Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Taster's choice

Cinnamon rolls, warm from the oven

By KATHY SAUNDERS
Published December 19, 2004

Even our panelists who boasted of healthy eating habits allowed that they couldn't resist a gooey cinnamon roll on Christmas morning.

Taster's Choice tried five brands, some frozen and some refrigerated. They were all baked in the oven, according to package directions. All five brands were topped with accompanying icings thatspilled over the sides of the rolls while they were still piping hot.

The buns that got the best response went straight from the freezer to the oven. Sara Lee cinnamon rolls ($4.29) received 67 out of a possible 80 points.

Judges liked the flaky pastry and the large size of the rolls and the buttery flavor.

"It looks like it's from a distant place, like a brioche," said one panelist. Another suggested it resembled a croissant.

The Sara Lee rolls browned more evenly than the others, possibly because the swirl of cinnamon was tucked inside the buns rather than spread over the top. All four judges said they would buy the Sara Lee brand.

In second place, with 57 points, was another freezer-to-oven brand, Rhodes ($3.69). The Rhodes rolls were good looking but a bit drier tasting than the others.

"These have a nice, irregular shape, almost like pizza dough," said one judge of the Rhodes variety. Three of the four judges would buy Rhodes' rolls.

The third favorite was Albertsons refrigerator rolls ($1.99). They were the kind most of the panelists remembered from their childhood because they were most like biscuits.

"This could work as a dinner roll without the frosting," said one panelist. Only one of the four judges would buy this store brand.

Also sampled were cinnamon rolls from Publix ($1.59) and Pillsbury ($1.59).

Panelists were: Personal chefs Julie Overton and Marc Easterman; Bob Devin Jones, actor, director and playwright; and Jim Yockey, aesthetician at the Tierra Verde Salon and Day Spa. All foods were tasted blind.

[Last modified December 16, 2004, 12:58:07]