Easy Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Name: Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups All-purpose flour; 2 tsp Baking powder; ¼ tsp Salt; 1 tbsp Granulated sugar; 1 ¼ cups Milk (- Whole or plant-based); 2 Eggs (- Large); 1 tsp Vanilla extract; 3 tbsp Butter (- Melted); 4 tbsp Butter (- Melted); ⅓ cup Brown sugar (- Packed); 1 tbsp Cinnamon (- Ground); 1 pinch Salt (- Optional); 4 oz Cream cheese (- Softened); ¾ cup Powdered sugar (- Or monk fruit substitute); 2–4 tbsp Milk or cream (- Adjust for consistency); 1 tsp Vanilla extract

These cinnamon roll pancakes are what breakfast dreams are made of! After spending countless Saturday mornings experimenting with different recipes and techniques, I've finally perfected these swirled beauties that bring together the best of fluffy pancakes and gooey cinnamon rolls. Max, my 7-year-old food critic, declared them "the most awesome breakfast ever invented" – high praise from someone who typically ranks foods based on sugar content alone!

Homemade cinnamon roll pancakes stacked on a white plate, topped with creamy cinnamon glaze and maple syrup drizzle.

Why You'll Love This Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

After serving these at countless weekend brunches and special occasions, I can tell you exactly why everyone goes crazy for them:

Flavor Magic:

Perfect cinnamon-sugar ratio
Cream cheese glaze tang
Golden, buttery pancakes
Warm spice in every bite

Practical Perks:

Simpler than making actual cinnamon rolls
Ready in under 30 minutes
Basic pantry ingredients
Impressive without complicated techniques

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Ingredients
How To Make Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Substitutions
Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Variations
Equipment For Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Storage Tips
What to Serve With Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Top Tip
Grandmama's Magic Touch
FAQ
Ready for a Breakfast Game-Changer!
Related
Pairing
Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Ingredients

For the Pancake Batter:

All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Salt
Granulated sugar
Milk
Eggs
Vanilla extract
Melted butter

Homemade cinnamon roll pancake ingredients arranged on a rustic wooden surface, featuring fresh eggs, softened butter, flour, baking powder, vanilla extract in a labeled brown bottle, and milk in a glass pitcher.

For the Cinnamon Swirl:

Butter, melted
Brown sugar
Ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt

For the Cream Cheese Glaze:

Cream cheese, softened
Powdered sugar
Milk or cream
Vanilla extract

See recipe card for quantities.

Homemade cinnamon roll pancake ingredients: softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon powder, and salt in wooden and ceramic dishes on a sunlit marble countertop.

How To Make Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Prepare the Pancake Batter:

Whisk dry ingredients in large bowl
Mix wet ingredients in separate bowl
Combine wet and dry ingredients
Stir just until combined - lumps are okay!
Let batter rest 5 minutes

Create the Cinnamon Swirl:

Melt butter in microwave-safe bowl
Mix in brown sugar and cinnamon
Let cool slightly
Transfer to squeeze bottle or zip-top bag
Cut small corner if using bag

Person whisking homemade cinnamon swirl mixture in a clear glass bowl, capturing its rich, golden-brown texture, on a marble countertop in a cozy kitchen setting.

Cooking Perfect Pancakes:

Heat griddle to medium (325°F)
Lightly grease surface
Pour ⅓ cup batter per pancake
Immediately pipe cinnamon swirl
Start from center, spiral outward
Wait for bubbles to form on surface
Flip carefully with wide spatula
Cook 1-2 minutes more
Transfer to warm plate

Make the Cream Cheese Glaze:

Beat cream cheese until smooth
Add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla
Mix until pourable consistency
Drizzle over hot pancakes
Serve immediately

Substitutions

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Variations

Pancake Batter Alternatives:

All-purpose flour → Whole wheat (use ¾ cup + ¼ cup all-purpose)
Regular milk → Plant-based milk
Eggs → Flax eggs (1 tablespoon flaxseed + 3 tablespoon water per egg)
Butter → Coconut oil or applesauce

Cinnamon Swirl Options:

Brown sugar → Coconut sugar
Butter → Coconut oil
Regular cinnamon → Pumpkin pie spice
Standard mix → Add nutmeg or cardamom

Glaze Variations:

Cream cheese → Greek yogurt cream cheese
Regular powdered sugar → Monk fruit powdered sugar
Dairy milk → Almond or oat milk
Standard → Add orange or lemon zest

Pro Tip: For healthier cinnamon roll pancakes, use whole wheat flour, reduce the sugar by 25%, and make a Greek yogurt glaze instead of cream cheese. They're still delicious but with more nutritional value!

Equipment For Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Essential Kitchen Tools:

Electric griddle or large non-stick pan
Thin-edged spatula (for perfect flips)
Mixing bowls (medium and large)
Whisk
Measuring cups and spoons
Squeeze bottle or piping bag (for cinnamon swirl)

Nice-to-Have Extras:

Pancake rings (for perfectly round shapes)
Warming tray (keeps pancakes hot while making batches)
Batter dispenser (for consistent pancake sizes)
Kitchen scale (for precise measurements)

Storage Tips

Refrigerator Storage (2-3 days):

Cool completely
Layer with parchment paper
Store in airtight container
Reheat in microwave or toaster

Freezer Method (up to 1 month):

Cool pancakes completely
Layer with parchment paper
Place in freezer bag
Remove excess air
Freeze flat
Reheat from frozen in toaster or microwave

Make-Ahead Tips:

Prepare pancake batter night before (add baking powder just before cooking)
Mix cinnamon swirl ahead and store at room temperature
Make cream cheese glaze ahead and refrigerate
Warm glaze slightly before serving

