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All Posts / Homemade Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Homemade Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

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By Rosie Published: January 24, 2025 Updated: February 10, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links.

These delicious cinnamon roll pancakes are made completely from scratch! Fluffy pancakes with a cinnamon swirl filling, finished off with a simple cream cheese icing – what could possibly be a better breakfast?!

A short stack of two homemade cinnamon roll pancakes topped with a drizzle of cream cheese icing.
Table of Contents
  1. Dessert for Breakfast with Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
  2. How to Make From-Scratch Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
  3. Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Recipe Tips, Tricks, and Variations 
  4. More Sweet Cinnamon Treats from I Heart Recipes
  5. Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Calling all breakfast lovers out there! Y’all are in for a treat today. I’m going to show you how to make the best-ever cinnamon roll pancakes! These light and fluffy homemade pancakes are the ultimate cinnamon roll vibe – totally irresistible and amazing. Everyone knows the best pancakes are made from scratch. You can enjoy these homemade cinnamon swirl pancakes for breakfast, brunch, on the holidays…whenever you darn well please!

Dessert for Breakfast with Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

If you’re craving a warm and gooey cinnamon roll, these fluffy cinnamon roll pancakes are seriously the next best thing. 

These delicious homemade pancakes give you the perfect golden brown edges. The sugar in the cinnamon filling caramelizes just a little for a little crisp, and the homemade cream cheese glaze is the perfect finishing touch! My whole family devours these pancakes and even licks the plate clean, too! This is definitely one of those breakfast recipes y’all have to keep on hand.

How to Make From-Scratch Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Ingredients

Have you ever made pancakes from scratch? You’d be surprised at how easy it is to make a homemade pancake batter with just a few simple ingredients. Just a few more ingredients are needed for the cinnamon swirl mixture and cream cheese drizzle, and you’ve got yourself a true breakfast of champions! Scroll on down to the recipe card to find the full ingredient list. Here is your shopping list:

Homemade Pancake Mix: 

  • All-Purpose Flour: flour is the base of your pancake mix
  • Baking Powder: this ingredient gives the pancake batter that trademark fluffy texture.
  • Salt: gives just a little extra flavor to the pancakes. 
  • Milk, Egg, Vegetable Oil: these three ingredients literally bring it all together.

Cinnamon Swirl Filling: 

  • Brown Sugar: makes the filling nice and sweet. 
  • Ground Cinnamon: you can’t have cinnamon rolls without the cinnamon!
  • Melted Butter: using melted butter instead of softened is key – if the butter isn’t melted, you’ll end up with a thick paste instead of a thinner swirl filling.

Cream Cheese Glaze: 

  • Softened Cream Cheese: make sure the cream cheese is at least room temperature to make for easy mixing. 
  • Powdered Sugar: sweetens the cream cheese.
  • Melter Butter: again, melted is a must! I use unsalted butter to control the flavor.
  • Vanilla Extract: brings the icing together with a touch of warm vanilla flavor.

Cinnamon Pancakes Ingredient Substitutions 

The great thing about homemade pancakes is that you can tweak the recipe to your liking. Can you use a boxed pancake mix instead of making a from-scratch batter? Of course you can! Here are some other ingredient notes: 

  • If you only have salted butter on hand, you can use it, but keep in mind that it might slightly change the taste. 
  • Milk can be swapped for your preferred non-dairy alternative, like oat milk or almond milk. 
  • You could also use buttermilk for a richer, creamier batter. 
  • You can swap out the AP flour for gluten-free flour or oat flour if you follow a GF diet.
From-scratch cinnamon roll pancakes served on a plate. These pancakes have a sweet cinnamon sugar swirl and a drizzle of homemade cream cheese icing on top.

Instructions

Okay, y’all… we’ve come to the best part: how to make these tasty from-scratch cinnamon roll pancakes! It just takes a few minutes of prep work before these babies are on the griddle and cookin’ up for your perfect breakfast!

