I Tried the New Trader Joe’s Fall Bakery Find Everyone’s Excited About, and It’s 100x Better Than Cinnabon

Social media can definitely feel overwhelming at times, but one of my favorite things about it is how quickly I can discover trending groceries. Within days of a product drop, I’m in the loop — and often already on my way to try it. One of the bigger retailers with tons of grocery related-social media posts is Trader Joe’s. The fanbase is large and active, so when there’s something new worth trying I know about it almost instantly. 

The latest craze? New Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Buns in the bakery section. As a major fan of cinnamon rolls of all kinds (and especially ones with cream cheese frosting, which this one has!), as soon as I caught wind that they had popped up on shelves, I booked it to my nearest location to try one for myself. Here’s my full review.

According to the grocer’s website, the four-pack of buns are made by Danish bakers — the same ones behind the seasonal Cinnamon Twist Danish — and feature a soft, yeasted dough filled with a cinnamon-molasses mixture. They’re topped with rich cream cheese frosting, and each 13-ounce package sells for $5.99. No word just yet if these are a new year-round staple or a seasonal drop, but because they just arrived in stores, I’m confident they’ll be in stores at least through fall. 

Once I had secured my box of cinnamon buns, I was a bit hesitant to try them because opinions online were split. According to @traderjoeslist, a wildly popular Instagram fan account, some shoppers found them to be a bit “dry” while others rated them a “10/10.” Still, they looked great and smelled sweet, so it didn’t take much convincing to dive in for a bite. 

Sweet, soft … delicious! The dough itself was a bit thinner than what I was used to in a cinnamon roll (especially if you’re used to giant, American-size Cinnabons), but the filling had a more complex sweetness with that molasses flavor shining through. Oh, and the cream cheese frosting was rich, creamy, and the ideal topping. 

I think what’s throwing people off is that these buns are more like a European-style pastry — less fluffy, more refined, and not just a one-note sweetness. Personally, I love that.

I finished one right away, then reheated another later in the microwave for about 15 seconds to make it a bit gooier and it was even more delicious the second time around. I’ll definitely keep buying these while they’re in stores, and I highly recommend trying them yourself to see where you land in the debate.

Find it in stores: Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Rolls, $5.99 for 13 ounces

Have you tried Trader Joe’s new cinnamon buns? Tell us about it in the comments below.