What to Serve With Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

After hosting countless weekend brunches where these pancakes were the star, I've found the perfect accompaniments that create a balanced breakfast experience:

Fresh Fruit Options:

Fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
Sliced bananas
Citrus segments (orange or grapefruit)
Sautéed cinnamon apples

Protein Pairings:

Crispy bacon (the salty contrast is amazing!)
Breakfast sausage links
Scrambled eggs
Greek yogurt with honey

Beverage Matches:

Strong black coffee
Cinnamon-infused coffee
Fresh orange juice
Warm apple cider

When Max has friends over for breakfast, I create a little DIY pancake bar with small bowls of toppings they can add themselves - mini chocolate chips, sprinkles, chopped nuts, and whipped cream. It makes breakfast feel special and lets everyone customize their perfect cinnamon roll pancakes.

My personal favorite way to serve these is with a side of crispy bacon and fresh berries, plus a strong cup of coffee to balance the sweetness. As Max says, "The berries make it healthy, right?" Well, maybe not entirely, but they do add a fresh element that cuts through the richness perfectly!

Top Tip

Temperature matters! Keep your griddle at medium heat (325°F) - too hot and the swirl burns before the pancake cooks through.
Let the batter rest for 5 minutes before cooking. This gives the baking powder time to activate and results in fluffier pancakes.
Use a squeeze bottle for the cinnamon swirl - it gives you much better control than a spoon or plastic bag.
Wait until bubbles form around the edges before flipping. Flip too early and you'll end up with a mess!
The cinnamon swirl mixture needs to be the right consistency - too thin and it will run everywhere, too thick and it won't swirl properly.
Don't overmix the pancake batter! A few lumps are perfect for fluffy pancakes.
Make the swirl immediately after pouring the batter - waiting even 30 seconds can affect how well it incorporates.
Max's favorite tip: "Always make extra glaze because it's the best part and tastes good on everything!"
Cook the first side a bit longer than the second side to ensure the cinnamon swirl sets properly.
Let everyone customize their toppings - set out little bowls of nuts, fresh fruit, chocolate chips, and different syrups for a pancake bar that makes breakfast feel special.

Grandmama's Magic Touch

My grandmother had a special way with breakfast that turned ordinary mornings into memorable events. Her secret for perfect cinnamon roll pancakes came from years of feeding a family of seven before dawn on their dairy farm.

While everyone else focused on adding more cinnamon or extra glaze, Grandmama would add one unexpected ingredient to her pancake batter - a tablespoon of sour cream. "It's what gives lightness and keeps them tender," she'd explain while whisking it in. That small addition made her pancakes incredibly fluffy with a subtle tang that balanced the sweet cinnamon swirl perfectly.

But her real magic touch wasn't in her ingredient list - it was in her patience. She'd let her pancake batter rest for exactly 10 minutes before cooking, checking her old kitchen timer with serious attention. "The secret to perfect pancakes isn't just what goes in them, but giving them time to get ready," she'd say.

Max never got to meet his great-grandmother, but when he helps me make these pancakes, I tell him we're using "Grandmama's magic touch." Now he insists on setting the timer for the batter rest, watching it with the same solemn expression she used to have. Sometimes he'll whisper to the batter, "Get ready to be amazing," which I'm pretty sure is exactly what Grandmama would have done if she'd thought no one was watching.

FAQ

How to turn cinnamon rolls into pancakes?

While you can flatten canned cinnamon rolls and cook them like pancakes, true cinnamon roll pancakes start with pancake batter and add a cinnamon-sugar swirl. Our recipe uses this authentic method, creating perfect fluffy pancakes with those signature cinnamon swirls we all love.

Why are restaurant pancakes so fluffy?

Restaurant pancakes often use commercial pancake mix with added leaveners. The secrets to our fluffy cinnamon roll pancakes are: don't overmix the batter (lumps are good!), let the batter rest before cooking, and make sure your baking powder is fresh. Air bubbles create that perfect fluffy texture!

Can I add cinnamon to pancake batter?

Absolutely! While our cinnamon roll pancakes feature a swirl, you can also add 1-2 teaspoons of cinnamon directly to the batter for extra flavor. For the best of both worlds, Max suggests adding some to the batter AND doing the swirl for what he calls "extreme cinnamon pancakes."

What is in Denny's cinnamon roll pancakes?

Denny's version includes pancakes with cinnamon crumb topping and cream cheese icing. Our homemade cinnamon roll pancakes have a distinct advantage - they're made fresh with quality ingredients, and the cinnamon swirl is incorporated into each pancake rather than just sprinkled on top.

Ready for a Breakfast Game-Changer!

Now you have all the secrets to create perfect cinnamon roll pancakes at home - from getting the right swirl consistency to Max's "double cinnamon power" maple syrup trick. These showstopping pancakes are guaranteed to make any morning special.

Looking for more amazing breakfast recipes? Try our Delicious Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake for a special breakfast treat. For another fun spin on breakfast classics, our Easy German Chocolate Poke Cake makes a decadent brunch option. Or for individual servings perfect for gatherings, our Easy Cinnamon Roll Honeybun Cheesecake The Perfect Bite-Sized Italian treats will wow your guests!

Drop a star rate and share how this cinnamon roll pancakes turned out for you!!

As Max says while waiting for these to cook, "The best things in life are worth waiting for, but these pancakes are worth running to the table for!" Truer breakfast wisdom has never been spoken!

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Pairing

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Easy Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Why You'll Love This Cinnamon Roll Pancakes