IHOP Cheesecake Pancakes turn a classic breakfast stack into a dessert-leaning favorite with creamy filling and sweet toppings.
Photo by David Moore
Copycat IHOP Cheesecake Pancakes
IHOP Cheesecake Pancakes are fluffy pancakes layered with a cheesecake-style filling and finished with sweet toppings. They blur the line between breakfast and dessert without feeling heavy.
This recipe works best when the pancakes stay light and the filling stays smooth. Keeping the balance right is what makes them feel indulgent without overpowering the stack.
Quick Recipe Overview
- Best For: Weekend breakfasts, brunch, breakfast-for-dinner
- Flavor Profile: Sweet, creamy, lightly tangy
- Skill Level: Beginner friendly
- What Makes It Like the Restaurant: The cheesecake-style filling layered between soft pancakes
IHOP
IHOP built its reputation around generous portions and customizable breakfast classics served all day. Over time, the menu expanded to include sweeter, dessert-inspired options designed to stand out while still fitting the brand’s comfort-focused identity.
Specialty pancakes like Cheesecake Pancakes reflect IHOP’s approach to innovation. Instead of replacing the basics, the restaurant adds indulgent variations that feel familiar but more playful, keeping longtime guests engaged while attracting new ones.
When Pancakes Lean Dessert
Cheesecake-style pancakes emerged as part of a broader trend toward indulgent breakfast dishes in American casual dining. These recipes focus on layered textures and familiar dessert flavors adapted for the griddle.
Rather than fully becoming dessert, the dish keeps breakfast structure intact. Soft pancakes act as the base, while creamy filling and toppings add richness without turning the meal overly dense or heavy.
IHOP Cheesecake Pancakes Recipe
Make our IHOP Cheesecake Pancakes Recipe at home for your family. With our Secret Restaurant Recipe your cheesecake pancakes will taste just like IHOP’s.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups Strawberries hulled and sliced
- 2 tablespoons seedless Strawberry Jam
- 1 1/4 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 1/4 cups Buttermilk
- 1 large Egg
- 1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- Pinch of Salt
- 2 cups chopped frozen Cheesecake
- Cooking Spray
- Toppings, optional...but good! - Butter, Confectioners' Sugar and/or Whipped Cream
Instructions
- Mix strawberries, jam and 2 tablespoons warm water in a bowl. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 200°F.
- Pulse flour, buttermilk, egg, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a blender until smooth.
- Transfer to a bowl.
- Stir in the cheesecake pieces, keeping them whole.
- Coat a large nonstick skillet or griddle with cooking spray.
- Heat over medium heat.
- Working in batches, pour about 1/4 cup batter into the skillet for each pancake. Cook until bubbly on top, about 4 minutes, then flip and cook until the other side is golden brown, about 2 more minutes.
- Transfer the finished pancakes to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Serve the pancakes topped with the strawberry sauce.
- Top with butter, confectioners' sugar or whipped cream, if desired.
Related Copycat Recipes
Get All New Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes as Soon as We Publish Them
Just Follow Us on on Your Favorite Social Media Sites and Never Miss a New Recipe.
Stay in Touch, Get More Recipes from All of Our Sites and Help Us Spread the Word about Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes to All Your Friends.
Thank You.
Questions People Ask
Are these pancakes very sweet? They’re sweet but balanced, with a mild tang from the cheesecake-style filling.
Is the filling baked or cooked? No. The filling is prepared separately and layered with the pancakes.
Can I make the pancakes ahead? Yes. Pancakes can be made ahead and warmed before assembling.
Do these work for brunch? Yes. They’re especially popular for brunch-style meals.
Can toppings be changed? Yes. Fruit or sauce toppings can be adjusted easily.
Related Recipes
IHOP Chocolate Chocolate Chip Pancakes
IHOP Chocolate Chocolate Chip Pancakes feature fluffy chocolate pancakes loaded with chocolate chips and finished with whipped topping for a rich, dessert style breakfast.
Make IHOP Chocolate Chocolate Chip Pancakes at home and recreate the indulgent stack served at the restaurant.
Make IHOP Chocolate Chocolate Chip Pancakes at Home
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Potato Pancakes
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Potato Pancakes are crisp on the outside and tender inside, made from shredded potatoes and traditionally served with applesauce and sour cream.
Make the Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Potato Pancakes at home with this copycat recipe that recreates the familiar diner-style texture and simple seasoning.
Make Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Potato Pancakes at Home
Spotlight Recipes
Cheesecake Factory Breakfast Tacos
Cheesecake Factory Breakfast Tacos are a hearty morning option made with soft tortillas filled with eggs, savory fillings, cheese, and fresh toppings, offering a bold take on a breakfast classic.
Make the Cheesecake Factory Breakfast Tacos at home with this copycat recipe that recreates the familiar flavors and generous style served at the restaurant.
Make Cheesecake Factory Breakfast Tacos at Home
Panera Bread Eggs Benedict with Crab
Panera Bread Eggs Benedict with Crab is a brunch-style dish built on toasted English muffins topped with poached eggs, lump crab meat, and a smooth hollandaise sauce.
Make the Panera Bread Eggs Benedict with Crab at home with this copycat recipe that recreates the familiar balance of rich sauce, tender crab, and classic Benedict structure.
Make Panera Bread Eggs Benedict with Crab at Home
The Cheesecake Bible: Includes 200 Recipes
This decadent and delicious collection of prime cheesecake recipes written by baker extraordinaire George Geary provides baking inspiration, from plain cheesecakes to others that are intensely rich.
This delightfully creamy dessert is actually easier to make than other traditional cakes, and it is incredibly impressive for family or guests. These recipes provide everything needed for a perfect cheesecake every time. And the wonderful array of flavors from classic vanilla to chocolate, citrus and nutty will delight all.
CLICK HERE NOW to get The Cheesecake Bible with 200 Cheesecake Recipes
Photo of Cheesecake Pancakes is by David Moore and is used by permission under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) License. Thank you, David and . Great Pictures.
Photos may be representative of the recipe and not the actual finished dish. All photo licenses listed were correct at the time of the posting of the page. Recipe is our adaption of several recipes formally widely-circulated on the internet – courtesy of the Wayback Machine.
Recipe is original to Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes. Recipe created by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes based on information from the restaurant and other sources on the internet – many courtesy of the Wayback Machine.
Additional Information is from original research done by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes and/or courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.
Share this IHOP cheesecake pancakes recipe using the Facebook, X, Pinterest, or Email buttons below.
It takes 10 seconds and helps other breakfast lovers recreate a diner favorite at home.