Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Name: Cinnamon Roll Pancakes with Buttermilk
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tbsp butter, at room temperature; 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 2 tsp baking powder; 1 1/4 cups buttermilk; 1 large egg; butter or cooking spray, for greasing the pan

Cinnamon roll pancakes combine fluffy buttermilk pancakes with a sweet, buttery cinnamon-brown sugar swirl piped directly onto the batter before flipping. The result is a breakfast dish that tastes like dessert with cinnamon spice in every bite.

🌍American 🏷️Cinnamon roll pancakes 🏷️Pancakes 🏷️Cinnamon swirl 🏷️Breakfast Brunch

🏷️

🏷️Sweet

-0:00

applesauceandadhdonTikTok

Total

25 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$17–$28

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by applesauceandadhd

-0:00

applesauceandadhdonTikTok

Ingredients

2 tbsp butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 large egg
butter or cooking spray, for greasing the pan

8 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
Prepare the cinnamon swirl: In a small bowl, combine the room temperature butter, packed brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Mix with a spoon until a smooth paste forms.
2
Transfer the cinnamon mixture to a piping bag or a small plastic bag.
3
Prepare the pancake batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and baking powder.
4
Add the buttermilk and egg to the dry ingredients.
5
Whisk the batter until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are okay.
6
Heat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat and lightly grease with butter or cooking spray.
7
Pour about 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto the hot skillet.
8
Snip a small corner off the plastic bag with the cinnamon mixture and pipe a swirl onto the top of each uncooked pancake.
9
Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until bubbles start to form on the surface and the edges look set.
10
Flip the pancakes and cook for another 1-2 minutes on the other side, until golden brown.
11
Serve warm.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Pipe the cinnamon filling in a spiral or zigzag pattern directly onto the batter in the pan, allowing 20–30 seconds for the batter to set before flipping so the swirl holds its shape.
Don't overmix the pancake batter; lumps are fine and result in fluffier pancakes. Mix only until the dry ingredients are just moistened.
Use room-temperature buttermilk and egg for more even mixing and better rise. Cold ingredients can result in dense pancakes.
Cook on medium heat, not high; high heat will brown the outside before the inside cooks through, leaving the cinnamon swirl undercooked.

Substitutions

Buttermilk → regular milk mixed with 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar (let sit 5 minutes before using)
Brown sugar → granulated sugar (slightly less sweet, but works)
Ground cinnamon → pumpkin pie spice (adds warm spice depth)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled pancakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a toaster, toaster oven, or 350°F oven until warm. Pancakes can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

Equipment

piping bag (or small zip-top bag with corner snipped) · griddle or large skillet

Common Questions

Can I make the cinnamon filling ahead of time?

Yes. Mix the softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in advance and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Transfer to a piping bag just before cooking.

Why is my cinnamon filling not piping smoothly?

The butter must be soft but not melted. If too cold, it won't flow through the piping bag; if too warm, it will separate. Use butter at cool room temperature (around 65–70°F).

What's the best way to flip these pancakes without losing the cinnamon swirl?

Once the swirl is piped, wait 30–45 seconds for the batter to set slightly before flipping. Use a thin, wide spatula and flip in one smooth, confident motion to keep the filling intact.

Can I freeze leftover cinnamon roll pancakes?

Yes. Cool completely, stack with parchment between pancakes, and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheat in a toaster or 350°F oven until warm.

Can I use self-rising flour instead of all-purpose flour and baking powder?

Yes. Substitute 1 cup self-rising flour for the all-purpose flour and baking powder combined. Omit the baking powder entirely to avoid over-leavening.