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A fun fall twist on our viral Cinnamon Bun Pancakes, today’s Cinnamon Swirl Pumpkin Pancakes feature fluffy pumpkin pancakes with a caramelized pumpkin spice swirl baked in and a tangy, buttery cream cheese drizzle that makes these pumpkin pancakes a decadent fall brunch option.

Cinnamon Bun Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe

I cannot believe it’s been 10 years since I first shared our cinnamon bun pancakes on Sugar, Spice and Glitter. (TEN YEARS!)

Even more unbelievable is that only a couple months later, I developed and photographed this pumpkin version… and it has been sitting in my drafts ever since. (Along with literally over 2000 other recipes that I’ve conceptualized, developed, tweaked and photographed… it’s my goal for the next year to get ALL of those recipes out of my drafts folder and out into the world so that everyone can enjoy them – not just my friends and family who serve as my taste testers.)

Hopefully, you’ll forgive me for my delay since as they say, all good things are worth the wait.

And unlike when I developed this fluffy pumpkin pancake recipe 10 years ago, pre-made pumpkin pancake mixes are now readily available so if you want to skip a few steps and make these pancakes a bit faster and easier, you can swap out our from-scratch version for a boxed version. (I won’t judge, as long as you don’t judge my tardiness in posting.)

If you already have a favorite, tried-and-true pancake batter recipe, you can just swap out half of the oil or butter called for in your recipe with pumpkin puree and just use our cinnamon swirl recipe and method to transform them into cinnamon swirl pumpkin pancakes.

Okay, that’s enough delay from me – let’s get into the recipe for these tender, fluffy pumpkin pancakes with buttery-crisp edges, caramelized brown sugar-pumpkin spice swirls and tangy-sweet cream cheese drizzle.

Cinnamon Swirl Pumpkin Pancakes FAQs

Why is my cinnamon swirl melting into the pancake instead of sitting on top? The swirl mixture may be too warm or too thin. Allow it to cool slightly before piping and make sure the pancake is almost set before adding the swirl.

Can I use canned pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree? I don’t recommend this swap, as pie filling is pre-sweetened and spiced, which alters the texture and balance of the batter. (But if it’s all you have on hand, it will work in a pinch!)

Why let the batter rest before cooking? Letting the batter rest for ten minutes helps hydrate the flour and gives you a more consistent, fluffy pancake texture. It’s optional but optimal!

Can I prepare the cinnamon swirl in advance? Yes, you can make it up to three days ahead and store it in a small container in the refrigerator. Warm slightly until it is soft enough to pipe.

How to store leftover pumpkin pancakes: Let the pancakes cool completely on a wire rack so the steam can escape and the cinnamon swirl stays set. Stack them with a small square of parchment paper between each one and place them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Warm in a skillet over low heat or in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds per pancake.

To freeze, cool the pancakes fully, then arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour, which prevents them from sticking together. Transfer the frozen pancakes to a freezer-safe bag or your favorite freeer containers for up to 2 months. (This set of freezer containers is a crazy bargain.)

Cinnamon Swirl Pumpkin Pancakes Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• White sugar
• Milk
• Egg
• Butter, melted
• Pumpkin puree

For the Cinnamon Swirl:

• Butter
• Brown sugar
• Pumpkin spice <– grab our homemade pumpkin spice recipe (or replace with pure cinnamon)

For the Cream Cheese Glaze:

• Butter, room temperature
• Cream cheese, room temperature
• Powdered icing sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Milk, optionally, to thin out

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: instead of making the pumpkin pancake mix from scratch, you can use a pre-made pumpkin pancake mix or prepare 2 cups of a plain pancake batter with half of oil/butter called for in the recipe replaced with pumpkin puree.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Mixing Bowl
• Whisk
• Cast Iron Skillet <– I love the versatility of a good cast-iron pan – you can make everything from eggs to dessert in them and they transition easily from the stove to the oven. This one is pre-seasoned and great for even heating
• Spatula

How to Make Pumpkin Pancakes with a Cinnamon Swirl

Start out by making the cinnamon swirl mixture. Melt the butter in a pan or the microwave, stir in the brown sugar and cinnamon and set aside to cool.

Make your pancake batter by stirring together all pancake ingredients with a wooden spoon. If you have time, allow the pancake batter to sit for up to 10 minutes to allow the batter to thicken slightly and the flour to hydrate fully, allowing you to have fluffier pancakes.

Heat your pancake skillet over medium-low heat, add oil or nonstick spray if necessary.

Once the skillet is hot, scoop a 1/3 to 1/2 cup portion of the pumpkin pancake batter onto the skillet.

As the pancake starts to cook, spoon the cinnamon swirl mixture into a piping bag or plastic bag.

Once the pancake is almost fully cooked on one side, snip off the end of the bag and add a swirl of cinnamon ontop of the cooking pancake. Allow the cinnamon mixture to set for at least one minute before flipping and cooking full on the other side.

Repeat for all pancakes.

For the cream cheese drizzle, beat the cream cheese for 1 minutes then add in the other ingredients.

Once all pancakes are cooked, drizzle with the cream cheese glaze. (You can use a spoon or use a piping bag for more precision, if desired.)

Pin this Cinnamon Swirl Pumpkin Pancakes with Cream Cheese Drizzle for a decadent fall brunch treat:

Grab your free printable recipe card for our pumpkin spice pancakes with cinnamon swirl recipe:

I hope your family loves this decadent pumpkin pancake recipe as much as mine does!

For more breakfast ideas, check out our full breakfast recipe collection here: