The Ultimate Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes (Vegan & So Fluffy!)

Imagine waking up to the warm, intoxicating aroma of a cinnamon roll baking in the oven. Now, imagine capturing that entire delicious experience—the fluffy dough, the gooey cinnamon-sugar swirl, the sweet icing glaze—in the form of a perfect, golden-brown pancake, ready in just 30 minutes. That, my friends, is the decadent, mind-blowing magic of these Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes. This is, without a doubt, the most exciting and indulgent breakfast you will make.

I promise you, these pancakes are a true show-stopper. The contrast between the fluffy vanilla pancake and the rich, gooey cinnamon swirl is pure bliss. Drizzled with a simple, sweet icing, each bite is a perfect harmony of flavors and textures. It’s a dish that will bring pure joy to your breakfast table, perfect for a special brunch, Pancake Day, or any time you want to make the morning feel a little more magical.

Get ready to transform your pancake game forever and create a stack of stunning, delicious pancakes that taste exactly like your favorite cinnamon roll.

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Why You’ll Be Obsessed with These Pancakes!

You are going to fall completely in love with this fun, beautiful, and outrageously delicious recipe. It’s a guaranteed hit. Here’s why you have to make them:

• All the Flavor of a Cinnamon Roll, in a Fraction of the Time: You get that incredible warm, gooey cinnamon swirl and sweet glaze flavor without any of the hassle of kneading, proofing, and rising dough.
• Incredibly Fluffy and Light: This simple vegan pancake batter cooks up to be wonderfully light, airy, and tender, the perfect canvas for the rich cinnamon swirl.
• A True Show-Stopping Presentation: The beautiful cinnamon swirl inside each pancake and the glossy glaze on top make for a stunning stack that looks like it came from a gourmet brunch spot.
• Completely Vegan, But No One Would Guess: This recipe is entirely plant-based, using soy milk and vegan butter to achieve a texture and flavor that is just as rich and satisfying as any traditional pancake.
• Super Fun to Make: The process of piping the cinnamon swirl onto the cooking pancakes is a fun, creative step that is a joy to do (and perfect for getting older kids involved!).

Recipe Snapshot

Your Shopping List for This Pancake Masterpiece

This recipe uses simple vegan pantry staples to create its unforgettable flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:

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→ For the Pancake Batter

• 1 3/4 cups plain/all-purpose white flour → The foundation for our fluffy pancakes.
• 2 tsp baking powder → The key to getting a beautiful, light, and airy lift.
• 1 1/2 Tbsp caster (superfine) sugar → Just a touch of sweetness in the batter itself.
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract → For a lovely, warm aromatic flavor.
• 1 1/3 cups unsweetened plain soy milk → The creamy, neutral base for our vegan batter.
• Neutral oil, for cooking → Like canola or vegetable oil.

→ For the Cinnamon Swirl

• 2 Tbsp vegan butter, melted → Creates the rich, buttery flavor of the swirl.
• 3 Tbsp light brown sugar → For that classic, molasses-tinged sweetness.
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon → The star of the show!

→ For the Glaze

• 1 cup icing/powdered sugar → For a perfectly smooth, sweet glaze.
• 2 Tbsp unsweetened plain soy milk → To turn the sugar into a drizzly glaze.

Let’s Get Cooking! Your Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to create the most incredible pancakes of your life? This process is so much fun and so rewarding.

Part 1: Prepare the Components

1. Make the Pancake Batter: In a medium bowl, place the flour, baking powder, sugar, vanilla, and soy milk. Whisk everything together until it is just combined. A few small lumps are perfectly fine—do not overmix! Set the bowl aside to rest for a few minutes.
2. Make the Cinnamon Swirl: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the melted vegan butter, light brown sugar, and ground cinnamon until smooth. To get the perfect piping consistency, add 3 tablespoons of the pancake batter you just made to this mixture and whisk it all together.
3. Prep for Piping: Transfer the cinnamon mixture to a small piping bag with a fine circular tip, or into a simple squeezy bottle. If you don’t have either, you can even use a small zip-top bag with a tiny corner snipped off. Set this aside at room temperature.
4. Make the Glaze: In a measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together the icing sugar and soy milk until a completely smooth, drizzly glaze forms. Set it aside.

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Part 2: Cook and Serve

5. Heat the Pan: Heat a large non-stick frying pan over a low heat and add a small drizzle of neutral oil. Low heat is key here!
6. Cook the First Side: For each pancake, spoon about 3 tablespoons of batter into the pan to form a round. Let it cook for about 10 seconds to set the bottom slightly.
7. Pipe the Swirl: Working quickly, take your piping bag and pipe the cinnamon mixture in a spiral shape on top of the cooking pancake batter.
8. Flip the Pancake: Let the pancake continue to cook until you see bubbles begin to rise and pop in the center, about 30 to 60 seconds. Carefully flip the pancake and cook the other side for about 30 seconds more, until golden brown.
9. Serve and Enjoy: Transfer the finished pancake to a plate and repeat with the remaining batter. Serve a warm stack of pancakes with a generous drizzle of the sweet icing glaze.

