll effect.
Step 3: Cook the Pancakes
Heat griddle or large skillet over medium heat and grease lightly. Pour ¼ cup batter onto hot surface for each cinnamon roll pancake.
Let cook for about 1 minute until bubbles form on surface. Don't flip yet or the swirl won't work properly.
Step 4: Add the Cinnamon Swirl
Working quickly, squeeze cinnamon filling in spiral pattern from center to edge of each pancake while bottom cooks. The filling should sit on top of batter creating visible swirls.
Let pancake cook another 30 seconds to 1 minute until swirl starts to set slightly. The timing is crucial for cinnamon swirl pancakes that actually show the pattern.
Step 5: Flip and Finish
Carefully flip pancakes once edges look set and swirl has started to firm up. Cook other side for 1 to 2 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
The swirl will be on bottom now creating that marbled effect throughout your cinnamon rolls pancakes recipe. Don't press down or you'll squish out the filling.
Step 6: Make the Glaze
While pancakes cook, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Add milk gradually until glaze reaches drizzling consistency.
The cream cheese glaze is what makes these taste like actual ihop cinnamon pancakes instead of just cinnamon flavored pancakes.
Stack finished pancakes on plates and drizzle generously with cream cheese glaze. Serve immediately while hot for best cinnamon bun pancakes experience.
Top Tip
Use thick filling and proper timing for perfect Cinnamon Roll Pancakes. Here's what I learned through failures:
- That thick filling technique is what makes this actually work
- Made this mistake twice using thin cinnamon sugar mixture because I didn't know better
- The thin filling just dissolved into batter and disappeared completely
- Got plain brown pancakes with no visible swirl pattern at all
- Everyone was disappointed expecting pretty cinnamon roll aesthetic
- Started making thick paste with cornstarch and brown sugar
- The thick filling stayed put on top of batter and created visible swirls
- Suddenly got gorgeous cinnabon pancakes with distinct cinnamon pattern
Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
The base Cinnamon Roll Pancakes are perfect but you can customize them for different preferences.
Healthy Version
Use whole wheat flour, reduce sugar, and make lighter glaze with Greek yogurt for healthy cinnamon roll pancakes. The flavor stays similar with better nutrition.
Waffle Style
Pour batter into waffle iron and drizzle swirl before closing for cinnamon roll waffles with crispy exterior. The pockets hold extra glaze perfectly.
Pumpkin Addition
Add pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice to batter for pumpkin pancakes meets cinnamon rolls. Perfect for fall breakfast combinations.
Storage and Reuse Instructions
Yeah, Cinnamon Roll Pancakes keep okay for leftovers.
Refrigerator: Store leftover cinnamon pancakes covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in toaster or microwave. Make fresh glaze before serving.
Freezing: These cinnamon roll pancake recipe treats freeze beautifully for up to 2 months. Layer between parchment paper. Reheat from frozen in toaster or microwave.
Make Ahead: Make batter and filling night before and refrigerate separately. Cook fresh in morning for cinnamon pancakes easy breakfast. Glaze can be made 2 days ahead.
Serving: Serve these cinnamon sugar pancakes hot off the griddle. The glaze melts into warm pancakes creating that gooey cinnamon rolls filling effect.
What to Serve With Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
These Cinnamon Roll Pancakes are substantial enough as breakfast but pair well with simple sides.
Classic Options: Serve cinnamon roll pancakes with crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, or fresh fruit. The savory sides balance the sweet pancakes without competing.
Beverage Pairing: Coffee, milk, or orange juice complement the ihop cinnastack pancakes style breakfast. Hot coffee especially enhances the cinnamon flavor.
Brunch Spread: Include these cinnamon swirl pancakes easy treats with french toast cinnamon rolls and regular pancakes for variety. The options let guests choose their favorite.
My Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Journey
First time I made Cinnamon Roll Pancakes I just sprinkled cinnamon sugar on top of cooking pancakes thinking that would create the swirl effect. The sugar dissolved immediately into the batter and disappeared.
