Vegans, rejoice. There’s a new bakery on the metro Atlanta dining scene, and it’s 100% vegan friendly.
Cinnaholic opened in the Edgewood Shopping Center in Atlanta last year. They specialize in gourmet cinnamon rolls with a build-your-own twist that lets you embed graham crackers and brownie bites into macadamia nut frosting on a fluffy bun — it’s your call.
If you have allergies or prefer a plant-based diet, you’ll be happy to know they use beet sugar, marshmallows without gelatin, sustainably sourced palm oil and kosher certified, dairy-free ingredients. They also buy organic when possible.
The franchise has a few other stores around the country, and they’ve gained almost a cult following as they’ve grown, thanks in no small part to their appearance on Shark Tank.
I’m not vegan, but I have to admit I was curious what a vegan cinnamon roll would taste like. Walking into the shop, the first thing to greet me, even before the friendly cashier could say hi, was a heady aroma of cinnamon, one of my favorite scents, so a good first impression.
There were a few rolls on display with custom flavor arrangements and dramatic names like Destroyer of World and Man on the Moon. For whatever reason, I lost my head and this girl who always substitutes ingredients and orders items on the side (and in general insults the chef) decided to go with a recommended combo. I practically pointed — “that one in the case, the pretty one, can have?”
And pretty, they are. These are cinna-works of art, my friends. If you’ve got a few followers on Instagram, I can guarantee you plenty of likes. Look at this.
The buns are fresh, probably because they bake a new batch every 20 minutes. The toppings and frostings vary widely, and some I liked better than others. People rave about their homemade cookie dough — the chocolatey Cookie Monster Roll is their best seller. But I was much more enamored of the amaretto frosting and curious about flavors I didn’t even try like the chai and butterscotch.
The rolls are quite filling. You could split with a friend or make a midday snack of one. The service is stellar, and the shop has a few tables in their bright and airy space if you want to eat there. They can also package it specially (frosting separate) to go if you ask. They assemble each one individually so it’s made to order.
If I had it to do over again, I would definitely custom build my own bun — I’m thinking hazelnut frosting and strawberries. If you go during summer, try one of their seasonal flavors, like peach or coconut. This is one dessert you don’t have to feel (as) bad about indulging in.
