Ask a room full of Hoosiers where to find the best cinnamon roll, and you had better clear your schedule, because everybody has a favorite and nobody backs down. This list rounds up eight Indiana bakeries that keep earning that kind of loyalty, from Amish kitchens in Middlebury that open before sunrise to a Brown County cafe that built its whole name around gooey rolls.
You will find caramel icing, cream cheese frosting, maple bacon toppings, strawberry swirls, and even gluten-free options along the way. Save it for your next road trip, or send it to the friend who still thinks their grandma’s recipe cannot be beaten.
1. Rise’n Roll Bakery & Deli – Middlebury, Middlebury, IN
Saturday morning is when the line at this Middlebury bakery gets serious, and the reason is sitting right in the pastry case. Rise’n Roll has become a name that Amish country visitors plan their weekends around.
The classic cinnamon rolls come topped with cream cheese frosting, and it is thick. If you like a roll that leans sweet, this is your spot.
If you prefer a lighter touch, grab a coffee to balance things out.
What makes this stop different is the sheer range of cinnamon options. Beyond the standard roll, there are mocha cinnamon rolls and pecan sticky buns for anyone who wants to branch out.
Then there is the signature donut, dusted in cinnamon and powdered sugar and famously nicknamed the Amish Crack Donut. The cinnamon caramel donuts and apple fritters also have a loyal following, and the menu reaches into savory territory with biscuits and gravy for breakfast.
I like that you can leave with more than pastries, too. Jars of jam and salsa sit alongside pies and cookies, which makes it easy to pick up a few gifts on the way out.
Hours run Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the bakery is closed Sunday. Mondays tend to be the quietest, and there is free parking in the lot and on the street.
2. Rene’s Bakery Inc, Indianapolis, IN
Not every great cinnamon roll needs to be a sugar bomb. Rene’s Bakery on Cornell Avenue makes a strong case for balance, with rolls that bring plenty of cinnamon flavor on a flaky dough without piling on the sweetness.
Plenty of Indianapolis bakery hoppers put this roll at the very top of their city ranking. There is a version with cream cheese frosting, and an orange cinnamon roll shows up on the rotating menu as well.
That rotating menu is part of the fun. Depending on the day, the cases might hold chocolate almond croissants, vanilla croissants, a jalapeno croissant, raspberry or strawberry danishes, blueberry muffins, eclairs, lemon meringue, challah, and focaccia.
The shop is small and set up for grab-and-go, so there is no dine-in seating. Plan to take your haul home or eat it in the car, which is honestly half the tradition anyway.
Prices are notably fair for the quality and variety, which is another reason people keep coming back. It is easy to walk in for one roll and leave with a full box.
Timing matters here. Rene’s is closed Monday and Tuesday, open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, with free parking nearby.
3. OoeyGooey Cinnamon Rolls and Café, Nashville, IN
When a cafe puts the words Ooey Gooey right on the sign, it is making a promise. On Main Street in Nashville, the heart of Brown County, this little shop keeps that promise one oversized roll at a time.
These rolls are big. We are talking two-handed, share-if-you-must big, with generous cinnamon seasoning and a soft, tender center.
The Ooey Gooey Cinnamon Roll with Cream Cheese is the headliner. The Maple Bacon Cinnamon Roll is the one people chase, and a rotating variety roll keeps repeat visitors guessing.
A word of advice from the weekend crowd: go early. Saturday and Sunday mornings are the busiest, and rolls can be hard to snag once the tourists roll in, so a Wednesday or Thursday visit is the calmer bet.
OoeyGooey is also a full breakfast and lunch stop. The menu includes biscuits with eggs and gravy, a breakfast casserole, cheesy eggs, avocado toast, and a chicken salad croissant, plus good coffee and tea.
The space is casual and family-friendly, with high chairs, free Wi-Fi, and a terrace where dogs are welcome outside. Reservations are not accepted.
Hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it is closed Monday and Tuesday. Pair it with a stroll through the Nashville shops and you have a pretty sweet Brown County day.
4. Two Sticks Bakery, Bloomington, IN
Strawberry and cinnamon might not sound like obvious partners, but the strawberry cinnamon roll at Two Sticks Bakery has converted plenty of skeptics. It is the kind of twist that makes a Bloomington morning feel a little more interesting.
The classic cinnamon roll holds its own too. Around town, it is often mentioned in the same breath as the bakery’s chocolate chip cookies and scones, which says a lot about how evenly strong the whole case is.
This is a small shop on South Washington Street focused on fresh breakfast pastries and cakes. Pecan bars, hand pies, and focaccia round out the lineup, so there is a savory option for anyone who is not in a sugar mood.
Coffee lovers get their due here. The espresso drinks are made with real care and pair well with a warm roll.
