One Of Trader Joe's Best Breakfast Pastries Is A Morning Bun That Rivals A Beloved Classic

Some people might argue that a well-balanced breakfast — in terms of taste, not necessarily nutrition — would include some fruits, some eggs, some meats, and maybe some pastries, too. That leaves a lot of room for variation, such as pairing scrambled eggs with bacon and a toasted English muffin. If you've got a sweet tooth, you're probably looking at things more like melons and berries paired with croissants or cinnamon rolls. Trader Joe's is ripe with enough options to fill all those breakfast needs, and when it comes to pastries, we found that its Morning Buns are a worthy rival to one beloved classic we all know and love.

While examining Trader Joe's five best breakfast pastries, we came across Morning Buns, which are pretty much TJ's take on cinnamon rolls. These pastries are flaky and soft, coated in layers of rich cinnamon and brown sugar that bubbles into a sweet, sticky mess once baked. They're entirely reminiscent of the morning buns and cinnamon rolls you'd find at a continental breakfast, or the ones your parents popped into the toaster on a busy school morning. TJ's Morning Buns will also leave your kitchen smelling like a professional bakery thanks to all those rich, warming spices. Even though we're familiar with the simple step that gives cinnamon buns a pop of maple flavor, traditional morning buns are often complemented by vibrant orange zest, which makes them slightly different than cinnamon buns — and Trader Joe's Morning Buns don't disappoint in the zest department.

Released in early January of 2026 and averaging about $5 for a box of four pastries, Trader Joe's Morning Buns have been a hit with customers. "Excellent spices, the cardamom and orange zest really shine," said one Redditor, rating the product a 9/10. Another fan on Reddit who also praised the orange zest noted, "I wasn't sure what to expect with the orange zest and cardamom, but I really enjoyed those flavors being present. As soon as I opened the box, the aromas of orange zest, cinnamon, and cardamom were noticeable." Trader Joe's does sell other cinnamon rolls, the equally popular Organic Jumbo Cinnamon Rolls, but these come in a can and are made very differently from the Morning Buns.

Part of what makes the Morning Buns shine is that they're made with the same dough as Trader Joe's Almond Croissants and Chocolate Croissants. Like the croissants, Morning Buns need overnight proofing before baking to get that signature airiness, which is why you don't want to skip this crucial step when baking Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants. "I loved the flaky croissant texture," concluded this Redditor, adding that they "will definitely purchase these again, but may try to proof them for longer."