Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

• 60 g All-purpose flour (7⅔ tbsp)
• 20 g Vanilla whey protein powder (0.7 oz (about ⅔ scoop))
• 4 g Baking powder (¾ tsp)
• 0.5 g Salt (a pinch)
• 50 g (1 large egg) Egg
• 120 g Nonfat milk (½ cup)
• 3 g Vanilla extract (¾ tsp)
• 8 g Butter (½ tbsp)
• 6 g Brown sugar (1⅓ tsp)
• 3 g Ground cinnamon (1¼ tsp)
• 60 g Nonfat Greek yogurt (¼ cup)
• 20 g Light cream cheese (1⅓ tbsp)
• 8 g Maple syrup (1¼ tsp)

You'll need: Nonstick frying pan or griddle, Two bowls, Whisk, Spatula, Zip bag or small spoon for the swirl.

Method

1. Make the cinnamon swirl and the glaze

   Melt 5 g (1 teaspoon) of the butter in the microwave for 15 seconds, then stir in the brown sugar and cinnamon into a thick paste and spoon it into the zip bag. In the other bowl, whisk the yogurt, cream cheese and maple syrup until smooth for the glaze.

   Soften the cream cheese for 10 seconds in the microwave first, so the glaze has no lumps.

2. Mix the batter

   Whisk the flour, whey, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Add the egg, milk and vanilla and stir just until no dry flour is left. A few small lumps are fine. Rest it for 3 minutes while the pan heats.

   Stop stirring as soon as it comes together. Over-mixing makes tough pancakes.

3. Cook and swirl the pancakes

   Heat the pan over medium-low heat and rub it with the remaining 3 g of butter. Pour in 3–4 pancakes of about 60 ml (¼ cup) each. Snip the corner off the zip bag and pipe a spiral of cinnamon paste onto each one. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until the edges look set and bubbles pop on top, then flip and cook 1–2 minutes more, until golden and springy.

   Keep the heat on the low side. The cinnamon sugar burns fast and turns bitter.

4. Stack and glaze

   Stack the pancakes with the swirl side up and spoon the cream cheese glaze over the top. Eat while warm.

   Spoon the glaze on at the table. It melts into the warm pancakes and runs everywhere.

Swaps

• Vanilla whey protein powder → Unflavored whey, plus an extra 2 g of vanilla extractSame protein, a less sweet pancake.
• Maple syrup → Honey, same weightA floral sweetness; about the same calories.