Celebrate with cinnamon swirl pancakes on National Pancake Day

Today is National Pancake Day, and IHOP is serving up a free buttermilk stack for customers at restaurants around the country from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“In return, we ask that you make a donation to our charitable partners,” IHOP said on its website.

IHOP will donate money from National Pancake Day to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The event is 11 years running and has raised more than $24 million for charity.

If you can’t make it to IHOP, or don’t have one nearby, try this fun recipe at home for breakfast, lunch, dinner — or all three. After all, it is National Pancake Day. But then consider making a donation to your favorite charity because any day is a good day to do a good deed.

INGREDIENTS:

Pancakes:

1 cup Buckwheat Flour (I like Bob’s Red Mill Pancake and Waffle Mix)
1 egg
1 tbsp oil
3/4 cup cold milk
butter or cooking spray to grease the pan

Cinnamon Swirl Filling:

5 1/2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Icing:

1/4 cup butter, softened
2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

Blend pancake ingredients buckwheat flour, egg, oil and milk. Mix just until blended.
Combine brown sugar, 1/4 cup melted butter and cinnamon in a small bowl. Place a 1-quart resealable bag in a glass or cup. Pour cinnamon mixture into the bag. Refrigerate until filling is as thick as toothpaste — about 10 minutes.
Mix 1/4 cup softened butter and cream cheese together in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 40 seconds. Stir mixture until smooth. Stir in confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. Mix with fork until smooth. Place a 1-quart resealable bag in a glass or cup. Pour cream cheese icing mixture into bag.
Heat griddle or skillet to medium heat and spray with cooking spray or grease with butter. Pour out mixture to desired size of pancake — shoot for about 2/3 cup if you’re unsure. Cook pancake until bubbles start to appear, 2 to 3 minutes. Cut off corner of cinnamon mixture bag. Swirl mixture over pancake without touching the edges.
Flip pancake and cook until other side is lightly browned, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Cut corner off of cream cheese mixture bag and swirl over top of pancake.
Repeat with remaining ingredients until pancake mix has been used up.

It’s important to wipe the pan or griddle with a damp cloth between each pancake to remove any excess cinnamon mixture from the pan. This will prevent the mix from scorching and ruining the next pancake.

Pancake mix can be adapted to your favorite. Make according to the package, or make from scratch.