It’s buttery. It’s caramelized. It’s rolled in cinnamon sugar and served warm enough to melt in your hands. Yet for all its flaky, golden perfection, the morning bun still lives in the shadow of the more popular croissant or cinnamon roll. But if you’ve ever had one fresh from the oven, you know: this pastry deserves more attention.
Here’s why the morning bun might just be the best thing you’re not ordering—and how to appreciate or recreate it at home.
What Is a Morning Bun?
A morning bun is a laminated pastry made from croissant dough that’s rolled with cinnamon sugar (and sometimes orange zest), coiled into a swirl, and baked in a muffin tin or ring mold. It has the crisp outer layers of a croissant with the sugary warmth of a cinnamon roll. The edges caramelize while the inside stays tender, making every bite a mix of textures.
The French-American Origin
While rooted in French technique, the morning bun gained popularity in the U.S. thanks to bakeries like Tartine Bakery in San Francisco. They transformed leftover croissant dough into this signature morning treat—giving the pastry new life and sparking its cult following. Learn more about Tartine’s morning bun via their official site.
Morning Bun vs. Cinnamon Roll
Though both are rolled pastries with a sweet interior, the difference is in the dough. Cinnamon rolls use yeasted dough, which results in a soft, bread-like texture. Morning buns use laminated dough, giving them a crisp exterior and flaky layers more akin to a croissant.
Where to Try One
If you’re not ready to tackle laminated dough at home, head to an artisan bakery or café known for laminated pastries. Some notable spots include:
- B. Patisserie (San Francisco, CA) – bpatisserie.com
- Proof Bakery (Los Angeles, CA) – proofbakery.com
- Zingerman’s Bakehouse (Ann Arbor, MI) – zingermansbakehouse.com
Making Them at Home
If you’re ready for the challenge, start with a reliable croissant dough recipe and add a cinnamon-orange sugar mix. Roll the dough, slice into rounds, and bake in a buttered muffin pan until the edges are deep golden brown. For guidance, the King Arthur Baking Blog has tutorials on laminated dough and shaping techniques.
Ingredients Worth Sourcing Well
Because the flavor relies on just a few ingredients—flour, butter, sugar, cinnamon—it’s worth choosing high-quality components. You can earn cashback at Whole Foods with a Fluz gift card or buy a Kroger gift card online to stock up on premium butter and organic cinnamon without overpaying.
Conclusion
The morning bun might not have the mainstream fame of a croissant, but it delivers the same technique with even more sweetness and texture. Whether you’re hunting it down at a local bakery or trying your hand at home, it’s a pastry that proves sometimes the underdog is actually the standout.
