A beautiful thing happens when cream meets a bun…the cream bun (or cream doughnut, as some of you like to call it) is born. You know the ones—fluffy pillows of happiness brimming with cream and a dollop of jam. If you’re a neat and tidy eater, these ain’t for you. The oozing, finger-lickin’ buns will leave you with cream on your face and—more often than not—a nose covered in icing sugar. It’s not a good look but it’s a small price to pay in exchange for a taste of deliciousness.
Luckily for bun-lovin’ folk, Auckland is very much on the cream bun train. We’ve rounded up the top ten places to get a cream bun/doughnut in Auckland.
Little Sister Café
Henderson
Henderson’s Little Sister Café serve up quite possibly the biggest cream buns in Auckland—they’re pretty much the size of your face. Their circular-shaped buns are packed—and we mean seriously packed—with cream. They don’t just do the OG jam and cream as they love to switch things up with their filling. Sometimes we get treated to Nutella, salted caramel, custard and butterscotch!
Bluebells Cakery
Hillsborough & Kingsland
Bluebells Cakery has not one but two cream doughnuts on offer. Grab a traditional raspberry jam doughnut or stay on trend with salted caramel. Rather than the pillowy bread texture, these doughnuts are crispy and coated with a generous layer of white sugar which will coat your lips. They’re only available between Friday and Sunday and you’ve got to be in quick—they do-ughnut last long!
Little & Friday
Belmont & Newmarket
Little & Friday have made a name for themselves over the years for being one of the best bakeries in Auckland and their custard cream doughnuts should be held responsible. These babies are HEAVY as they are jam packed with raspberry jam and custard cream filling (pun intended). Every bite you take, custard cream will ooze out the sides and don’t even bother wiping your mouth in between bites as the icing sugar coating will not go away while chomping on this bad boy.
Winona Forever
Parnell
Our friends at Winona Forever take cabinet food as an art form as their glass cabinet is an absolute exhibition of sweet treats, including their epic doughnuts. They do special ones like lemon curd, Nutella-infused custard and their classic homemade raspberry jam and cream in a super soft bun. Winona Forever like to take things up a level and get creative by combing a Nutella cream filling with another Kiwi favourite, a chocolate lamington donut!
The Baker’s Cottage
Kingsland
When you’re short on dough (the monetary kind) and want some dough (the doughnut kind), look no further than The Baker’s Cottage. The humble Kingsland bakery serves up both round AND long cream buns—complete with that all-important blob of jam. These are perfect for when you’re feeling like a straightforward, original cream bun that will get you feeling all sorts of nostalgia.
Scratch Bakers HQ
Auckland CBD
Scratch Bakers HQ do some of the most unique doughnuts in town without a doubt but they also nail it when it comes to the old school cream doughnut with jam. But, if you’re feeling fancy, definitely branch out to their other creations. These consist of the crème brulee cream custard-filled doughnut, tiramisu doughnut filled with mascarpone cream and matcha doughnuts filled with raspberry-infused cream.
Tart Bakery
K’Road & Grey Lynn
Vegans can also relive their childhood memories of chomping down a cream bun from their local bakery as Tart on trendy K’Road and Grey Lynn do it, all plant-based! Their cream buns are on point when it comes to texture and the coconut cream is actually richer and tastier than the regular cream we’re so familiar with! Vegan or not, Tart Bakery’s cream buns are absolutely 10/10 and you need to hop on it ASAP.
The Mustard Kitchen
Morningside
We love this Morningside gem as they take our classic Kiwi favourites and bake it up to its maximum potential. At The Mustard Kitchen, you’ll find hearty mince and cheese pies, lolly slices, ginger crunch and—of course—cream buns and these guys do not go light on the cream. They also come in both a round or long orientation. If you’re feeling game, take things up a level with their Boston cream doughnut topped with chocolate or add some nutritional value with their apple and cream doughnut.
Hello Friends + Allies
Epsom
The cream buns at Epsom’s Hello Friends + Allies are within a realm of their own. From the classic raspberry jam and cream log to strawberry jam and guys…they do a boysenberry ripple bombaloni doughnut and it’s BOMB. If you’re not much of a fruit person, get on to their cookies and cream bun topped with chocolate drizzle and Oreo cookie for the best indulgent treat.
Corelli’s Café
Devonport
Giving the North Shore a taste of the cream bun action is Corelli’s Cafe. The eatery dishes up generously-sized doughnuts rolled in icing sugar and loaded with either cream or custard. Their cabinet game is particularly strong and we bet you’ll also leave with a piece of decadent chocolate brownie and a slice of their carrot cake which is packed and loaded with walnuts and sultanas.
Image Credit: Jaiden Bhaga at Bluebells