Let’s be honest: warm, iced cinnamon rolls are a welcome sight any morning of the year… but they are particularly inviting on New Year’s morning, when it feels just right to have a sticky pecan plate on the kitchen table, ready for taking, and its warm, homey cinnamon scent mingling with coffee spreads throughout the house. And of course, on top of that, you can make this moment from scratch, but there’s also – trumpet sound! – the iconic tube of cinnamon rolls found in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores, famous for its quick baking time (never more than 20 minutes) and the slightly thrilling and scary sound when opening the seam. So, we decided it was time for another taste test to determine which tube of cinnamon rolls deserves a place on holiday morning.
Test Methodology
As with previous taste tests, I was the main presenter, guiding the panel of testers to try the rolls, taking notes on what they liked and didn’t. The panel included my daughters, Phoebe and Abbie, as well as Abbie’s college friend, Frankie, who was visiting for the weekend. Their qualifications? Well, to start, they all had just finished their final exams (or were just hours away from finishing – you got this, Frankie!), so they had no trouble accessing the mental capacity and focus needed for a test like this intense one. Also? Let’s just say they have had a pretty impressive time at the coffee shops in the college town.
Cinnamon Roll Experience
I was instructed to bake each cinnamon roll according to the package directions and served them all at room temperature – warm enough to melt the icing, but not too hot when coming out of the oven. I baked one batch of three at 350 degrees (on the left) and the other two batches baked between 375-400 degrees (on the right). Amazing how different they look, right? I also provided some fruit to cleanse the palate in between.
The testing instructions for the cinnamon rolls were a bit simpler than Frankie’s physics problem set. I asked the girls to express their opinions on various factors, such as appearance and texture (Is it dense? Fluffy? Crisp?); stickiness (Did you have to lick your fingers in a good way?); balance (Does the cinnamon overpower the dough? Is there salt to balance the sweetness?); and of course, flavor (How is the dough? The cinnamon? The icing?). Here’s how we all felt about them…
Trader Joe’s Jumbo Organic Cinnamon Rolls
Cost: $4.99
Baking Time: 18-20 minutes
Tasting Notes: In terms of value for money, these rolls won over the other two organic brands, which were at least double the price. As I prepared the tasting samples, this was the one I spent the most time sampling – it looked the most appealing. It had a nice yeasty flavor and was appropriate for the season, a factor that was “personally critical” for Phoebe. “It had an aftertaste of dough,” Frankie added, but “the cinnamon taste is good” and she appreciated that it was “lighter than the others and less sweet.” Abbie concluded that it was “good” but thought that the cinnamon had a slightly artificial taste.
Immaculate Baking Organic Cinnamon Rolls with Icing
Cost: $11.99
Baking Time: 18-20 minutes
Tasting Notes: “Mmm,” said Phoebe, who appreciated the “cakey, iced texture” here. She loved how gooey the cinnamon was instead of dry, and she liked how it fell apart easily. Abbie was not a fan of the “weird chemical cinnamon, which is not like what you get from any bakery on any corner.” Frankie found the flavor to be “robust.” It should also be noted that these were the most expensive of the other organic brands, at more than double the price.
Cinnamon Rolls
Annie’s Organic Cinnamon Rolls
Cost: $9.99
Baking Time: 18-20 minutes
Tasting Notes: “I modestly love these,” said Abby. “Less greasy.” Phoebe agreed, saying “They look like a biscuit and taste less doughy in a good way.” They found a nice balance between the cinnamon and the dough with a hint of saltiness. Everyone appreciated how the icing melded into the dough like glaze instead of “a thick coating of icing.” In summary: Promising.
Pillsbury Flaky Cinnamon Rolls with Creamy Butter Icing
Cost: $5.49
Baking Time: 12-14 minutes
Tasting Notes: “I wouldn’t eat these if it weren’t for a taste test,” Phoebe said before trying one, giving you an idea of how visually unappealing they were. Frankie agreed: “Even if there were a variety of bad pastries, I wouldn’t choose these.” Other insults flew quickly, and I had trouble keeping up with the writing: “No adult enjoys this” and “Made for a child who only eats white food” and “I wish I didn’t know what that looks like.” The main thing was how artificial every element was – from the sweet dough to the Christmas cake-style icing, which Frankie said reminded her of “colored vanilla.” However, this type was tied for first place in terms of price point, so I guess it’s a case where you get what you pay for. In Abby’s words: “They look bad and taste bad.”
The Winners!
Best Cinnamon Rolls: Annie’s Organic Cinnamon Rolls
After another round of rolls, with a voting ratio of 2-1, Annie’s rolls achieved a narrow victory, mainly because they were the least offensive in terms of texture and overall sweetness. (I’m pretty sure that’s a word?) Bonus: They’re easy to find, available at most major supermarkets across the country.
Best Value: Trader Joe’s Jumbo Organic Cinnamon Rolls
It’s no surprise that Trader Joe’s gives us an organic product that competes with brands costing double the price. It’s easy to imagine the fragrant smell wafting through the house on Christmas morning – or any other holiday morning, for that matter.
A big thank you to the distinguished panel including Ben in the arms who was grateful for all the shots, even the fourth one, which I hope all the others can “take back.”
I’m afraid to ask: Do you agree? Do you have a favorite cinnamon roll?
Source: https://cupofjo.com/2023/12/20/best-cinnamon-rolls-taste-test/
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