These cream cheese cinnamon pancakes are soft, tender, and lightly spiced.
They come together quickly with simple ingredients and cook right in a skillet, making them an easy option when you want something sweet without much effort.
You may also like: How to Make Dulce de Leche Profiteroles
Ingredients
- 7 oz cream cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- Butter or neutral oil, as needed for the skillet
- Honey or maple syrup, optional for serving
Preparation
- Place the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Add the egg, sugar, vanilla extract, and milk.
- Whisk until the mixture is creamy and mostly smooth. There is no need to overmix; just make sure the ingredients are well combined.
- Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Mix again until you have a thick, creamy batter without large lumps.
- Let the batter rest for about 5 minutes. This helps the flour fully hydrate and allows the pancakes to hold their shape better while cooking.
- Heat a nonstick skillet over low to medium-low heat and lightly grease it with butter or a small amount of neutral oil.
- Spoon portions of the batter into the skillet, leaving some space between each pancake. Keep them fairly thick instead of spreading the batter too much.
- Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, until the bottoms are golden and small bubbles begin to appear on the surface.
- Carefully flip each pancake with a spatula and cook for about 2 more minutes, or until the second side is golden and the centers are fully cooked.
- Remove from the skillet and repeat with the remaining batter. If desired, serve with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup and an extra pinch of cinnamon.
Tips and Advice
- Use a thick, full-fat cream cheese for the best texture.
- If the batter feels too thick, add 1 to 2 tbsp more milk. If it is too thin, mix in a small amount of flour.
- Cook over low to medium-low heat so the pancakes do not brown too quickly before the centers are cooked.
- Avoid pressing them down with the spatula while cooking, since this can make them less tender.
- Wait until the first side is well set before flipping so the pancakes do not break.
- Add a little extra cinnamon if you want a stronger spice flavor.
- Finely grated orange zest can be added for a different aroma.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat briefly before serving.
With a quick batter and simple skillet cooking, these pancakes turn out golden on the outside and soft in the center.