Cinnamon Rolls are AMAZING. The best cinnamon roll place is called “Cinnamon Roll Fair” on South Kihei Road in Maui….not Vancouver, sadly. Which is kind of a plus because I would eat there. Every.Single.Day.  Our condo happens to be conveniently located RIGHT NEXT DOOR (coincidence? I think not) to the heavenly gates that lead into Cinnamon Roll Fair, the brief walk into the bakery is guided by the sweet smell of warm, fresh, massive, ooey gooey cinnamon buns and fresh toppings. Forget about the smell of the ocean and Maui breeze, this place is where it’s at. 

Every trip to Maui, our first morning is always spent the same. We get up early, walk across the street to the beach and get some sand in our sandals, then we quickly run next door to Cinnamon Roll Fair to get breakfast before the morning crowd rolls in. These things are massive, this is not an understatement, they are literally the size of a dinner plate. Or at least they feel like they are. We get them topped with fresh pineapple or macadamia nuts (classic Maui!) and we head back to the condo – a warm box of cinnamon buns in hand, the smell oozing out the lid. We open the box and pop a bottle of sparkly and juice – and there you have it – a Shoults tradition – Cinnamon Roll Fair and Mimosa’s on the lanai. A trip to Maui wouldn’t be complete without it. I look forward to them every trip – and we still talk about these cinnamon buns when we’re home. Heck, we even brought them up the other day? “you know what would be good right now? A bun from Cinnamon Roll Fair” (Dad, I know you’re reading this and thinking about them now too). Since this place opens at like 4:00 a.m., my dad and I have been known to sometimes indulge in these before we go scuba diving….because we can burn it off while we dive, right? That’s how it works, okay! 

The point of the story is: I cannot find a cinnamon bun that tastes like that anywhere else. Maybe part of it is the fact that I’m in a tropical paradise – but none the less, every other cinnamon bun seems disappointing. And I can’t make cinnamon rolls to save my life (also not an understatement). Honestly though, I can’t see to figure them out? they’re always dry or thin, I don’t know….maybe my expectations are too high. I mean once you’ve had the best, what’s the point of making anything less, am I right? But I still have cinnamon roll cravings! AHH what do I do! Darn you Cinnamon Roll Fair, whyyy are you so far away!?

*woosh* in fly’s this baby! Helloooo cinnamon roll pull apart! Also known as “land of nod” from Best of Bridge. These overnight life savers are FANTASTIC. They’re easy, quick, smell AMAZING, they’re ooey-gooey and different enough from an actual cinnamon roll that I’m not left disappointed. And did I mention MAKE-AHEAD. Oh yea, prep these the night before by putting everything in your bundt pan, cover them with a towel, leave for overnight, throw this baby in the oven in the morning, turn the coffee or tea on, head back to bed, and wake up to your house smelling like cinnamon and everything that hopes and dreams are made of. 

To make these extra indulgent, cover them with cream cheese icing or nuts! If there’s leftovers (hah, yeah right) then heat yourself up a slice or a pull in the microwave to re-live the experience. You will not regret these. Oh, and the other best part – it’s made with frozen dough (yay for cheats!) so you know the dough is going to turn out, and it really can’t be any easier. These are PERFECT FOR SHARING. If you’re into that sort of thing. 

Alright, well I’ve blabbed on enough about cinnamon rolls and such, so I’ll stop talking…and hopefully you’ll get to making these! Breakfast, brunch, dinner (yes you read that right) or dessert – there is no wrong time to eat this! 

Cinnamon Bun Pull Apart

• 20 unbaked frozen dinner rolls (I find these in the frozen section with the pie crust and pastry)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup instant butterscotch or caramel pudding mix (or vanilla, to keep it classic if you like)
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3/4 cup raisins (optional)
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• Sprinkle of walnuts (optional)

Lightly grease a 10 inch Bundt cake pan. Place frozen rolls into pan and sprinkle with brown sugar, pudding mix, ground cinnamon and raisins. Pour melted butter over rolls. Cover with a clean, damp cloth and leave overnight at room temperature.

In the morning, preheat oven to 350 fht. Bake rolls for 25 minutes, until golden brown, while you make your tea or coffee, and go back to bed and relax. When buns are ready, flip rolls out onto a plate and serve warm. heat leftovers in the microwave to experience the same amazement.  See, easy peasy!  

Saluti!