Harrisonburg's Best Cinnamon Roll
What is the best way to eat a cinnamon roll? Bite right in? Unwind layer by layer? Either way, all can agree that the heart of a cinnamon roll should be savored. Saturated with icing, cinnamon, sugar, and butter, this soft morsel is best reserved for last. There is a special place in heaven for those who share this bite with a buddy.
My cousin Rachel and I have split our fair share of pastries, making her a perfect partner on my quest for the best cinnamon roll in Harrisonburg, Virginia. This was not our first sugary exploit. Rachel, a Chicagoan, took me on an extensive donut tour of the city when I visited in 2019. But Rachel’s pastry roots go deeper than donuts. She and her mom first found their prized family cinnamon roll recipe in Family Fun Magazine, a 90’s childhood staple. They were surprised with how delicious the rolls turned out and began a tradition of making them each Christmas. One year when Rachel didn’t make the rolls her brother Andrew declared that Rachel “ruined Christmas.”
Rachel and I sampled two categories of rolls. First, we tried four classic rolls made with sweet brioche, swirled with cinnamon and brown sugar, and topped with a sweet glaze or icing. Second, we tried three croissant-style rolls, layers of light, flaky croissant pastry encased in caramelized sugar and cinnamon. In order to be eligible for evaluation, the rolls needed to be baked and sold within Harrisonburg city limits.
Here are the places we visited, listed in alphabetical order: All Things Edible, Bella Gelato & Pastries, Bittersweet Bakery, Cinnamon Bear Bakery & Deli, Greenberry’s Coffee Co., Heritage Bakery & Café, and Magpie Diner.
I will begin with the three croissant-style rolls by announcing the winner of that specific category. Rachel described Magpie Diner’s morning bun as if “a cinnamon roll and a croissant had a baby wrapped in a sophisticated orange blanket.” This roll is flaky throughout with a subtle cinnamon and orange flavor. The caramelized filling seals the swirl of this light, crispy roll with a toffee-like flavor. ($4).
If you are a pecan enthusiast, then Bella Gelato & Pastries’ pecan roll is for you. Moist and chewy without being tough, all the savory nuttiness of pecan pie is rolled into this pastry. They sell out quickly, so if you want to try this flaky, nutty roll I suggest getting there early ($3.75).
Greenberry’s cinnamon roll croissant is also a fast seller. They only make three of these soft and sweet rolls each morning, so if you want to try this glistening golden treat get to their drive through window first thing ($3.50).
Now, the winner of the classic roll. Cinnamon Bear Bakery & Deli makes, in my and Rachel’s opinion, the best classic cinnamon roll in Harrisonburg. The dough is soft and buttery with a yeasty tang. The sweet gooey filling is balanced with an earthy cinnamon flavor. The roll is loosely coiled allowing for many crisp edges and room for the sweet glaze to coat the interior. While we ate our cinnamon roll, the restaurant buzzed around us. Twenty or more customers sat sipping coffee, enjoying a sandwich, or waiting for their orders ($3).
If you’re looking for edible art, try Heritage Bakery & Café’s flower flecked roll. Rachel and I ordered ahead and enjoyed these monster rolls on the patio outside the cafe. This was by far the biggest roll we encountered, so arrive hungry for this soft and bready pastry with powerfully sweet, creamy icing. Despite being closed, owner Isabel met us at the cafe, heated up the rolls, brought us water, and added a candle in case we were celebrating ($5).
My husband Jeff joined in to grade Bittersweet Bakery’s roll. He brought the perspective of “the common man affected by COVID-19, working with 70% taste and smell,” so we mostly relied on him to describe the texture. He enjoyed this light, compact roll decorated with sprinkles in the bakery’s signature black, white, and yellow colors. The highlight was the melt in your mouth glaze that encompasses the roll. We ordered ahead through email with Erica and arranged to pick up the rolls from a yellow wooden chair outside the bakery ($3.75).
If you’re looking to order cinnamon rolls for a crowd, All Things Edible is the place to go. With the texture of cinnamon swirl bread, these rolls hold up. Rachel and I enjoyed them fresh with thick buttercream icing and reheated them to enjoy the next day. We ordered ahead over the phone and arranged a pick up time with the baker and owner, Tiffni Trobaugh. She generously gave us 2 extra rolls to fill the box ($3).
There’s a cinnamon roll for every kind of pastry lover in Harrisonburg. Whether you bite right in, or unfurl each cinnamon-y layer, the heart of each roll is not only ooey-gooey deliciousness, but the care and expertise of each Friendly City baker.