Growing up, I equated cinnamon rolls with airports.
The Askegaard clan went on one big trip every fews years, and said trip usually began at Dulles International Airport. I recall being greeted by the sweet, sweet aromas of Cinnabon in the departures terminal. The concoction of unbridled excitement and travel anxiety wafting through the air somehow made it smell that much better. My dad would exclaim, “Oh God that smells good!” and I’d run to the glass case to ogle over of the source of such a divine aroma.
Every trip, we would ooooh and aaaaah over the big beautiful cinnamon rolls. On the (very) rare occasion, we even got one.
Ever since, I’ve seen cinnamon rolls as a luxurious treat reserved for special occasion. Until recently that is…
It’s occurred to me that I’m an adult with free will, and that I can have cinnamon rolls whenever I please. This revelation has spiraled me into a cinnamon roll kick, and I’ve been on the hunt for top-tier cinnamon-laden, icing-coated mounds of bliss. The catch? I’m on a a cruise ship in Alaska. Surprisingly enough, there have been an abundance of cinnamon rolls to be had, and I’m ready to share my findings.
Let’s dive into where to get cinnamon rolls in Alaska on your cruise!
Vancouver: Grounds for Coffee
If you’re going on an Alaska cruise, chances are you’ll start or end (or both!) in Vancouver. Vancouver has an overwhelming amount of cafes and bakeries with cinnamon rolls a plenty. But there’s one spot that boldly claims to be “Home to the World’s Best Cinnamon Roll”: Grounds for Coffee.
This cozy cafe was founded in 1993 by Dan Hilton. He caught wind of the growing Vancouver coffee scene, and wanted to get in on the action. To stand out from the rest, he focused on something he was stellar at whipping up– cinnamon buns. Today, there are two Grounds for Coffee locales in Vancouver, and they also sell their buns wholesale across Alberta and British Columbia.
Jeremy and I made our way over to the Commercial Drive location, which is a 20 minute metro ride away on the Expo line from the cruise port. And this cinnamon roll is what dreams are made of. The roll itself had an exquisite balance of fluffy to gooey with a slightly sweet, yeasty flavor. Each layer was healthily coated in a gooey cinnamon mixture that oozed across the plate. And the cream cheese icing added the perfect tang without overwhelming each bite.
It was soft and gooey without a single bite I’d describe as dry. And the most amazing thing is that this sucker had all these qualities without being warmed up!
Ketchikan: Island Brew Cafe
Island Brew Cafe is charming cafe in Ketchikan that serves up sandwiches, wraps, coffees, and all sorts of baked treats, including cinnamon rolls. These cinnamon rolls in Alaska sell out fast, but we finally struck gold on a recent visit.
This cinnamon roll was served warm, which I’d consider normal. And it was also served with a side of jam and butter, which I’d consider not normal. Perhaps it was a mistake, or perhaps it was because they knew they left the cinnamon rolls in the oven for too long that day and a little topical moisture would be needed. While the flavors were excellent with a solid dash of cinnamon and ample cream cheese icing, the roll itself was dry. Luckily, cinnamon rolls are one of those magical items that just tend to taste good no matter what.
While this cinnamon roll at Island Brew Cafe didn’t quite hit, usually I have luck with their baked items. The jalapeño scone is particularly delicious….
Juneau: To be determined…
Juneau has plenty of tasty eats to be had, but cinnamon rolls are few and far between. If you find one… let me know!
Skagway: Lucy’s Bakery
Lucy’s Bakery is a quaint Skagway establishment that boasts a “Best cinnamon roll of your life!” sign outside. Bold statement! But is it true?
This certainly isn’t the most visually appealing cinnamon roll in Alaska. At a glance, it looks dense and suspiciously dry. However, upon digging in, it turned out to be moist and doughy with a generous cinnamon coating on each layer. The tenderloin was particularly gooey, and the icing nicely melted into the layers upon being warmed up.
This cinnamon roll elicited a lot of comments from curious onlookers…. check it out in the video below!
Whittier: Lazy Otter Cafe
Whittier, Alaska is an itty bitty town with a population under 500 people. It’s a launch point into Prince William Sound, and there are plenty of adventure activities to be had ranging from kayaking to jet skiing to hiking. There are a couple restaurants and cafes, and surprisingly enough, one serves one of the best cinnamon rolls in Alaska: the Lazy Otter Cafe.
This bad boy is soft and pillowy with major brioche vibes. It’s a tad light on the cinnamon while being heavy on the icing. But I wasn’t too mad about it because it magically melted into the bun upon being warmed up. My one qualm is that the icing is mega sweet. Toning it down a bit would help the flavors of the cinnamon roll shine.
Hungry for more Alaska sweet treats? Get some tips on the best desserts to get in each port HERE!
After a few weeks of data gathering, I have come to the verdict that these spots are where you can get the best cinnamon rolls in Alaska on your cruise.
But what is the best of the best?! Of course I have to finish off with a ranking…
4th: Island Brew Cafe. While I love this Ketchikan cafe, the cinnamon roll was simply too dry.
3rd: Lazy Otter Cafe. This sucker has a pillowy texture that tastes like it’s giving you a huge. My one piece of feedback is that the sugar icing is mega sweet. Swap in cream cheese icing, and we’d need to re-evaluate the ranking.
2nd: Lucy’s Bakery. Gooey. Cinnamon-y. Just enough icing. All around a stellar cinnamon roll.
1st: Grounds for Coffee. The undeniable winner. Which is ironic because it’s in Vancouver, but not Alaska. But hey, this is my post! I get to make the rules!
Cheers, and happy eating!
