Today, we’re talking pancakes – and not just any standard pancakes! We’re talking about our delicious cinnamon swirl pancakes with cream cheese icing and a snowflake topping to make during the winter season. Yep…snowflake pancakes! These fluffy round cinnamon sugar pancakes with a snowflake topping of cream cheese icing are a fun and festive twist on the classic breakfast dish. These cinnamon sugar pancakes are perfect year round, but with the cute snowflake topping, they are especially a favorite for snow days! Not winter time? No problem, just add the cream cheese icing on top in an everyday design.
You may have enjoyed another style of snowflake pancakes – ones which use a special pancake mold for the batter, resulting in pancakes that are actually shaped like snowflakes. While that style is super cute, many people don’t have a special snowflake pancake mold just hanging out in the kitchen. So this recipe is perfect if you want to incorporate winter pancakes without making another purchase.
How to Make Snowflake Pancakes
Ingredients for Cinnamon Swirl Pancake Batter
2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons canola oil, plus extra for cooking
2 medium eggs
1 ⅓ cup milk
Cinnamon Swirl Ingredients
½ cup or 1 stick of unsalted butter
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Cream Cheese Drizzle Ingredients
4 tablespoons butter, room temp
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 ⅔ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
How to Make Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes
Some people feel intimidated when it comes to creating a perfect swirl in batter. It’s really easy!
To create the perfect cinnamon swirl pancakes, you will make the pancake batter in one bowl In a second bowl, prepare the cinnamon, sugar, and butter blend.
To cook the pancakes, heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Grease the pan with butter or cooking spray. Once the pan is hot, pour a ladleful of batter onto the pan.
Then, with a piping bag or Ziplock bag, swirl the cinnamon mixture on top of the pancake batter. Cook the pancake until bubbles start to form on top, then flip it over and cook for another minute or until golden brown.
Repeat the process until all the batter is used up. It is important to keep the heat at medium to ensure that the pancakes cook evenly and do not burn.
How to Make a Snowflake with Icing on Pancakes
Again, you don’t have to make the icing into a snowflake shape. But if you want to do it, it will add such a cute touch to winter pancakes!
Once you have prepared the cream cheese icing (recipe is in the recipe card below), you will place the icing in a piping bag or a large Ziplock bag. Cut a small hole in one corner of the bag.
To pipe the snowflake icing, you will make three long intersecting lines that spawn the full circumference of the pancake. The three lines should cross each other at the center of the pancake, as seen in the photos below.
Next, you will add two points (resembling arrowheads) that face to the center of the pancake near each end of the three long lines of icing. So now each long line has four arrowheads pointing inward. Again, see the photos so this makes sense! (The fun thing is that you can draw different snowflake designs, too!)
Allow the snowflake design to remain undisturbed, and carefully place the designed pancakes at the top of the pancake stack on each serving plate. You really only need to design one snowflake per pancake stack. If you have extra icing, you can swirl some on the plate around the whole stack too.
Topping Suggestions
Snowflake pancakes are a delightful treat that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Here are some of my favorite toppings to add to these fluffy pancakes:
- Cream cheese icing: The cream cheese icing featured in this recipe and a bit of powdered sugar dusted on top is my absolute favorite combination for these snowflake pancakes.
- Whipped cream and fresh berries: This classic combination adds a burst of freshness and sweetness to the pancakes. I like to use strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries for a colorful and flavorful topping.
- Chocolate chips and caramel sauce: For a decadent treat, I like to add chocolate chips to the pancake batter and drizzle caramel sauce on top. The combination of the warm pancakes, melted chocolate, and sweet caramel is irresistible.
- Maple syrup and toasted pecans: This is a classic combination that never gets old. The rich flavor of the maple syrup complements the fluffy pancakes perfectly, while the toasted pecans add a delightful crunch.
Sides for Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes
Snowflake cinnamon swirl pancakes are delicious on their own, but they also pair well with a variety of sides. Since they are rich and sweet, a savory side or a fruity side works well. Here are some of my favorite sides to serve with these cinnamon swirl pancakes:
- Bacon or sausage: The salty and savory flavors of bacon or sausage complement the sweetness of the pancakes and create a perfect balance of flavors.
- Scrambled eggs: For a hearty breakfast, I like to serve snowflake pancakes with scrambled eggs. The combination of the fluffy pancakes and creamy eggs is a match made in heaven.
- Fresh fruit: If you’re looking for a lighter side, fresh fruit is a great option. Sliced bananas, oranges, and grapefruit add a refreshing touch to the meal and provide a dose of vitamins and nutrients.
No matter how you choose to serve your cinnamon swirl pancakes with cream cheese icing, they are sure to be a hit with your family and friends. With just a few simple ingredients and some artistic flair, you can create a winter wonderland on your plate! Our girls love to practice drawing out the snowflake topping on pancakes themselves. Sometimes, theirs turn out better than mine!
Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes
Ingredients
Cinnamon Swirl Ingredients
- ½ cup Unsalted butter 1 stick
- 1 cup Brown sugar plus 2 tablespoons
- 1 tbsp Cinnamon
Cinnamon Swirl Pancake Ingredients
- 2 cups All purpose flour
- 3 tsp Baking powder
- ½ tsp Salt
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil plus more for cooking
- 2 Eggs
- 1⅓ cup Milk
Cream Cheese Icing Ingredients
- 4 tbsp Unsalted butter
- 6 oz Cream cheese softened
- 1⅔ cup Powdered sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla
Instructions
For the Cinnamon Swirl Blend
- Place the butter stick in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave until melted.
- Add brown sugar and cinnamon to the bowl and mix well. The mixture will be fairly thick and grainy.
- Add the mixture to a piping bag, or a gallon ziplock bag, and snip off a small corner. Set aside.
For the Pancake Batter
- Add vegetable oil, eggs, and milk to a large mixing bowl and whisk until well combined.
- Add flour, baking powder, and salt and whisk until smooth and few lumps are left.
- Drizzle some vegetable oil in a skillet or griddle and heat over medium to medium/low heat.
- Pour ⅓ cup of pancake batter for each pancake.
- Swirl a generous amount of the prepared cinnamon swirl mixture onto each pancake in a circular motion.
- Continue to cook the pancakes until small bubbles form and pop – approximately 3 minutes.
- Flip the pancakes and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until they are firm in the center.
- Transfer the pancakes onto a plate or cooling rack, cinnamon swirl side up.
- Once they cool slightly, swirl on a little extra of the cinnamon swirl mixture. (Optional)
Cream Cheese Icing
- Add butter and cream cheese to a large bowl, and beat with an electric mixer until creamy.
- Add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until smooth.
- Spoon the drizzle into a piping bag, or gallon ziplock bag, and snip off a very small corner.
- Drizzle generously onto a warm stack of pancakes and serve. Optional: to make the snowflake design, draw out three intersecting long lines (spanning the width of the pancake) with the icing bag. On each line, draw four arrowheads facing inward to achieve a snowflake design.
Nutrition
More Breakfast Ideas
English Muffin Breakfast Sandwich
Crispy Bacon on George Foreman Grill
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