A warm caramel roll is one of those simple Minnesota pleasures that never really goes out of style. The best ones come with soft dough, a sticky caramel top, and sometimes a scattering of pecans if you are lucky.
Around the state you can find bakeries and cafes that make these treats fresh, often right when the doors open in the morning. If you love a gooey, oversized roll with your coffee, here are five Minnesota spots worth planning a stop around.
1. Tobie’s Restaurant & Bakery, Hinckley, MN
Anyone who has driven the stretch of I-35 between the Twin Cities and Duluth probably knows the name already. Tobie’s has long been a favorite midway stop, and its on-site bakeshop is a big reason why.
The bakery turns out fresh caramel pecan rolls, cinnamon rolls, apple fritters, and even wild blueberry pie. The caramel rolls come warmed with butter, with a soft, fluffy interior and a generous amount of caramel on top.
You can order a Caramel Roll with Pecans straight from the bakeshop, or sit down for a full breakfast that includes options like the Northwoods Walleye Breakfast or cinnamon swirl French toast.
Located at 404 Fire Monument Rd in Hinckley, Tobie’s is open every day from 7 AM to 9 PM. There is a free parking lot, free wi-fi, and both dine-in and takeout, so it works whether you are stretching your legs or grabbing a roll for the road.
2. Isles Bun & Coffee, Minneapolis, MN
Tucked into the Uptown area of Minneapolis, this little bakery has built its whole identity around one thing: enormous, over-the-top rolls. It is small in size but big on reputation.
The menu keeps things focused on scratch bakery goods like Cinnamon Buns, Caramel Pecan Buns, and Carmel Sticky Buns, plus their own cookies and coffee drinks. The caramel buns are known for soft, fluffy centers and gooey caramel icing, and you can often ask for an extra dollop.
Grab a roll fresh from the pan and settle into the lounge area, which includes a fireplace and morning cafe seating. It is an easy place to slow down for a few minutes.
You will find Isles Bun & Coffee at 1424 W 28th St, open Tuesday through Sunday starting at 6:30 AM and closed on Mondays. Weekend mornings and Sunday afternoons get busy, and parking is paid street parking, so give yourself a little time.
3. Nelson Bros. Restaurant & Bakery, Clearwater, MN
Right off the interstate in Clearwater, this restaurant and bakery has earned a name for making everything oversized. The caramel rolls and donuts here are the kind that turn heads.
The bakery produces caramel rolls, cinnamon rolls, bear claws, and apple fritters, along with donuts described as nearly the size of your head. Flavors range from blueberry cake to red velvet cake, so there is plenty to pair with your roll.
Caramel rolls can be served warm, with butter melting on top, which is exactly how many regulars order them. It is also a full-service spot, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner with counter and table service.
Located at 950 MN-24 as part of the Clearwater Travel Plaza, Nelson Bros. opens early at 5 AM daily and stays open until 10 PM. There is usually plenty of free parking, plus a fireplace, kids’ menu, high chairs, and outdoor seating, making it a comfortable stop for families and road trippers alike.
4. Keys Cafe & Bakery, St Paul, MN
A Twin Cities breakfast staple for years, Keys Cafe has become known for hearty, homemade classics and portions that do not hold back. The caramel rolls fit right in with that reputation.
These are gigantic rolls, made from scratch alongside the cafe’s biscuits and gravy, thick bacon, and chicken dumpling soup. You can dine in or grab cinnamon and caramel rolls to go with your coffee.
Beyond the bakery case, the menu leans into breakfast favorites like Key’s Everything Omelet, Two Eggs Two French Toast, and a full vegetarian selection. There is also a house jam that regulars tend to rave about.
The St Paul location at 504 Robert St N is open weekdays from 7 AM and weekends from 8 AM, both until 8 PM. It does not take reservations, and weekend mornings are the busiest, so plan for a possible wait.
Parking is paid lot or street, and the setting is casual and family-friendly.
5. Charlie’s Cafe, Freeport, MN
Small-town central Minnesota does comfort food well, and Charlie’s Cafe in Freeport is a good example. It is the kind of place people build a breakfast morning around.
The cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but the bakery items get the most attention. Caramel rolls, cinnamon rolls, and homemade pies are the stars, with rolls described as being about the size of your head.
A classic breakfast here might include omelets, hash browns, and perfect toast, but locals will tell you to grab a caramel roll on your way out. The rolls are the item people come back for.
You can find Charlie’s at 115 Main St E in Freeport. Hours run 7 AM to 8 PM on weekdays and 6 AM to 8 PM on weekends, and reservations are accepted.
The setting is casual and historic, with free parking, high chairs, and a kids’ menu, making it an easy family stop.
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