Truth: Whenever I make pancakes or french toast, I sneak protein powder into the batter for a little nutritional punch and staying power. Always. The kids have no idea. I’m not sure they’d care one way or the other. They’re just grateful to get pancakes on a regular basis. I loved the flavor and aroma of cinnamon when I made my Cinnamon Crunch Protein Bites so much, I had an idea: What would you get if you crossed a pancake with a cinnamon roll? So into the kitchen…I mean laboratory…I went.
I mixed up a super simple pancake recipe which I’ll share in a moment. I added in a packet of Quest Cinnamon Crunch Protein Powder. Feel free to use your own pancake recipe, or even go ahead and use a boxed mix, I won’t tell. Then I created a “cinnamon swirl” mixture with melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. When I poured the batter on the griddle, I hit each cake with a spiral of the cinnamon swirl mixture. See where this is going?
Go ahead and pin this. Trust me you NEED to make these!
Words cannot express how fragrant and delicious these cakes are. Seriously the entire family (even Mr. Paleo Caveman) lined up for them and gobbled them down. You could go way over the top and create a cream cheesy icing for these, but honestly? They’re so delicious just as they are, they don’t even need syrup. It’s pure, cinnamon roll heaven. If you’re careful about sugar like I am, just put less cinnamon swirl on yours. Thanks to white whole wheat flour and the magic of protein, a single pancake totally filled me up and kept me satisfied for hours. Find Quest Cinnamon Crunch Protein at your local GNC store.
Cinnamon Roll Protein Pancakes
| Cinnamon Roll Protein Pancakes | | Print |
- 1-1/4C flour (I used white whole wheat)
- ¼C Quest Cinnamon Crunch Protein Powder
- 2t Baking Powder
- 1-1/2C Milk
- 1 Egg
- 3T Butter, melted
- 1t Vanilla Extract
- Pinch of salt
- Cinnamon Swirl
- 5-1/2T Brown Sugar
- ¼C Butter
- 1-1/2t cinnamon
- Pancakes: Combine all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add in egg, melted butter and vanilla and mix until blended.
- Cinnamon Swirl: In small sauce pan melt butter and add in brown sugar and cinnamon. Allow to cool slightly before putting mixture in a plastic sandwich bag. Refrigerate 10 minutes or until mixture is thickened to a squeezable consistency.
- Pour batter onto a heated griddle for pancake.
- Snip off edge of cinnamon swirl bag and squeeze some of the mixture in a spiral pattern onto one side of the pancake only. Allow to cook a minute or until top of pancake bubbles.
- Flip and continue to cook until done.
- Keep going with the rest of the batter and cinnamon swirl.
The magic happens when you make the cinnamon swirl. I melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon together then put it in a plastic sandwich bag and refrigerated it just until the mixture thickened to a “squeezable” texture. Then I snipped off a small corner of the bag and piped a spiral pattern on each cake as it baked in the pan, just on one side. When you flip the pancake, that cinnamon swirl deliciousness sinks down into the pancake, giving it that familiar cinnamon-roll appearance. Pretty cool, yes? I have a feeling these will be very popular around here.
How pretty would these be for a spring brunch?
In other news, spring is here. It doesn’t look much like spring, unless you find grey, overcast skies and dirty snow springlike, but the robins are back, and the geese and various other fowl are on the water. They must know something’s up, right? That’s what I tell myself anyway. We got a good 10″ dump of snow this week, which miraculously is almost all melted already. That’s the beauty of March I guess. It was a decent week workout wise:
Monday: Swim
Tuesday: Run 4 miles pace ladder + strength
Wednesday: Bike + Swim
Thursday: Rest
Friday: Run 5 miles
Saturday: Run 8 miles
Sunday: CrossFit
I’ve been running with my heart rate monitor, which I think has been helping me a ton mentally. Stay tuned for more on that soon. CrossFit has been difficult, until everything sort of came together this week. Better-faster-stronger. It is truly amazing how the body steps up to the demands we put on it.
Saturday marked the 10th anniversary of my very first half marathon. I’d run 5k, 10k, and even 10 milers before then but I hold 2007 in my heart as when I took the leap and put both a half and full marathon on the calendar. Oh my what a journey this has been. It’s been a physical and mental adventure I wouldn’t trade for the world. Running truly changes you.
What’s your favorite kind of pancake? How long have you been running? Did you race?
Tomorrow’s Tuesdays on the Run Linkup asks you to sell us on one of your favorite local races! Join us!