I would save this one for a weekday if you can. Two Sticks is open Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., but Saturday hours end at noon, and the bakery is closed Sunday and Monday.
Online ordering makes things easier for planners, and in-store pickup is available. The bakery also makes wedding cakes, so it is a name to remember for bigger celebrations as well.
5. Sweet Revolution Bake Shop, Lafayette, IN
Saturday mornings in downtown Lafayette come with a specific tip: get to 5th Street for the giant cinnamon rolls. Sweet Revolution Bake Shop has turned that weekend treat into a small local ritual.
The rolls are large and generous, and fans across Greater Lafayette rank this bakery near the top in the region. It is a bold reputation, but the steady weekend traffic backs it up.
What really sets this shop apart is how many people it can serve. The bakery offers gluten-free, vegan, and keto items, so friends with dietary needs do not have to sit out the pastry run.
The savory side deserves attention, too. Quiche with a well-made crust, pot pies like the pork taco pot pie, and a sausage, potato, and cheddar quiche make this an easy lunch stop.
Sweet-tooth extras include French macarons, cheesecakes, scones, muffins, almond croissants, mini pies, and sugar cream treats. Coffee and tea are on hand as well.
Sweet Revolution keeps longer hours than many bakeries. It is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There is dine-in seating with free Wi-Fi, plus curbside and in-store pickup. Parking is free on the street, and weekdays are generally the quieter time to visit.
6. The Taste Of Tradition Bakery, New Haven, IN
Caramel icing is the move at The Taste Of Tradition Bakery. Frosting fans get plenty of attention elsewhere on this list, but this family-run shop east of Fort Wayne wins hearts with a warm caramel finish.
The classic cinnamon rolls are the other favorite, and the name of the bakery fits them well. They are straightforward, old-school rolls done right.
Choosing just one thing can be tough. The shelves hold pies, breads, loaves, and big cookies, including old-fashioned sugar cookies that tend to end up in the same box as the rolls.
Pie deserves its own mention. The bakery has a strong reputation for its pies, and sugar cream pie, the official Indiana state pie, is on the menu.
The shop is clean and the staff are friendly, but this is a carryout stop with no dine-in seating. Coffee is available if you need something for the drive.
Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the bakery closed Sunday and Monday. A free parking lot makes it easy to pull in off Irving Road.
For anyone in the Fort Wayne area planning a holiday table or a weekend breakfast, this is a practical stop that covers rolls, bread, and dessert in one trip.
7. Boyden’s Southside Bakery, Indianapolis, IN
Early risers, this one is for you. Boyden’s Southside Bakery on South Meridian Street opens its doors at 5 a.m., which means your cinnamon roll can be secured before most of the city has hit snooze.
The shop is proudly no-frills. There are no fancy tables and no restroom, just a family-owned bakery focused on what comes out of the oven.
The gourmet cinnamon rolls are a big part of the draw, and they share the spotlight with a few cinnamon cousins. Look for cinnamon twist doughnuts and cinnamon dinner rolls, along with butter fluff rolls that have their own fan club.
Classic bakery lovers will find a lot to like beyond cinnamon. Chocolate eclairs, cream puffs, coconut cake, pecan crispies, coffee cakes, and seasonally themed cookies fill out the cases.
Prices are budget-friendly, typically landing in the $1 to $10 per person range. That makes it easy to grab a dozen for the office without much guilt.
Boyden’s is open Tuesday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. Afternoons and early evenings get busy on weekdays, so a morning stop is the smoother choice.
Everything is carryout only, and there is a free parking lot on site.
8. Country Lane Bakery, Middlebury, IN
Out on County Road 43, surrounded by northern Indiana farmland, sits a bakery that feels far from everything except good baking. Country Lane Bakery is Amish-run, and nearly everything is made from scratch.
The cinnamon rolls are the reason it lands on this list, but they have serious company. Cinnamon cream sticks are a standout, and long johns are a longtime favorite for regulars.
The rest of the lineup reads like a farm kitchen wish list. Whoopie pies in chocolate or pumpkin, caramel apple cake, jalapeno cheese bread, pumpkin bread, zucchini bread, fresh pies, and a pecan pie with a devoted following all make appearances.
Dinner rolls here are a holiday staple for many families. If you are hosting, it is smart to plan ahead.
One fun extra: the bakery has carried Crystal Springs Creamery flavored milk, which makes a natural sidekick to a cinnamon roll.
Hours are early. Country Lane opens at 5 a.m.
Tuesday through Saturday, closing at 2 p.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. on Saturday, and it is closed Sunday and Monday.
Prices are reasonable, and everything is carryout. Since it shares a town with Rise’n Roll, I would pair the two for a Middlebury cinnamon roll showdown and let your own taste buds settle the debate.
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