Cinnamon Roll Pancakes with Cream Cheese Drizzle

A bakery-style breakfast at home

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes with Cream Cheese Drizzle are truly all your breakfast dreams wrapped into one cozy, indulgent stack. These fluffy pancakes are swirled with warm cinnamon sugar and finished with a silky cream cheese drizzle that tastes just like classic cinnamon roll frosting. Perfect for weekend brunch, holiday mornings, or anytime you want to make breakfast extra special, this recipe feels bakery-worthy but is surprisingly easy to make at home. With simple ingredients and quick prep, you can enjoy a sweet, comforting breakfast that’s guaranteed to impress family and guests without spending hours in the kitchen.

Time Breakdown

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Servings: 12 pancakes

Ingredients List

Cream Cheese Drizzle

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• ¾ cup powdered sugar, sifted
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Pancake Batter

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 3 cups buttermilk
• ½ cup milk
• 3 large eggs
• ⅓ cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cinnamon Swirl

• ⅔ cup brown sugar, packed
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.

• Large mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Small saucepan
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Zip-top bag (quart size)
• Nonstick skillet or electric griddle

Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions

Cream Cheese Drizzle

1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
2. Remove from heat and whisk in the cream cheese until mostly smooth.
3. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, stirring until glossy and pourable. Set aside.

Pancake Batter

4. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
5. In another bowl, beat buttermilk, milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla until combined.
6. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently stir until just combined. Lumps are okay
7. Let the batter rest for 10 minutes for extra fluffy pancakes.

Cinnamon Swirl

8. In a small bowl, mix melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until smooth.
9. Transfer mixture to a zip-top bag and snip off one corner.

Cooking the Pancakes

10. Heat a lightly greased skillet or griddle over medium heat.
11. Scoop batter into 4-inch pancakes.
12. When bubbles form on the surface, pipe a cinnamon swirl starting from the center and spiraling outward.
13. Cook 2–3 minutes until bubbles pop, then flip and cook another 2–3 minutes until golden brown.
14. Repeat with remaining batter, wiping the pan if needed.
15. Drizzle warm cream cheese glaze over pancakes and serve immediately

Pro Tips

• Make ahead: Prepare the cinnamon swirl and glaze the night before for faster mornings.
• Storage: Store leftover pancakes in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Reheating: Warm pancakes in a toaster or skillet for best texture.
• Serving idea: Add fresh berries or chopped pecans for extra flavor and crunch.

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