Got completely plain pancakes with slight brown tint but no visible pattern or extra flavor. My kids were so disappointed because they'd been excited for actual swirls.
Tried again making thick paste with butter, brown sugar, and cornstarch that I squeezed from bottle onto cooking pancakes. Suddenly the filling stayed put and created gorgeous visible spirals. The cinnamon roll ideas finally worked.
Then I flipped pancakes too early before swirl set and everything bled together into muddy mess. Started waiting until edges looked set and swirl started to firm before flipping, got perfect distinct patterns.
Now I make these Cinnamon Roll Pancakes every weekend for special breakfast. Thick filling, proper timing, cream cheese glaze, and patient cooking create restaurant quality results.
Similar Easy Breakfast Treats Worth Making
French Toast Pancakes: Combines french toast flavor with pancake ease for french toast pancakes that satisfy both cravings.
Cinnamon Bun Pancakes: Uses actual cinnamon roll dough batter for cinnamon bun pancakes with even more authentic flavor.
Cinnamon Sugar Pancakes: Simpler version with cinnamon mixed into batter for cinnamon sugar pancakes when you don't want swirls.
These cinnamon pancake recipe variations all use similar techniques to Cinnamon Roll Pancakes, so once you master this recipe the others become straightforward.
FAQ
Can you make cinnamon rolls into pancakes?
Yes, you can make Cinnamon Roll Pancakes by swirling cinnamon filling into regular pancake batter while cooking and topping with cream cheese glaze. The cinnamon roll pancakes recipe recreates cinnamon roll flavor without yeast dough or rising time. You get the taste in 30 minutes instead of 2 hours.
How to make simple cinnamon pancakes?
Make simple Cinnamon Roll Pancakes by preparing basic pancake batter, cooking on griddle, and swirling cinnamon-butter mixture onto each pancake before flipping. The cinnamon roll pancake process requires squeeze bottle for easy swirling. Top with cream cheese glaze for authentic flavor.
What are the 4 ingredient pancakes?
Basic 4 ingredient pancakes use flour, eggs, milk, and baking powder. However, Cinnamon Roll Pancakes require additional ingredients for the filling and glaze to achieve proper cinnamon rolls pancakes recipe flavor. The cinnamon swirl and cream cheese topping are essential components.
How to use cinnamon in pancakes?
Use cinnamon in Cinnamon Roll Pancakes by mixing it with melted butter, brown sugar, and cornstarch to create thick filling that's swirled onto cooking pancakes. The how to make cinnamon pancakes method requires thick paste that won't dissolve into batter. Simple cinnamon addition to batter alone won't create swirl effect.
More Recipes You'll Love
Once you've nailed these Cinnamon Roll Pancakes, try my Apricot Shortbread Bars for buttery dessert bars with sweet apricot filling. My Neapolitan Cake makes stunning three-layer dessert with vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. And my Butterfinger Balls create easy no-bake treats with crushed candy and cream cheese that everyone devours.
Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl, in separate bowl mix milk, eggs, 3 tablespoons melted butter, and vanilla, pour wet into dry and stir just until combined with lumps.
- Mix ½ cup melted butter with brown sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch until thick paste forms, transfer to squeeze bottle or zip-top bag with corner snipped.
- Heat griddle over medium heat and grease lightly, pour ¼ cup batter for each pancake, let cook 1 minute until bubbles form on surface.
- Working quickly, squeeze cinnamon filling in spiral pattern from center to edge of each pancake, let cook 30 seconds to 1 minute more until swirl starts to set.
- Carefully flip pancakes once edges look set and swirl has firmed slightly, cook other side 1 to 2 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons softened butter, and vanilla until smooth, add milk gradually until drizzling consistency.
- Stack finished pancakes on plates and drizzle generously with cream cheese glaze, serve immediately while hot.
Nutrition
Notes
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Cinnamon Roll Pancakes:
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