I’m linking up with Tricia and Holly for the Weekly Wrap, Deb and Sarah for Meatless Monday…
…and with Ilka and Angela for the Sunday Fitness and Food Linkup. Join us!
Those pancakes look spectacular! I love how you made them look like cinnamon rolls. I always add a little protein to the batter- what they don’t know what hurt them 🙂
I can guarantee that my son Matthew will be in your fan club after I make these! Holy moley, girlfriend!
That recipe looks great! I am also happy to see that the snow is almost melted now. The end of last week was so cold that all the snow froze and became a lovely sheet of ice…
Those pancakes look really yummy. I don’t make pancakes a whole lot anymore, but usually I make banana chocolate chip and top them with nut butter.
Our snow is not all melted. In fact, I think I’d be real surprised if it’s all melted by the time we get back. That much snow takes a looooong time to melt (something I’m sure you know about). But today was a great day to run!
I did my fist half almost 7 years ago. I’ve been running about 9 years I think?
All I can say is…YUM!
Gosh….I thought these were actual cinnamon rolls….pancakes? Hello….I’d like to place an order….
The swans are back in our pond now too! Spring to tell you the truth is my least favorite time of year. The mud and wind bleh! But I do welcome the warm weather!!! If it ever gets here! Your pancakes do seriously look like heaven on a plate!
Oh my gosh that pancake looks so good! Curious to hear more about your running with the HRM.
Wow! What a great idea, those pancakes look good! Congrats on your 10th anniversary of your first half!
ooooooh and I JUST bought a new waffle maker yesterday (I cannnot find mine from the last move) as I finally think the child is enough into wanting muscles 🙂 for gymnastics she will try my protein waffles!!
I’d love to have this for breakfast AND brunch. Just look at the pics I can almost imagine the sweet smell of sugar and butter combined with cinnamon. So tasty! Thank you for sharing!
I> NEED> THIS>
These are my type of cinnamon rolls!
Those look amazing good! I should try these, my kids would be all over them
What a delicious idea! That is how to do breakfast 🙂 Thanks for linking up for meatless Monday
Okay, so this looks AMAZING. I’m still getting used to incorporating protein powders…this looks like a no-brainer!
Congrats on your runaversary! We had several inches in Philly but thankfully a lot has melted the past few days!
That recipe looks, and sounds, so good! I’m a sucker for anything with cinnamon and I love pancakes 🙂
Those pancakes sound delicious! Almost something that I would get at IHOP! I like sweet potato pancakes as well!
It definitely feels like spring right now, but we are expecting some cooler temps, and maybe some t-storms. Any moisture would be good right now. There was a wildfire west of Boulder this weekend, but thankfully they got it under control yesterday.
That looks so delicious. I need to try that out very soon!
This looks and sounds so good! I’ve never thought about making them like this! I wonder if they would be good with an egg replacer (vegan husband).
Yum! These cinnamon roll pancakes look perfect!
Those pancakes looks amazing! My kiddos love pancakes and cinnamon rolls! They would love those!
I have great intentions on sneaking in protein power then I forget or I don’t have any when I go to make pancakes! I need to do better about this!
I can only imagine how your kitchen smells after whipping up these babies!
Those pancakes look amazing!! I’m giving them a try next weekend!!
happy 10th half marathon anniversary!
Hand over the pancake!!!!!
I seriously can’t believe you made that. I’m so impressed and equally hungry. I can only imagine it’s flavor-factor!
My kids will go crazy for these! I love love love this idea!
My kids will go crazy for these- they look amazingly good! I bet your kitchen smelled wonderful!
These look so good! I would probably have to go for the cream cheese frosting, but that’s because it’s my favorite part of a cinnamon roll!
Those pancakes look amazing! I will definitely have to try them!
Drooling, this looks so good and packed with protein! Can’t wait to give it a try!
Two of my favorite breakfast foods together?!? This sounds and looks absolutely delicious!
I saw the picture of these on Instagram and could practically smell the cinnamon. I pinned this to try…YUM!!! Happy Runniversary 🙂
Holy cow those look delicious! I have a large tub of Quest salted caramel protein powder in the pantry right this very moment ….I think that would be tasty too!
Happy runaversay! I started running just after my 40th birthday and yes, it has been life changing for sure!
Hope you guys see some real springlike weather soon!
These look so good! I love the idea of sneaking protein powder in. My kids could use a little extra!
Wow! Those pancakes sound and look so good! That could be dangerous! I too love the idea of sneaking protein powder in. Would be great for my kids to get a bit more protein without even knowing. 🙂
Hi Marcia! Featuring this yummy recipe at this week’s Sunday Fitness & Food! #yum #loveit