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In Arkansas, the vaunted cinnamon roll can be found at bakeries and restaurants in every corner of our great state. Some are better than others, but these are my favorite eight (in no particular order).
1. PattiCakes Bakery (Conway)
The cinnamon roll at Patticakes is as classic as it gets, just a wonderful balance of cinnamon, sugar, and icing to go along with a soft dough. “Our scratch-made cinnamon roll is filled with buttery cinnamon goodness, and the icing has a secret ingredient to give depth to the flavor,” says owner Patti Stobaugh.
2. Wild Sweet William’s Bakery (Searcy)
There is really nothing not to love about any baked good that comes out of Wild Sweet William’s, and that includes the cinnamon roll. “When we opened, I was determined not to make cinnamon rolls! I mean, really, the world has plenty already, right? But we received so many requests for this classic roll, that I finally gave in. Now, as fate would have it, it’s without a doubt the pastry that I don’t want to live without. It’s my constant go-to when I need some Baked Love. The Wild Sweet William’s Cinnamon Roll is colossal, it’s Communal, and it’s made to share,” says owner Lisa Ford.
3. Cinnamon Crème Bakery (Little Rock)
At Cinnamon Crème, they keep things simple, not worrying about a perfect appearance, but rather, a more rustic look that proves to be just as enticing. The rolls here are massive, and you’ll also want to keep an eye out for the various options–like the insanely delicious blueberry cinnamon roll–that pop up from time to time.
4. Pressroom (Bentonville)
Only available during Pressroom’s brunch service, the “Big Sticky” Roll certainly lives up to the name. It’s huge, buttery, and covered with pecans. The folks at Pressroom even display the roll front and center, making it almost impossible not to order.
5. Will’s Cinnamon Shop (Hot Springs)
The folks at Will’s Cinnamon Shop definitely know their way around a cinnamon roll. “Everything in our shop is made from scratch and baked daily. And yes, we have several kinds of icing. Icing, aside from the taste, is the reason I don’t like rolls from that ‘big chain.’ I hate cream cheese, and they only offer cream cheese icing. We wanted to give people the option of what they wanted on their rolls, either sugar-based, cream cheese-based, none, or sometimes fresh fruit or fruit toppings. We think cinnamon rolls are meant to be eaten warm and because of that, the icing is always added after heating it,” says owner William Byrd.
6. Ferguson’s Country Store and Restaurant (St. Joe)
This cinnamon roll has its own billboard, a wise move by the folks at Ferguson’s. And the actual cinnamon roll is almost as big as the one on the sign. This huge, gooey rendition is covered in icing that ends up dripping down all the sides. Make sure to check hours, as Ferguson’s is closed for the season.
7. Briar Rose Bakery (Farmington)
Other than your dreams, have you ever seen a cinnamon roll served in a sandwich format? Yes, at Briar Rose Bakery in Farmington (near Fayetteville), dreams do come true. The traditional cinnamon rolls are also available.
8. The Humble Crumb Bakery (Sherwood)
This is another classic cinnamon roll, with a nice balance of cinnamon and sugar, as well as an ample portion of icing. In short, The Humble Crumble doesn’t overdo anything, relying on thicker dough that’s perfect to the bite. It arrives slightly warm, a clear indication its time in the oven wasn’t far in the past. The bakery has limited hours (Friday from 6 a.m.-noon and Saturday from 7 a.m. –noon).
*PattiCakes Bakery and Will’s Cinnamon Shop pics courtesy of the restaurants
Kevin Shalin is a food writer living in Little Rock with his wife, Sara, and one daughter, Sydney. His oldest daughter, Natalie, is a freshman at Loyola University in Chicago. He started his own blog, The Mighty Rib, twelve years ago while living in Houston. Six months later, he began writing for Eating Our Words, a Houston Press food blog. After a year in Boston, he moved to Little Rock, where he’s been for ten years. During that time, he’s written for publications like Little Rock Soiree, Arkansas Times, AY Magazine, and The Local Palate.
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[…] part to its centerpiece item that draws crowds, the wildly popular cinnamon roll. It is one of the very best you will find in Arkansas. Do not believe me? Go find out for yourself. With an ample portion of icing and a perfect balance […]
[…] winners from that morning’s case included the strawberry Danish, cinnamon twist, and cinnamon roll, the latter of which is a smaller version than what you will typically see. This was a welcome […]
[…] For more great breakfast pastries, check out my list of 8 Great Cinnamon Rolls in Arkansas. […]
[…] And if you love cinnamon rolls, check out Kevin Shalin’s list of 8 Great Cinnamon Rolls in Arkansas. […]
[…] 8 Great Cinnamon Rolls in Arkansas […]
[…] has a reputation for rolls as much as the meat. People travel from all over the state for a cinnamon roll, and they discover a carnivore’s paradise by […]
[…] rolled in rainbow nonpareils–and a cinnamon roll that easily falls into the category of the best I’ve had in Arkansas. But save some room for sandwiches. Those are good, too. The buttery grilled […]
[…] have an update for those folks searching for the very best cinnamon roll in Arkansas. It resides at Country Village Oven Bakery in Star City. That is the good news. The bad news? There […]
[…] – Stop in to Fergusons for a yummy breakfast and feast on one of their famous cinnamon rolls. Their gift shop includes all kinds of local products and […]