There’s a lot to envy about the Nordic folk. Top World happiness rankings, cutting-edge design, and ridiculous good looks—it seems they’ve got it all. Add cinnamon buns or Känelbullar as they’re formally known into the mix, and point proven.
In a love letter to what might be their greatest export, we've collated Auckland's finest cinnamon buns. Get ready for the sticky fingers, doughy bellies and warm fuzzies, as you eat your way through our list of Tāmaki Makaurau's best cinnamon buns.
Hill House Cafe & Farm House Cafe
Pah Homestead, 72 Hillsborough Road, Hillsborough, Auckland | 400 Papakura-Clevedon Road, Clevedon, Auckland
Image credit: Farm House Cafe / Wono Kim
What could be better than a peaceful stroll around a beautiful heritage home, or a gorgeous country garden? Having a cinnamon bun in tow, that’s what. This is where these two cafes, located at Hillsborough's Pah Homestead and in rural Clevedon, come in. Respectively dishing up what can only be described as Auckland’s most delicious and gooey cinnamon buns—or cinnabuns as they're known here—these are bigger than your face and loaded with cream cheese frosting, chopped nuts and a generous dusting of cinnamon. P.S. If you're lucky, you might even be able to score some of their housemade cinnabun gelato. Hell yes.
Cinnamon Squared
41 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland
Image credit: Cinnamon Squared | Kathryn Steane.
Once upon a time, we thought cinnamon buns only came in only one flavour (delicious as that one flavour may be). Now we know better, thanks to businesses like Cinnamon Squared. This tiny spot has been making a huge impact since opening its doors in March, with their freshly baked rolls in such hot demand that they're re-stocked every day around lunchtime. From classic cinnamon and cream cheese offerings through to those flavoured with salted caramel and chocolate ganache, through to their popular pistachio number—all made with premium butter, milk, and organic Ceylon cinnamon—this bakery is ushering in a whole new era of cinnamon buns, and we're here for it (literally. We're probably in the queue as you read this. Keep an eye out for vegan and gluten-free versions, coming soon.
The Muriwai Deli
189 Motutara Road, Muriwai, Auckland
Image credit: The Muriwai Deli / website
The Muriwai Deli boys certainly know their way around the realm of sweet treats (hello, have you seen their doughnuts?) and as predicted, their cinnamon buns are nothing short of life-changing. Filled with layers of brown sugar-cinnamon, topped with a healthy dollop of cream cheese icing and extra cinnamon for good measure, these are classic cinny buns, done proper. However, you'd be doing yourself an injustice not to also try one of their other sweet bun interpretations, like their Barbie-pink Chelsea coconut buns. They've been known to say 'eat pud like no one's watching', so that's exactly what we plan to do with their buns.
Juno & Slowlane
Unit 3/2 Henry Tayler Rise, Milldale, Auckland | 604 Great South Road, Ellerslie, Auckland
Image credit: Slowlane | Alice Rich
So you want your cinnamon bun topped with a mountain of cookies and cream frosting, crushed biscuit pieces AND an entire Oreo? No problem. Hit up the cabinet at this Milldale local (or Ellerslie sister cafe, Slowlane), run by the same crew as some of Tāmaki's leading cafes like The Breakfast Club and The Good Luck Club, for this and other mouthwatering riffs on the OG cinny roll. The buns themselves are on the larger side (read: they're probably the first thing you'll spot in the cabinet) and not too sweet, so as not to compete with the decadent toppings. Due to their sheer size, a return visit will be required if you want to try more than one (Biscoff, you're up next).
New World Long Bay
55B Glenvar Ridge Road, Long Bay, Auckland
Image credit: New World Long Bay / Kathryn Steane
We like big buns and we cannot lie... Which is certainly one way to describe these cinnamon-spiked beauties from New World Long Bay. Roughly the size of a side plate (see above), we love how they're baked in an old-school tinfoil pie dish—kinda fitting, given that they're based on baker Dawn's childhood recipe. As for the flavour, there's plenty, woven throughout a soft, melt-in-the-mouth brioche dough (no dry bits here, folks). However what really sets these apart—bar the obvious size difference—is their exquisite truffle icing, a sweet, white chocolate-y blanket that will have your taste buds in a most delicious tangle.
