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Healthy Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

One of my strengths is holding on to unnecessary items.

Unnecessary items of the old jacket, soap holder, throw pillow, Christmas figurine variety.

So it goes without saying that the upcoming garage sale – OUR upcoming garage sale, the one where we get rid of a bunch of our stuff – is giving me hives. And listening to my Brad Paisley Pandora station while pricing my old, unnecessary (but totally necessary) picture frames does not help the cause.

It’s funny how that works out – or doesn’t work out – because I live with a man who is a frequent flyer at the Goodwill. Getting rid of anything that hasn’t been used in a month, even if it was MINE and I was going to use it next month, is one of his strengths. Seriously, though, I was going to use that soap holder.

Cinnamon roll pancakes with a Greek yogurt frosting.

Like that one time when I was going to make bread in my bread maker but found it to be ā€œmissingā€. Never mind the fact that I was retrieving it out of the closet, where it lived for most, ok, ALL, of its life. Or that it had a setting to program the time so I could make bread in the middle of the night, which made it the coolest bread maker in the world. Or that I wanted to keep it forever.

It’s probably in somebody else’s kitchen baking cinnamon swirl bread and making their life perfect. I think I hear a Brad Paisley song…

Waaahh!

I’m consoling myself over the loss of my sentimental treasures by making these Healthy Cinnamon Roll Pancakes. Because I want my kitchen to sing Brad Paisley songs, even if I don’t have a bread maker anymore.  And the healthy part? Let’s just say I’ve been experimenting with cookie dough stuffed cupcakes and I could use a little health in my life, especially when it comes in the form of gooey, sweet, cinnamony pancakes.

As much as I wanted to bake the cinnamon filling right into them, it just wasn’t happening. I fried, I griddled, I baked, I parchment papered… it just wasn’t meant to be. So I topped the pancakes with the filling instead. And oh my yummers, they were so tasty! The end result: wheat bran pancakes topped with the spicy cinnamon filling and drizzled with sweet glaze. And no guilt! Hallelujah.

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A picture of Healthy Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Healthy Cinnamon Roll Pancakes


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5 from 4 reviews

Description

These healthy cinnamon roll pancakes are made with whole grain pancakes, a pumpkin-walnut cinnamon filling and a Greek yogurt frosting.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup bran cereal (I used All Bran original, measured then crushed)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch of cinnamon
  • 1 cup buttermilk (I used 1% milk with a little vinegar)
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin puree (can use canned, not pie filling)
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon ground walnuts or bran
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • additional walnuts for topping


Instructions

  1. Mix the first 7 ingredients (flour through egg whites) until well-combined. Pour 1/4 cup batter on a medium-heat griddle and cook until bubbly; flip and cook again until light golden brown and cooked through.
  2. Stir together pumpkin, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add ground walnuts or bran if the filling needs to be thicker. Place a in baggie, snip the corner, and spiral filling on the tops of the pancakes.
  3. Whisk Greek yogurt and honey until smooth. Place in a baggie, snip the corner, and drizzle over pancakes in a zigzag pattern. Top with additional walnuts.

Notes

One serving is 2 large pancakes.

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 5 mins
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: pancake recipe, cinnamon roll recipe, cinnamon roll pancake, healthy pancake recipe

PS. I do need a little help – what’s the going garage sale rate for a pair of peep toe heels?

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67 Comments

  1. Pinch of Yum Logo

    LOVE these pancakes! In fact, I emailed the link to everyone in my address book! They taste fabulous and when I served them for Sunday brunch, no one in my house (age 3 — 73) had a clue that they are “healthy.” I love that they dont give you that sugar high. Made a couple of changes: didn’t have pumpkin last time I made them so I had to substitute applesauce. Still yummo! Also added ground flax to the swirl. Finally, added a splash of vanilla to the yogurt. Keep these terrific recipes coming!

  2. Pinch of Yum Logo

    I totally loved your blog about the bread maker! I can’t stop laughing!!!!! What a pick me up for a tough day! Kate

  3. Pinch of Yum Logo

    They recipe looks great and I would love to make them for Mothers Day. One question though, how much vinegar (and what type) did you add to the milk to substitute for buttermilk? Thanks! šŸ™‚

  4. Pinch of Yum Logo

    I hold onto unnecessary items too. It’s just so hard to get rid of some stuff! Do you think we should be on the show Hoarders?

    On a more positive note, I’m absolutely in love with these pancakes. And since they’re healthy, I’m going to eat twice as I normally do šŸ™‚

  5. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Looks amazing as always!
    and I’ll take your peep toes off your hands if you’d like šŸ™‚

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      Kristin did a shopping spree through all my garage sale stuff… I wish you could’ve come too! She ended up with her whole backseat of her car full of clothes, Christmas decorations, dishes, etc.

      1. Pinch of Yum Logo

        Oh man, wish I could’ve too! Looking forward to seeing you this weekend šŸ™‚

  6. Pinch of Yum Logo

    That’s why I have so much clutter! I’m always thinking, “but I might NEED that someday”. Oh well, getting rid of stuff is just another reason to go shopping!

    Must make these pancakes for my girls. I think they would be pleased.

  7. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Hah, I am totally the same way! And my husband is just like yours. Although he’s slowly converting me and I’m getting better at getting rid of the really unnecessary stuff.
    Your pancakes look incredible. I’ve been meaning to try some kind of cinnamon roll pancakes, but I love that these are healthier than any recipes I’ve seen.

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      Sometimes it’s hard to know if you should be mad or glad that he’s getting rid of all you’re stuff… šŸ™‚

  8. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Those look delicious! I got very excited when I saw the word “healthy” in front of the word “pancakes”. I can’t wait to try your version soon šŸ™‚

    And remember that less is more, the more clutter you get rid of , the more uncluttered your life will be! šŸ™‚

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      I know, I know. In reality, I want to get rid of stuff but then when I see things that people have gifted me, I start to feel attached. šŸ™‚