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Vegan Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes

An exciting twist on classic pancakes! This easy recipe creates fluffy vegan pancakes with a gooey cinnamon-brown sugar swirl inside each one, all topped with a simple and sweet icing glaze. The ultimate brunch treat!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 8

Course: Breakfast, Brunch

Cuisine: American, Vegan

Calories: 250

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the Pancake Batter

• 1 3/4 cups plain/all-purpose white flour 225g
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 Tbsp caster (superfine) sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups unsweetened plain soy milk 330ml
• as needed Neutral oil, for cooking

For the Cinnamon Swirl

• 2 Tbsp vegan butter, melted
• 3 Tbsp light brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

For the Glaze

• 1 cup icing/powdered sugar 120g
• 2 Tbsp unsweetened plain soy milk

Equipment

• Medium bowl
• Small Bowl
• Whisk
• Piping bag or squeezy bottle
• Large frying pan

Method

 

Part 1: Prepare the Components

1. For the pancake batter, place all ingredients (except oil) in a medium bowl and whisk until just combined. Don’t overmix. Set aside.
2. For the cinnamon swirl, whisk together the melted vegan butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add 3 Tbsp of the pancake batter to this mixture and whisk until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag or squeezy bottle.
3. For the glaze, whisk together the icing sugar and soy milk until smooth. Set aside.

Part 2: Cook the Pancakes

1. Heat a large frying pan over low heat and add a little neutral oil.
2. For each pancake, spoon 3 Tbsp of batter into the pan. Let it cook for about 10 seconds.
3. Quickly pipe the cinnamon mixture in a swirl on top of the pancake batter. Cook until bubbles begin to rise and pop in the center, 30 to 60 seconds.
4. Flip the pancake and cook the other side for about 30 seconds until golden brown. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining batter.
5. Serve the warm pancakes topped with a generous drizzle of the glaze.

Notes

Don’t Overmix Batter: For the fluffiest pancakes, mix the batter only until it’s just combined. A few lumps are perfectly fine!

Low Heat is Key: Cook these pancakes over low heat to prevent the sugar in the cinnamon swirl from burning before the pancake is cooked through.

Piping Bag Hack: If you don’t have a piping bag, a simple zip-top sandwich bag with a tiny corner snipped off works perfectly for the swirl.

Nutritional Information Disclaimer: Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on the specific ingredients and portion sizes used.

WiseRecipes’ Top Tips for Perfect Swirl Pancakes

These simple secrets will ensure your cinnamon swirl pancakes are flawless every time.

1. Don’t Overmix the Batter. This is the golden rule of fluffy pancakes. Whisk only until you no longer see large streaks of dry flour. A few lumps are your friends! Overmixing develops gluten and leads to tough, rubbery pancakes.
2. The Batter in the Swirl is Key. Adding a few tablespoons of the pancake batter to the cinnamon-sugar mixture is a brilliant trick. It gives the swirl paste enough body so that it doesn’t just melt and disappear into the pancake, ensuring a beautiful and distinct spiral.
3. Low and Slow is the Way to Go. You must cook these pancakes over a gentle, low heat. The sugar in the cinnamon swirl can burn very easily. A low heat allows the pancake to cook through and the swirl to melt perfectly without scorching.
4. Don’t Refrigerate the Swirl Paste. Keep the cinnamon mixture in its piping bag at room temperature. If you refrigerate it, the vegan butter will solidify, and it will be impossible to pipe.
5. Master the Flip. Be confident! When you see those bubbles popping in the center, it’s time to flip. Use a thin, wide spatula and a quick flick of the wrist. The swirl side will caramelize beautifully in the pan.

Keep It Fresh! Storing Your Pancakes

While these are best enjoyed fresh, you can certainly save leftovers for a quick treat.

• Refrigerator: Store leftover cooled pancakes in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store the glaze separately.
• Reheating: For best results, reheat the pancakes in a toaster or toaster oven to bring back a little of their crisp exterior. You can also warm them in the microwave, but they will be softer. Drizzle with the glaze after reheating.

FAQs: Your Cinnamon Swirl Pancake Questions, Answered!

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, you can! For a gluten-free version, simply substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite one-to-one gluten-free baking flour blend. The texture may be slightly different, but they will still be delicious.

What if I don’t have a piping bag?

No problem at all! The easiest substitute is a small plastic zip-top sandwich bag. Just spoon the cinnamon mixture into the bag, push it down to one corner, and snip a very tiny piece off the corner. This creates a perfect makeshift piping bag.

Can I use a different kind of non-dairy milk?

Yes, unsweetened plain almond milk or oat milk would both be great substitutes for the soy milk in this recipe. Just be sure it’s an unsweetened and unflavored variety.

Can I add anything else to the pancakes?

For an extra decadent touch, you could fold some finely chopped pecans or walnuts into the cinnamon swirl mixture for a bit of crunch. You could also try making a vegan cream cheese frosting instead of the simple glaze for an even more authentic cinnamon roll experience!

Final Thoughts: A Truly Special Breakfast

There is nothing quite like a stack of warm, fluffy pancakes to make a morning feel special. And when those pancakes have a gooey, buttery cinnamon swirl running through them, it’s pure magic. This recipe is a true celebration of comfort, fun, and delicious flavor, all in one simple, easy-to-make dish. I hope it brings a little bit of joy and sweetness to your table. Happy cooking!