Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

This is Chelsea's recipe, but I'm posting in case she doesn't get around to it.  It was originally found on Recipe Snobs from a link on Pinterest. When she came to visit last week, she made this several times and found the secret for smooth, easy to swirl, cinnamon mixture was in the unsalted butter.  These seem much healthier than a cinnamon roll for breakfast, and not to mention much faster and easier.  Try them they might be your new favorite.

I chose to mix the cinnamon and sugar mixture right in the bag in the microwave.  You want a thin stream so be sure and cut a small tip off the bag.

 I thought this stream was a little heavy so I changed to a new bag with a smaller tip.

 Add a little icing (I thought it was good with maple syrup as well).

 Enjoy!

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Cinnamon Filling

     4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, just melted (not boiling)

     1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

     1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Glaze

     4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

     2-ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

     3/4 cup powdered sugar

     1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pancakes

     1 cup all-purpose flour

     2 teaspoons baking powder

     1/2 teaspoon salt

     1 cup milk

     1 large egg, lightly beaten

     1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil

Prepare the cinnamon filling: In a medium bowl, stir together the butter (needs to be unsalted), brown sugar, and cinnamon. Scoop the filling into a quart-sized heavy zip baggie and set it aside.

Prepare the glaze: In a small pan, heat the butter over low heat until melted. Turn off the heat and whisk in the cream cheese until it is almost smooth. Sift the powdered sugar into the pan, stir and add in vanilla extract. Set the pan aside while you make the pancakes.

Prepare the pancake batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk in the milk, egg and oil, just until the batter is moistened (a few small lumps are fine).

Cook the pancakes: Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium-heat and spray with nonstick spray. Use an ice cream scoop (or I used a 1/4 cup measuring cup) to add the batter to the pan. Use the bottom of the scoop or cup to spread the batter into a circle about 4-inches in diameter (I did not have to do this because my batter was thin enough to spread out by itself). Reduce the heat to medium low. Snip the corner of your baggie of cinnamon filling and squeeze the filling into the open corner (you may need to knead the cinnamon filling before clipping the bag, as the filling tends to separate a little). When your pancake begins to form bubbles, add the filling. Starting at the center of the pancake, squeeze the filling on top of the pancake batter in a swirl, just as you see in a regular cinnamon roll (be careful not to get the filling to close to the side. You want to keep it about a 1/4 of an inch away from the edge or it will bleed over). Cook the pancake 2 to 3 minutes, or until the bubbles begin popping on top of the pancake and it's golden brown on the bottom. Slide a thin, wide metal spatula underneath the pancake and gently but quickly flip it over. Cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes, until the other side is golden as well. When you flip the pancake onto a plate, you will see that the cinnamon filling has created a crater-swirl of cinnamon. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel, and repeat with the remaining pancake batter and cinnamon filling. Re-warm the glaze briefly, if needed. Serve pancakes topped with a drizzle of glaze.

Yields: Eight 4-inch pancakes