  1. First, make the cinnamon mixture. Combine the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag or standard ziplock baggie and set it aside. 
  2. Next, make the glaze. In a separate bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar, melted butter, and vanilla. Use a whisk or fork to mix the icing together until smooth. If it’s too thick, add a drizzle of milk to thin it out. Set the icing aside. 
  3. Now it’s time to make your pancakes! In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, and salt. Then, add the wet ingredients – egg, vegetable oil, and milk. Mix the pancake batter until there are no lumps. 
  4. Get a large skillet going on the stovetop over medium-low heat (or you could use an electric griddle).
  5. Spoon about ½ cup of pancake batter into the skillet and wait until small bubbles begin to form on the surface of the pancake (about 3-4 minutes). 
  6. Take your cinnamon mixture and pipe it into the center of the pancake in a swirl pattern. Try not to get too close to the edge of the pancake.
  7. Flip the pancake and let it cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
  8. Repeat until you’ve made all your pancakes! 

Have you ever heard of a more delicious, sinfully sweet pancake recipe?! Who doesn’t love cinnamon rolls in pancake form… one of the ultimate breakfast foods! You can serve these pancakes with other breakfast classics like scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and fresh fruit for a truly delectable breakfast or brunch spread.

Two homemade cinnamon roll pancakes with cream cheese icing served with a glass of coffee.

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Recipe Tips, Tricks, and Variations 

You got questions; I got answers! And tips and tricks to make this recipe even easier for y’all, LOL. If I missed something, drop a comment down below! Here are some Cousin Rosie tips for perfecting this recipe. 

  • Use a nonstick skillet or pan to ensure your pancakes don’t stick to the pan. Otherwise, use a spritz of nonstick spray or a small pat of butter. (Pro-tip: cooking pancakes in butter is great for flavor!)
  • Everyone hates those first few wonky pancakes before you perfect The Flip. Here’s a secret: make sure you’re using a wide metal spatula that’s extra thin and flexible. If you’re worried about sticking, give it a quick spritz with nonstick spray.
  • If you have any remaining pancake batter, you can make mini pancakes or use a mini muffin tin to make little pancake muffins!
  • I highly recommend using a piping bag for the cinnamon swirl! It’s an easy, mess-free way to get the perfect swirl. You can buy a perfect beginner-friendly piping bag set that even comes with tips – it comes in handy for tons of recipes!
  • Not that you’ll have any leftovers of this recipe, but if you do, store leftover pancakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat them in the microwave or in a skillet until they crisp up.

How do I get these cinnamon roll pancakes to taste like restaurant-style pancakes?

The secret most restaurants use for those picture-perfect pancakes? Buttermilk! The acid in buttermilk reacts with the baking powder, giving your pancakes that perfectly light and airy texture. It’s a simple swap that is SO worth the results.

How many servings does this homemade pancake batter make? 

This recipe will make about 6-8 pancakes using about 1/4 to ½ cup of batter per pancake. If you need to make more, double – or even triple the recipe! Pro-tip: you can make a large batch of the pancake mix by mixing just the dry ingredients and keeping it on hand in an airtight container for from-scratch pancakes any time you want – game changer!

More Sweet Cinnamon Treats from I Heart Recipes

Cinnamon swirl pancakes ain’t the only sweet cinnamon recipes I’ve got up my sleeve, y’all! If you loved these cinnamon roll pancakes, try some of these recipes next – for breakfast, dessert, or both – no judgment here, loves 😉 

  • Cinnamon Apple Monkey Bread
  • Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake
  • Cinnamon French Toast Roll-Ups
  • Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
  • Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls
A Pinterest style graphic has two images of cinnamon roll pancakes with a block of text in the center that says "cinnamon roll pancakes" and "iheartrecipes.com"

