There are countless differences between the UK and US. Some I have adjusted to quite easily (I can measure distance in yards now as well as metres), and some I can happily interchange – zucchini/courgette, eggplant/aubergine, cookies/biscuits, movies/films to name but a few. However, one thing I cannot get over, but absolutely adore, is how freakin’ big pancakes are hear. Not just in terms of being popular, but the sheer size of them! On every trip down to Tennessee, we’re sure to stop by a pancake house for breakfast, and my eyes are always bigger than my stomach. But I love pancakes here as much as I do in the UK. At home they’re thin, almost crepe-like, and should only be paired with lemon and sugar, while here they are thick and pillowy and have to be drenched in syrup.

Or so I thought…

This recipe came about when I saw a friend post about homemade funnel cake and that she’d just used basic pancake mix. Knowing I had a half used box somewhere, I started to think what could I  do with pancake mix? Make cinnamon roll pancakes of course! Now, before you go diving in I should warn you that this is a messy recipe. It is 100% kid friendly. but not for kids to make. The sugar will sizzle and pop, so when baking, use caution.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups instant pancake mix (plus water as instructed)

For cinnamon swirl:
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 cup sugar
5 tbsp melted butter + 2 tbsp for pancakes

For icing:
pinch of salt
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
3 tbsp milk

To make the cinnamon sugar, stir in the sugar and cinnamon into the melted butter and pour into a ZipLoc bag, snipping one corner and storing with that corner upright (try placing in in a mug while cooking)Mix the pancake batter as per instructions on the box.

Melt 1 tbsp of butter in a skillet that is on a medium heat and bake first batch of pancakes, putting a swirl of the sugar on top before flipping. Once cooked, set aside under foil to keep warm.

Melt the second tbsp of butter and bake second batch of pancakes, again adding the cinnamon sugar swirl in.

When ready to serve, drizzle icing over.