Fa Bakey
1/4 Alberto Lane, Silverdale
Image credit: Fa Bakery / Kathryn Steane
Another spot slinging big-as-you-face buns is this artisan bakery. These cinnys are thicc, but that's not all—they're also bloody tasty. In a departure from many of the other cinnamon buns on the market, these ones go all-in on the spice; both in the bun itself, and especially in the icing. We repeat: if you like your cinnamon subtle, these ain't the buns for you. Personally, we're here for it, and will always appreciate when the icing's on the generous side (read: like, half an inch thick). This fat layer of bronze, spice-spiked goodness is the perfect foil to the pillow-like bun beneath, and goes down especially well with a cup of their Eighthirty coffee.
Lot Nineteen
22 Waller Street, Onehunga, Auckland
Image credit: Lot Nineteen / Supplied
Lot Nineteen's legendary cinnamon rolls have been declared the tastiest in the land by many a cinny fan. Gloriously fluffy and slathered in glossy frosting, we wish we could smoosh our faces with one of these every day. Furthermore, Biscoff and cookies-and-cream versions have been known to make the menu (gasp), while an assortment of other treats—think brownies, pepperoni rolls, and almond and raspberry croissants—and of course, coffee, are also available from this spot on Waller Street.
Butter Baby
70/11 Northside Drive, Westgate, Auckland | Various Markets
Image credit: Butter Baby / Supplied
Pastry Chef Matilda Lee's Butter Baby burst onto the baking scene in June 2021 with her range of incredibly delicious treats from West Auckland. Not least of these are her hugely popular cinnamon buns. Light, fluffy and moreishly decadent, we challenge you to stop at just one. Her original cinnamon bun is topped off with a super smooth vanilla cream cheese frosting that is just the right amount of sweet but the pink bun and *gasp* apple cinny are also up there in terms of blow-you-away delight. Run, don't walk.
Scandibunz
199 Shakespeare Road, Milford, Auckland
Image credit: Scandibunz / Supplied
With a Swedish ex-pat at the helm, you can bet your bottom dollar that Scandibunz makes the Swedish bee’s knees of cinnamon buns. So much so that they are, without a doubt, some of the absolute best cinnamon buns in Auckland. Sink your teeth into their traditional cinnamon bun or take things up a notch and indulge in a saffron marzipan bun, complete with a decadent almond paste surprise in the centre. We're 100 per cent committed to their traditional cinnamon offering, but we'd be lying if we said we didn't sometimes fantasise about their triple chocolate and blueberry, white chocolate and cinnamon numbers.
Whatever floats your boat, all are in plentiful supply at their Milford store along with a number of other mouthwatering, suitably Swedish treats. Think sammies stuffed with meatballs and beetroot salad, prawn and mayo, or roast venison—slices of pretty green princess cake—and piping hot Kokako filter coffee to wash it all down. We'll see you there for a spot of fika.
Hare And The Turtle
1/63 New Windsor Road, New Windsor, Auckland
Image credit: Hare and the Turtle / Supplied
Hare and the Turtle know how to do comfort food. That’s a fact. From their decadently doughy sandwiches through to their wholesome brunch food, they’ve got our carb cravings covered. The range doesn’t stop at their savoury offerings, because let us tell you, their sweet treats are every bit as moreish and decadent too. The stars of their treat cabinet are of course their cinnamon buns—they’re golden, doughy, sweet, lightly glazed, and spiralled to perfection. They’re the perfect addition to a morning coffee, or as a sweet accompaniment to their legendary sammies but you'd better get in quick—they sell out fast.
