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Stack of cinnamon swirl pancakes drizzled with cream cheese glaze, served on a plate with fork.
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Brown Sugar Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes are fluffy, buttery, and packed with gooey cinnamon sugar spirals. Finished with a tangy cream cheese glaze, they turn breakfast into the best part of the day.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: brown sugar cinnamon swirl pancakes, cinnamon swirl pancakes, pancakes
Servings: 4
Calories: 621kcal
Author: Joanna Cismaru

Ingredients

For the Pancakes:

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¼ cups milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cinnamon Swirl:

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Cream Cheese Glaze (optional… but not really):

  • 2 ounces cream cheese softened
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, whisk milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla. Pour wet into dry and mix until just combined. Set aside.
    process shots showing how to make brown sugar cinnamon swirl pancakes.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the cinnamon swirl ingredients. Transfer to a squeeze bottle or small zip-top bag (snip the corner when ready to use).
    process shots showing how to make brown sugar cinnamon swirl pancakes.
  • Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Lightly grease if needed.
  • Pour ¼ cup batter for each pancake. Immediately swirl some of the cinnamon mixture over the top.
    process shots showing how to make brown sugar cinnamon swirl pancakes.
  • Cook until bubbles form and edges look set, about 2–3 minutes. Flip gently and cook another 1–2 minutes. Repeat.
    process shots showing how to make brown sugar cinnamon swirl pancakes.
  • For the glaze, whisk everything together until smooth. Drizzle over warm pancakes and serve.

Notes

  1. Cinnamon swirl tips: Let the swirl mixture cool slightly before piping so it holds its shape on the pancake.
  2. Control the heat: Keep the skillet at medium heat to avoid burning the swirl while the pancake cooks through.
  3. No fancy tools required: A squeeze bottle works best, but a zip top bag with the corner snipped is just as good.
  4. Make ahead: Cook and cool completely, then store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
  5. Glaze game changer: The glaze is technically optional but makes these taste like bakery pancakes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 621kcal | Carbohydrates: 81g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 711mg | Potassium: 242mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 1006IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 329mg | Iron: 3mg
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