Originally Posted On: https://worldsbestcinnamonrolls.com/isles-bun-coffee-crowned-2024-worlds-best-cinnamon-rolls/
Isles Bun & Coffee Crowned 2024 World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls
“Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.” — Anthony Bourdain
Since 2018, the team behind The World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls has crisscrossed America—and beyond—in search of the ultimate cinnamon roll. Year after year, we’ve asked the same deliciously daunting question: Who has the World’s Best Cinnamon Roll?
Our quest has taken us to the most charming neighborhood bakeries, hidden culinary gems, and bustling kitchens. Past winners have wowed us with their creativity, craftsmanship, and flavor, forever etching their names into cinnamon roll history:
- 2018 – Scratch in Kansas City, Missouri
- 2019 – Maialino in New York City
- 2020 – Master’s Hand in Tekamah, Nebraska
- 2021 – Mrs. Powell’s Bakery in Idaho Falls, Idaho
- 2022 – Kanela Breakfast Club in Chicago, Illinois
- 2023 – The Corner Cafe in Kansas City, Missouri
And now, in 2024, the crown goes to Isles Bun & Coffee in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Out of thousands of submissions and recommendations, a name kept surfacing—whispered by cinnamon roll aficionados, typed in glowing online reviews, and celebrated by locals. So, naturally, we packed our bags and headed to Minneapolis, spending days tasting, talking, and marveling at a bakery that’s become more than just a local staple. Ladies and gentlemen, Isles Bun & Coffee is officially home to the 2024 World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls.
A Sweet Tradition Along Lake of the Isles
The magic of Isles Bun & Coffee is impossible to ignore. It starts with its location—a cozy, unassuming bakery tucked near Lake of the Isles, where locals walk, jog, or skate year-round, often stopping in for a warm cinnamon roll and a hot cup of coffee.
Step through the black-and-yellow-striped awning and into a world that smells like heaven itself: warm dough, cinnamon sugar, and butter all mingling in the air. The energy inside is alive, inviting. Customers chat warmly with Jeff and Catherine, the bakery’s dedicated owners since 2000. Families gather at tables, splitting rolls larger than their plates, while kids sit mesmerized at the counter, watching the bakers at work.
As Catherine explained during our visit, “We’re not just here to make cinnamon rolls. We’re here to make memories. It’s about being part of people’s lives, their holidays, their everyday routines.”
“We’re not just here to make cinnamon rolls. We’re here to make memories. It’s about being part of people’s lives, their holidays, their everyday routines.”
For more than 25 years, Isles Bun & Coffee has been just that: a hub for the neighborhood, a place where locals gather to start their day or share a moment of sweetness.
What Makes Isles’ Cinnamon Rolls the Best in the World?
Isles’ cinnamon rolls aren’t just baked goods—they’re works of art. To earn the title of the World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls, a bakery needs to deliver something extraordinary. Isles does just that.
- The Dough: Soft, pillowy, and slightly yeasty, Isles’ dough strikes the perfect balance between texture and flavor. Each bite practically melts in your mouth.
- The Filling: A swirl of cinnamon and brown sugar creates an irresistible flavor—sweet, warm, and perfectly spiced. It’s rich but never overpowering.
- The Frosting: Here’s where Isles really shines. Their cream cheese frosting is thick, tangy, and generously slathered on top of each roll. For those who can’t get enough (and trust us, you’ll want more), extra frosting is served in a to-go coffee cup.
The result? A cinnamon roll that’s nothing short of transcendent.
Meet Puppy Dog Tails: The Unsung Hero of Isles Bun & Coffee
No visit to Isles Bun & Coffee is complete without trying their signature Puppy Dog Tails. These twisted treats, made from the ends of the cinnamon roll dough, are cinnamon-sugar-laden bites of perfection.
At just $2 each, Puppy Dog Tails are the bakery’s most popular grab-and-go option. Regulars rave about them. One customer told us, “They’re my kids’ favorite treat—weekends aren’t complete without them.” Another laughed as she packed up a dozen, saying, “They’re the perfect excuse to eat dessert for breakfast.”
Small enough to eat on the go but every bit as indulgent as a full-sized roll, Puppy Dog Tails are proof that even the leftovers at Isles Bun & Coffee are extraordinary.
A Legacy of Excellence
Since taking over Isles Bun & Coffee in 2000, Jeff and Catherine have ensured that every roll, every Puppy Dog Tail, and every cup of coffee served carries the same love and attention to detail that made the bakery a Minneapolis icon.
When the pandemic hit, they pivoted to offer take-and-bake cinnamon rolls, giving customers the chance to enjoy freshly baked rolls at home. It was an instant hit. Catherine recalled, “We heard so many stories of families baking them on Christmas morning, or during snowstorms, and making it part of their traditions. That means everything to us.”
The bakery’s mission remains simple but profound: to create food that brings people together. It’s this combination of incredible flavor and deep community connection that makes Isles Bun & Coffee a true legend.
A Global Search Ends in Minneapolis
This year, our team tasted hundreds of cinnamon rolls from across the globe. From flaky, croissant-inspired rolls in New York to sourdough-infused creations in Los Angeles, we sought out the very best. But when it came down to it, Isles Bun & Coffee stood above the rest—not just for their unparalleled rolls, but for the experience they offer.
On a crisp fall morning, we watched as customers filled the small bakery, greeted warmly by Jeff and Catherine. A couple shared a roll at a corner table, their laughter mingling with the sounds of coffee brewing. A child, wide-eyed, leaned on the counter to watch the bakers drizzle frosting over freshly baked rolls. It wasn’t just a bakery—it was a neighborhood heartbeat.
Why Isles Deserves the Crown
Winning the title of the World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls isn’t just about flavor—it’s about soul. It’s about creating food that resonates, that becomes part of people’s lives. Isles Bun & Coffee doesn’t just make cinnamon rolls; they make memories.
This year, we’re proud to add Isles Bun & Coffee to the prestigious list of past winners. From Scratch in Kansas City to The Corner Cafe, each crowned bakery has represented something special. Isles carries this tradition forward, reminding us that the best food often comes from the simplest, most heartfelt places.
Take a Bite of History
If you’re ever in Minneapolis, make Isles Bun & Coffee your first stop. Take a walk along Lake of the Isles, breathe in the crisp morning air, and then step into this little bakery. Order a cinnamon roll—or a few Puppy Dog Tails—and savor the kind of food that can make any day brighter.
Congratulations, Isles Bun & Coffee, on being crowned the 2024 World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls. You’ve set the standard for excellence, and we’re all better—and sweeter—for it.
How to Visit Isles Bun & Coffee
- Location: 1424 W 28th St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Hours: Monday–Saturday, 6:30 AM to 3:00 PM; Sunday, 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Must-Try Items: Cinnamon rolls, Puppy Dog Tails, and a hot cup of coffee.
A Final Toast to Isles Bun & Coffee
To Jeff, Catherine, and the team at Isles Bun & Coffee: Thank you for reminding us that the best things in life are often the simplest. A roll. A swirl of frosting. A memory made.
Here’s to many more years of cinnamon roll perfection.