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cinnamon roll pancakes

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

These light and fluffy pancakes are made from scratch, with a sweet cinnamon swirl filling and finished with a homemade cream cheese drizzle. They're perfect for a sweet weekend breakfast or brunch!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Keyword Cinnamon Roll Pancakes, Cream Cheese Icing
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
Total Time 20 minutes minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

Cinnamon Filling:

  • 4 tbsp melted unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Glaze:

  • 4 tbsp melted unsalted butter
  • 2 oz softened cream cheese
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Pancakes:

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil

Instructions

First, Make the Cinnamon Swirl Filling:

  • Combine brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon in a medium-size bowl. If you have a piping bag, go ahead and transfer the filling to one fitted with a small tip. Otherwise, spoon the filling to one corner of a sealable bag and set aside.
    4 tbsp melted unsalted butter, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon

Next, Make the Cream Cheese Icing:

  •  In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Set the bowl aside.
    4 tbsp melted unsalted butter, 2 oz softened cream cheese, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract

Finally, Make the Cinnamon Roll Pancakes:

  • Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Then whisk in the milk, egg, and oil.
    1 cup all purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup milk, 1 large egg, 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • Heat a skillet or griddle to medium-low and prep the surface with nonstick spray or a pat of butter.
  •  Add about ½ cup of the batter per pancake to the skillet. Don't overfill the pan with too many pancakes.
  • Wait until bubbles start to form along the edges and in the center of the pancake, then create a swirl pattern with the cinnamon filling, starting from the center of the pancake to the outside. (Don't swirl it close to the edge or it will be a mess.)
  • Flip the pancake over with a spatula, and continue cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
  • Warm the glaze if needed and drizzle over the stack of pancakes, and serve hot! 
  • Enjoy!
If you loved this recipe, leave me a review below. This helps future recipe makers and ensures continued high-quality recipes for years to come!
© 2025 I Heart Recipes
Recipe by: I Heart Recipes

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EXPLORE RECIPE CATEGORIESAll Posts, Breads, Breakfast, Holiday Recipes

MEET THE RECIPE AUTHOR

Rosie

I’m a Soul Food blogger living in the Pacific Northwest, bringing Southern cooking to gorgeous Seattle, Washington. I was born and raised in the PNW, but my family roots go all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my grandparents were born and raised. I live every day to bring the traditional values, recipes, and love of food to life for my family—whether they’re online or in real life. So, welcome to the party, family!

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Comments

  1. Mary says

    December 10, 2017 at 7:45 pm

    Goodness, these pancakes look so good. Pinned. Thanks Rosie for sharing.

    Reply
  2. Keisha says

    December 11, 2017 at 1:34 am

    Yummm….I think I’ll make these on Christmas morning. Can’t wait to try them. Thanks for the recipe and may you and your family have a blessed holiday season Rosie.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      December 11, 2017 at 5:52 pm

      Thanks for coming by!

      Reply
  3. Larencia Norman says

    February 15, 2018 at 9:09 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely love pancakes this looks delicious. I can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
  4. Geraldine Lyons says

    December 10, 2018 at 5:47 pm

    Thanks for the new ideas!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      December 10, 2018 at 6:40 pm

      Anytime 🙂

      Reply
  5. Speed says

    November 21, 2022 at 9:42 am

    5 stars
    Just made these for my toddler daughter. They were a hit with the whole family. My new go to for something sweet and holidays. They were pretty easy to whip up and my daughter enjoyed helping.

    Reply
  6. Ed churchill says

    January 30, 2025 at 10:31 am

    The print recipe button doesn’t work. It link to another page

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      January 31, 2025 at 2:22 pm

      Hello there! It’s working on my end.

      Reply

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Hey cousins, it’s Rosie!

I’m a Soul Food blogger living in the Pacific Northwest, bringing Southern cooking to gorgeous Seattle, Washington. I was born and raised in the PNW, but my family roots go all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my grandparents were born and raised. I live every day to bring the traditional values, recipes, and love of food to life for my family—whether they’re online or in real life. So, welcome to the party, family!

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