By Liz Gordon-Hancock
Are all cinnamon rolls created equal?
Here's the guide to the best cinnamon rolls in Bluffton.
If what you love about cinnamon rolls is the moist, yeast dough, then head over to the Twisted Whisk for the moistest, tightly rolled rolls in town. These cinnamon rolls are the trademark of Sam Erter, co-owner of the cafe.
Erter says she prefers to proof and bake her cinnamon rolls, tightly packed into a deep pan (see photo below). This means that when you order a cinnamon roll, you don't get one whole, circular cinnamon roll; instead, you get a 5-inch square of cinnamon swirls, drizzled with vanilla frosting.
If you prefer a round, whole cinnamon roll (entirely to yourself), slathered with a good portion of white, creamy frosting, then head to the Dough Hook meat market, deli and bakery for a handmade roll. These rolls are a family recipe from Sharon Calvelage, mother of the current owner, Marlena Ballinger. (see photo below).
Ballinger says “Mom’s Cinnamon Rolls were the very inspiration for The Dough Hook. Today, they are an everyday staple in our bakery counter as they are made fresh, from scratch each morning. From the cinnamon rolls we’ve built The Dough Hook on the foundation that EVERYTHING in our store in FRESH! From the fresh cut meats to the fresh made baked goods, to the fresh Amish Deli carted in each week! It is an honor to provide delicious, fresh foods to the people in and around Bluffton, Ohio.”
Depending upon the daily temperature, these beauties expand to a hefty six inches plus in diameter. (And you can always ask for extra frosting.)
If what you're looking for a cinnamon rolls is the brown sugar and cinnamon hit, then you need to stroll over to the Farmer's Market on Saturdays and visit Anita's Sweets and Treats.
At Anita Willow's stall, (see picture below) you'll find a variety of cinnamon rolls to savor. Not only are her cinnamon rolls brought still warm from the oven on Saturday mornings, but she offers five different varieties: pecan nut rolls, rhubarb cinnamon rolls in early summer, peach cinnamon rolls in mid-summer, and caramel apple cinnamon rolls in fall (Sept-Oct), in addition to her standard cinnamon rolls.
But there's nothing commonplace about her cinnamon rolls. Her rolls are "goo-ey" - but not in that undercooked way. They're goo-ey delicious, guaranteeing an explosion of cinnamon, brown sugar, dough, and frosting (with a hint of cream cheese) in every bite.
Willow, stall owner, has been selling her baked goodies for twelve years.
But if what you really love about cinnamon rolls is the cream cheese frosting, then you need to visit the Rhodes Family Farm stall at Saturday's Farmer's Market.
Stacy Rhodes, stall owner, offers old fashioned baked goods, including cinnamon rolls smothered in cream cheese frosting. (You can opt to have it without frosting too.) The cinnamon and brown sugar swirls are a dark, rich color, which just adds to the decadent taste.
Rhodes even offers taste tests of her rolls and cookies, free of charge, if you still need convincing. This is their second year of selling at Bluffton's Farmer's Market.
New to the market this year is Seasonal Sun Farm, run by Mark Bankert and Daisy Sutkay, and they offer home-baked Einkorn cinnamon rolls, using Einkorn flour. Einkorn wheat is a heritage or ancient grain. According to Sutkay, the gluten in Einkorn wheat is different from most of today's gluten products and is "easier for people with gluten intolerance to handle because it's easier to digest." Einkorn cinnamon rolls are made with only the highest quality, organic ingredients.
These tasty rolls are a golden color, which comes from the special wheat used. (No photo available)
Seasonal Sun Farm, located on Hillville Road, is a multi-generational farm "dedicated to healing the land with permaculture practices and providing our community with nutrient dense food," according to their Facebook page. They also sell microgreens, which can be purchased from their market stall or the Food Store.
So - for the best cinnamon rolls around - look no further than downtown Bluffton.
Please note, the order of these cinnamon rolls does not in any way denote precedence.
