Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Prep
- Stir together the soft butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until it forms a thick, spreadable paste. Scoop into a piping bag or zip-top bag and snip a small corner. Set aside at room temperature - if it gets too firm, it won't pipe properly.
- Beat the cream cheese until smooth, then whisk in the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until pourable but not runny. Add more milk by the teaspoon if needed. Set aside.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir just until combined - a few lumps are fine. Let rest for 5 minutes while you heat the pan.
Cook
- Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low heat and brush lightly with butter. Pour 1/4 cup batter per pancake. Immediately pipe a tight spiral of cinnamon filling starting from the center, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Cook until bubbles form on the surface and edges look set, about 2-3 minutes. Flip carefully and cook until the bottom is golden, 1-2 minutes more. Wipe the pan clean between batches - the sugar will caramelize and burn.
Serve
- Stack the pancakes and drizzle generously with the cream cheese glaze. Serve immediately while the cinnamon swirl is still warm and gooey.
Notes
Keep the heat on the lower side - medium-low prevents the sugar filling from burning before the pancake cooks through. The cinnamon filling can be made the night before and left at room temperature; just knead the bag briefly to soften before using. For extra indulgence, warm the glaze slightly so it really soaks into the stack.
