If you love warm cinnamon rolls and fluffy homemade pancakes, these Cinnamon Roll Pancakes are the perfect combination of both! Soft, golden pancakes are swirled with buttery cinnamon sugar and finished with a rich, creamy cream cheese glaze.

These homemade cinnamon roll pancakes have all the delicious flavors of a classic cinnamon roll without the hassle of making dough or waiting for it to rise. They’re perfect for a lazy weekend breakfast, holiday brunch, or whenever you’re craving something sweet and comforting.

The best part? They’re made with simple pantry ingredients and come together in about 30 minutes!

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 (approximately 8 pancakes)

Ingredients

For the Pancakes

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cinnamon Swirl

• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

For the Cream Cheese Glaze

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Prepare the pancake batter. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. A few lumps are perfectly fine.
3. Make the cinnamon swirl. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter until smooth. Allow the mixture to cool slightly until thickened but still pipeable. Transfer to a small zip-top bag and snip off a tiny corner.
4. Prepare the cream cheese glaze. Beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Add additional milk as needed to reach a pourable consistency. Set aside.
5. Cook the pancakes. Heat a lightly greased nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Pour approximately 1/4 cup of pancake batter onto the skillet for each pancake.
6. When small bubbles begin to appear and the edges start to set, pipe a thin spiral of cinnamon filling onto each pancake, starting near the center and leaving a border around the edges.
7. Continue cooking until the underside is golden and the pancake is mostly set. Carefully flip and cook for another 1–2 minutes until cooked through. The cinnamon filling may caramelize slightly.
8. Transfer the pancakes to a plate and wipe the skillet clean between batches to prevent the cinnamon sugar from burning.
9. Serve warm. Stack the pancakes on a plate and drizzle generously with cream cheese glaze. Add a little extra cinnamon if desired.

Tips for Perfect Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Keep the heat medium-low. Brown sugar caramelizes quickly, so cooking these pancakes at a lower temperature helps prevent the cinnamon swirl from burning.

Don’t overmix the batter. Stir just until the ingredients are combined for soft, fluffy pancakes.

Let the cinnamon filling thicken. If the filling is too runny, it will spread instead of creating a pretty cinnamon swirl. Allow it to cool slightly before piping.

Use a thin swirl. Too much cinnamon filling can make the pancakes difficult to flip and cause the sugar to burn.

Wipe the skillet between batches. This removes excess caramelized sugar and keeps the pancakes golden instead of overly browned.

Serve the glaze warm. For an extra smooth drizzle, gently warm the cream cheese glaze for a few seconds before serving.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Refrigerator: Store leftover pancakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the cream cheese glaze refrigerated separately.

Freezer: Freeze the pancakes without glaze in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months.

Reheating: Warm pancakes in the microwave or a skillet until heated through. Add the cream cheese glaze just before serving.

Estimated Nutrition (Per Serving)

Based on 4 servings, including cinnamon filling and cream cheese glaze.

• Calories: 625
• Protein: 12 g
• Net Carbs: 83 g
• Fat: 27 g
• Fiber: 3 g

Nutrition values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.