Cinnamon roll pancake casserole (Printable)

Fluffy pancakes with cinnamon swirls baked and topped with a luscious cream cheese glaze.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pancake Batter

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
08 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Cinnamon Swirl

10 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
11 - 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
12 - 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

→ Cream Cheese Glaze

13 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
14 - 1 cup powdered sugar
15 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
16 - 2 to 3 tablespoons whole milk
17 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish thoroughly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
05 - Pour pancake batter evenly into the prepared 9x13-inch baking dish.
06 - In a small bowl, combine melted butter, packed brown sugar, and ground cinnamon until well blended.
07 - Transfer cinnamon mixture to a piping bag or zip-top bag with corner snipped. Pipe swirls or zig-zag patterns over the batter.
08 - Using a knife or skewer, gently swirl the cinnamon mixture into the batter to create decorative patterns.
09 - Bake for 28 to 32 minutes until the center is set and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
10 - While baking, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, softened butter, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable, adjusting milk consistency as needed.
11 - Remove casserole from oven and allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Drizzle cream cheese glaze evenly over the top.
12 - Slice into portions and serve while warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It bakes like a casserole but tastes like your favorite cinnamon roll met a stack of fluffy pancakes.
  • You can prep it the night before and bake it fresh in the morning, which means sleeping in and still impressing everyone.
  • The cream cheese glaze is sweet enough to feel indulgent but balanced enough that you won't feel guilty asking for seconds.
02 -
  • Overmixing the pancake batter is the quickest way to end up with something tough and disappointing, so treat it gently and embrace the lumps.
  • Room-temperature cream cheese makes the difference between a silky glaze and one with annoying little lumps that never fully incorporate.
03 -
  • If your cream cheese is cold and won't blend smoothly, microwave it in short five-second bursts, stirring between each one, until it's perfectly soft and cooperative.
  • The casserole actually tastes better the next day after the flavors have had time to get to know each other, so making it in advance is not a compromise, it's a strategy.
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