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The best of both worlds: fluffy buttermilk pancakes with a gooey cinnamon-sugar swirl and melty chocolate chips. They’re cozy, over-the-top, and just right for long weekends and holiday mornings.
Make the swirl, whisk the batter, and flip. Pile them high and finish with a swoop of cream cheese frosting. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser—kids to grown-ups.
Why You’ll Love These
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Cinnamon-roll flavor without the proofing—on your table fast.
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Soft, fluffy crumb + puddles of chocolate + tangy cream cheese drizzle.
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Make the swirl ahead so breakfast is mostly mixing and flipping.
Just look at them! Doesn’t your mouth just water looking at them? They are sinfully delicious. Definitely a breakfast for holidays! But really isn’t that what the holidays are about? Sinfully delicious food…all the time. It brings people together and creates long-lasting memories!
Nothing beats a doughy homemade cinnamon roll, but the same goes for a fluffy buttermilk pancake! So I thought why not be a rebel and literally smash the two together. They make for one insanely decadent breakfast and an even better snack if you are lucky enough to have leftovers.
In our house Thanksgiving, or really the week prior… and after, means lots of people. Sometimes they are random strays that just pop in, other times they are long lost brothers (or people who think they’re brothers) who decide they need a good home cooked meal. Whoever is here, they always appreciate a delicious breakfast before a long cold day of snowboarding, or shredding as it is commonly referred to around here. Yeah it is pretty obvious that I live with a bunch of boys……..and we are NOTHING alike.
Pancakes put a smile on everyone’s face. Like when everyone discovers what Santa left them the night before!
Looking for some other great Thanksgiving finds? I highly recommend some Popovers breakfast, lunch, dinner or anytime these little guys are delicious! How about something green? Roasted Brussel Sprouts with a Cranberry glaze. Need a dessert? Try pecan pie brownies, chocolate bourbon cupcakes with butter pecan frosting or buttery pecan cookies with a chocolate drizzle. All will be sure to have your guest leaving happy and full!
FAQ:
Can I make the batter the night before?
It’s best mixed the morning of so the leaveners stay active. You can whisk dry and wet separately the night before and combine just before cooking.
Why is my cinnamon swirl melting off the pancake?
The pan may be too hot or you’re swirling too close to the edge. Let the surface set first and keep the spiral tight in the center.
How do I know when to flip?
Look for set edges and bubbles that pop and don’t immediately fill in; the underside should be golden and the swirl no longer glossy.
Can I skip the frosting?
Totally—serve with a light drizzle of maple syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar. The frosting adds that “cinnamon roll” tang, but the pancakes are still great without it.
Chocolate Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Servings: 12 Pancakes
Calories Per Serving: 688 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- Frosting:
- 4 ounces of Cream Cheese softened
- 1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/2 cup of Powdered Sugar
- 1/2 cup of Milk
- Cinnamon Swirl:
- 1 stick of butter softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup of dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
- Pancake Batter:
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons of firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups of Buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons of melted and cooled butter
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Prepare the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat cream cheese, vanilla and powdered sugar together until well combined. Add milk and mix. Set aside.
- Prepare the Cinnamon Swirl Mixture: Stir all ingredients together by hand or with a beater/mixer and add to disposable piping bag or plastic baggie with a small hole cut in the corner. Set aside.
- Make the Batter: In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt and whisk together. In a medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients and mix well. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir just until combined.
- Preheat a skillet to medium high heat.
- Spray with cooking spray or rub with butter.
- Pour the pancake batter onto the hot pan using a 1/4 cup measuring cup.
- Let the pancakes cook for about one minute; they will start to set up just slightly. Then use the piping bag to gently swirl the cinnamon mixture into the pancakes, pushing slightly into the batter so the cinnamon mixture is swirled into the batter, not just on top of the pancake. Keep the swirl close to the center of the batter so the mixture doesn’t melt off the side of the pancakes.
- Gently press 5-8 chocolate chips on top of the cinnamon swirl.
- when the edges start to look done, use a wide spatula to flip the pancakes.
- Cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter.
- Serve with the frosting.
Notes
*You will want to wipe your pan clean every few pancakes so you dont get burnt cinnamon on the bottoms of your pancake.
This post was originally published on November 18, 2012
I made these for Sunday brunch and they are insanely delicious!!! I had been looking for a recipe like this when I don’t have time to make cinnamon rolls. Thank you ??
Hey Edinne,
Happy Monday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks for making it:) xTieghan
Have you ever tried making the batter the night before and keeping in the fridge?
Hey Michelle,
That will be fine for you to do, just allow the batter to come to room temp before using. Let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I have to improvise because I only had 1 cup of buttermilk and added 1/2 cup of oatmilk (it was all I have lol), I also used gluten free flour… this pancakes were sooooo good!! the best part is after eating them all we felt light and very very very happy ^_^
Hi there,
Happy Friday!! I am so glad to hear this recipe was a winner, thanks for giving it a go:) xTieghan
I couldn’t get the cinnamon swirl to stay. Instead it melted and disappeared. The cinnamon swirl mixture melted and spilled into the pan and turned burnt black. I did follow the directions. The frosting was watery as well even after adding an additional 1/2 c of powdered sugar. Bummer! I really wanted to loved this!
Hey there,
So sorry you did not enjoy the recipe, please let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan
Made these this morning. I cheated & mixed in the brown sugar, butter & cinnamon mixture into the pancake batter. They were awesome. A big hit. Thanks!
Hey Andrea,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Your style is unique compared to other people I’ve read stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess
I will just bookmark this site.
Thanks!
Holy cow, these sound fabulous! Pinned!!
Thanks for pinning!
Have mercy!!! These look awesome and I must try them!! Have been craving cinnamon, maybe it is the season. Chocolate and cinnamon, can’t go wrong with that!!!
Agree.
Those look insane(ly Good!!!) Will def. have to try! I am stopping by from the Mom on a Time out Blog Hop/Party. Cheers!
Thank you! Let me know what you think!
For many years, when my kids were growing up, we always had the store-bought pop ‘n kind of cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. But my daughter recently discovered she has gluten intolerance, so that’s been out of the question for several years now. I can make these pancakes (cinnamon rolls from scratch take FOREVER to make) with gluten free flour mix and have something that’s darn close to those cinnamon rolls. This year will be great coz my daughter will be surprised and delighted to have our old tradition turned into a new one this year. THANKS from the bottom of my heart, and from my entire family!
Wow! That is so nice! I am so happy I can help you start a new tradition! Christmas is very close to my heart and anything I can do to make is more special for one family is the best feeling ever! Thanks you for such a nice comment!
I caught your on Wednesday Extravaganza over at Hungry Little Girl – These looks amazing!! YUM!
Ahhh Thanks for the tip of letting them cook for a min first! I tried these once and it was a disaster! I am going to try this recipe again this weekend! Thanks for Sharing! I found you on Back for Seconds Social Link Party!