The Best Store-Bought Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon-rolls-taste-test proper size — Photo: Jessica Furniss

Gooey, cinnamony, bready, swirly goodness! Ever since the invention of canned cinnamon rolls in 1956, breakfast pastry lovers around the world have had a simpler way to get this all around crowd pleaser on the table.

This convenient breakfast pastry is made by many different brands, so we tried six of the leading brands available online and in stores to give you the full scoop. So rolllll up a chair (see what we did there?) and get ready to try your hand at these easy cinnamon swirls.

Whichever canned or frozen cinnamon rolls you choose, there's no doubt this staple has a special place in all of our hearts. And we hope you feel equipped with all the knowledge you need to go out and select the cinnamon roll treats that fits best for you and your family.

Best Cinnamon Rolls at a Glance:

Best Overall: Immaculate Baking Ready to Bake Cinnamon Rolls With Icing
Runner-Up: Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Icing
Best Frozen Cinnamon Rolls: Sister Schubert's Cinnamon Rolls
Most Nostalgic Cinnamon Rolls: Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls With Icing
Best Cinnamon Rolls Without Icing: Annie's Organic Cinnamon Rolls
Best Budget Cinnamon Rolls: Great Value Cinnamon Rolls With Icing

What We Looked for When Ranking Cinnamon Rolls

Taste: Flavor is the number one priority. For this test we especially focused on the flavor of the roll both with and without icing. We also took into account the amount of cinnamon flavor in each brand. After all, a cinnamon roll without enough cinnamon is just bread!

Texture: While flavor matters most, texture is a close second. There's nothing worse than biting into a delicious-looking flaky pastry to find out it's too dry. All the brands we chose have a texture in between pillowy soft and deliciously flaky –– not too far on either end of the spectrum.

Price: Cinnamon rolls are great to keep on hand for those rushed weekday mornings where you just need to get everyone out of the door on time. We want to give you the best info on taste, but budget matters too. So we were sure to include some very budget-friendly options along with more expensive luxury brands, but all the rolls we chose remain under $8 USD per package.

How We Tested Each Cinnamon Roll

My partner and I set aside an entire morning to taste each cinnamon roll. Each batch of cinnamon rolls were baked according to their exact instructions. We tried two of each brand — one with icing and one without and made sure to drink water between each variety to start with a clean palate.

Best Overall: Immaculate Baking Ready to Bake Cinnamon Rolls With Icing

immaculate baking cinnamon rolls — Immaculate Baking

We were both surprised that we ranked this one so high. To be honest, we didn't expect the organic brand to be the best in flavor, as sometimes organic alternatives to classics don't meet expectations of flavor or texture, but we were wrong. These more than met our expectations. Immaculate had the boldest cinnamon flavor and the heartiest rolls. The rolls had a great crust, with a soft, pillowy inside. And while the flavor of the icing was a little different on its own, when added to the cinnamon rolls it created perfectly balanced rolls. We especially recommend this brand if you've got a family to feed since these will keep everyone fuller for longer.

Buy it; $5.99; Instacart

Runner-Up: Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Icing

Pillsbury Grands don't have quite as much cinnamon flavor as Immaculate Baking's rolls do, but they are definitely great in every other way. That iconic Pillsbury icing and light texture is made even more delicious by the buttery flavors of Cinnabon brought in. They have a flaky crust, with a nice chewy inside. Another thing we liked about these is their lower sodium content––530mg compared to 770mg in Immaculate Baking.

Buy it; $3.99, Target

Best Frozen Cinnamon Rolls: Sister Schubert's Cinnamon Rolls

These were pretty unique in flavor and texture compared to the can varieties we tried. They were rich, buttery, and very filling with a texture that reminded me of a New Orleans King Cake (which I love). I was really impressed with their likeness to homemade cinnamon rolls and plan to buy them next time I have family over. And I may or may not try to pass them off as homemade (wink, wink).

Buy it; $1.49; Walmart

Most Nostalgic Cinnamon Rolls: Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls

There's no doubt canned cinnamon rolls have come a long way over the last few years, but there's just something special about the classic Pillsbury. As I pulled them out of the can and lined them up inside the baking dish, those little dots of cinnamon reminded me of being a kid again, watching cartoons and waiting patiently for the cinnamon rolls to finish baking as the warm aroma filled the house. As we bit into these all of those wonderful childhood memories came flooding back. You really can't go wrong with this classic version.

Buy it; $2.49; Target

Best Cinnamon Rolls Without Icing: Annie's Organic Cinnamon Rolls

If you love cinnamon rolls but aren't much of an icing person, these are great for you. The roll itself has a nice sweetness with a hint of vanilla and a less bold cinnamon flavor. While the icing wasn't our favorite, these were definitely the best-tasting rolls without their icing. They had a lovely flaky crust, and a gorgeous light and airy inside.

Buy it; $4.99; Target

Best Budget Cinnamon Rolls: Great Value Cinnamon Rolls

If you're looking for the best budget-friendly option, the Walmart brand cinnamon rolls are for you. They definitely don't meet the same flavor standards as the others mentioned above, in our opinion, but at under $2 USD a can they're still a great option.

Buy it; $1.74; Walmart

Related:

Updated by

Jessica Furniss