Amano
66-68 Tyler Street, Britomart, Auckland
Among Amano’s luscious cabinets and shelves of baked goodies, you’ll find some of Auckland’s best cinnamon buns. Grab a buddy, a bun, a warm brew, a spot in Amano’s rustic dining area and you’ve got the making for a perfect little fika. Not just any way of enjoying a coffee date, fika is the Swedish urban ritual of taking time out to enjoy good conversation, coffee and a sweet treat (cinnamon bun is the go-to, of course) and all of the cosy vibes that follow suit. Our pro tip? Ask the kind staff for the buns to be gently warmed, and brace yourself for next-level comfort snacking.
Vondel
8 Victoria Road, Devonport, Auckland
Image credit: Vondel / Supplied
Dough lovers of Devonport, did you know that some of the best cinnamon buns in Auckland are on your very doorstep? Scandi-style buns, to be precise, and you’ll find them in Vondel’s wonderful cabinet of edible curiosities. Baked fresh daily, these buns are glorious knots of dough, filled with layer upon layer of sticky cinnamon sugar and then sprinkled with pearl sugar. The result? A textural journey for your tastebuds at each and every bite.
Daily Bread
Auckland CBD, Belmont, Botany, Britomart, New Lynn, Newmarket, Orakei, Ponsonby, Pt Chev, Stonefields & Takapuna
If you needed another reason to fall in love with bakery darling, Daily Bread, then their cinnamon buns are it. Not just any old buns, the ones you’ll find here boast cardamom alongside the usual spice subjects as a key ingredient. The result? An ultra delicious bun simply bursting with flavour and complexity, as well as a healthy amount of deliciousness thrown into the mix. If that hasn’t convinced you to throw a couple into your order during your weekend baking run, then quite frankly, we don’t know what will.
Bestie Cafe
179/183 Karangahape Road, Auckland Central, Auckland
Image credit: Bestie / Supplied
We can always count on Bestie to have our belly’s best interests at heart. Naturally, cinnamon buns count as part of the equation. Trust us when we say that their buns are the stuff dreams are made of and are easily some of Auckland’s best cinnamon buns. They’re crafted from layer upon exquisite layer of pastry, all rolled to perfection and lightly dusted in a veil of powdered sugar. To top it all off, the filling and edges are perfectly caramelised, making devouring one of these bad boys an absolute sensory journey.
Ozone
1/18 Westmoreland Street West, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Not only is Ozone one of the best places in Auckland to get your hands on great brews and brunches, but it’s also home to some of Auckland’s best cinnamon buns. Next time you pop into their Grey Lynn cafe, take yourself up to the treat counter and set your sights on their impressive buns. Doughy, delicious and absolutely massive, these are some of the biggest and baddest buns known to Aucklanders. Whether you’re simply popping in for a grab-and-go cup of coffee, or settling in for a weekend brunch, their cinnamon buns will be the perfect addition.
Honourable Mention: Safka
70 Pitt Street, Auckland Central, Auckland
Take the cosiness and warm fuzzies that come with enjoying cinnamon buns up a notch, and snack on them in the comfiest place of all: your very own home. We’re not talking about simply taking them home to dig into alongside your favourite homebrew, we’re talking about baking the buns yourself. Swing by Pitt Street’s Safka and peruse the freezer section, you might get lucky to come across a pack of frozen buns to take home. Better yet, keep an eye out on their website to see if there are any buns lurking there—we’ve got our fingers crossed for you.
Handpicked from Europe by the Finnish folk at the helm of this boutique, you can rest assured that these buns are the real deal. Simply pop them in your oven, and get ready for fresh, doughy bun goodness—and the smell of cinnamon taking over your house. That’s right, the best cinnamon buns in Auckland may just come out of your oven.
Pick up a coffee from one of the best coffee houses in Auckland and complete the luxe experience.
Main image credit: Kathryn Steane (Kathryn's own buns)