American
Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes
Cinnamon sugar is pulled through the batter in streaks, so some bites are sweeter and the edges brown a little faster than the middle. The batter is thick enough to hold the swirl, which means a few lumps are better than a smooth, overmixed cup.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 18 min
- Total
- 33 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
Why you’ll love it
- The swirl is only sugar and cinnamon, so there is no separate filling to leak.
- A short mix keeps the crumb tender even with the extra sugar.
- Cooked pancakes can wait on a low rack while the next batch finishes.
- The recipe feeds four from one bowl and one pan.
Ingredients
Ingredient amounts scale. Oven temperature and cook time do not. Salt, spices, and leaveners are a starting point after you scale. Taste and adjust.
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Instructions
- 1
Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
- 2
Whisk the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla in a second bowl, then stir them into the dry mix until the flour disappears.
- 3
Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon, then fold that mixture through the batter in a few wide streaks instead of blending it smooth.
- 4
Heat a griddle or heavy skillet over medium and film it with some of the remaining butter.
- 5
Pour 1/4 cup batter for each pancake and cook until the top looks set and the bubbles have popped, then flip and cook about 1 minute.
- 6
Repeat with the rest of the batter, adding butter when the pan looks dry, and serve while the centers are still soft.
Pro tips
- Leave the cinnamon in ribbons; stirring it in fully just dyes the batter brown.
- If the edges darken before the center sets, drop the heat a notch.
- A 1/4-cup scoop keeps the rounds the same thickness so they finish together.
Easy substitutions
- Milk
- Unsweetened oat milk
- All-purpose flour
- White whole wheat flour
- Butter
- Neutral oil
Storage and reheating
Storage
Wrap cooled pancakes and refrigerate them for up to 3 days.
Reheating
Warm them in a covered skillet over low heat, or toast briefly, until the center is hot.
Nutrition
Estimates per serving, using standard ingredient averages and rounded to the nearest gram. This is not a lab analysis, and it shifts if you change brands or add sides.
- Calories
- 470
- Protein
- 11 g
- Carbs
- 66 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Fiber
- 2 g
Moderate · Stovetop · Vegetarian
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A heavy 12-inch skillet
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An air fryer with a real basket
The air-fryer recipes expect a single layer. A crowded basket steams instead of browning.
A half-sheet pan
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A sharp chef’s knife
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A large cutting board
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Dry cups and a liquid cup
Desserts in particular expect level dry measures and a separate cup for milk.
An instant-read thermometer
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