Name: Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 12 pancakes
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups pancake batter; 8 tablespoons butter; 1 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 2 cups powdered sugar; 2 ounces cream cheese; 1 tsp vanilla; 4 tablespoons milk

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. 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.

Breakfast

20 m

American

It is a Keeper

March 16, 2026

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From the Cook

1/4

Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

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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.

Squeeze it over the prepared pancakes.

Video Tutorial

Nutrition

My Calorie Intake

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Swirl Technique 🌀
Mix melted butter with brown sugar and cinnamon, then drizzle it onto the pancake batter immediately after pouring onto the griddle—this creates defined swirls that stay intact rather than bleeding into the batter.
Room Temperature Cream Cheese Frosting 🧈
Soften cream cheese at room temperature for 30 minutes before whipping with powdered sugar and a splash of milk to achieve a smooth, spreadable frosting that won't create lumps on warm pancakes.
Griddle Temperature Sweet Spot 🌡️
Keep your griddle at 350°F—hot enough for a golden exterior, but low enough to cook the interior fully before the cinnamon sugar burns; test with a water droplet that should sizzle gently.
Vanilla Extract Amplification 🎯
Use high-quality vanilla extract in both the pancake batter and cream cheese frosting to create a complementary flavor profile that enhances rather than competes with the warm cinnamon notes.
Double Griddle Flip Method 🥞
Wait for bubbles to form and pop on the surface before flipping, then flip only once—this ensures the cinnamon swirl sets properly and prevents deflating the pancakes or disrupting the swirl pattern.