Cinnabon just might have the best cinnamon rolls in the world. But there are some things
the company would rather keep on the down-low. From their cinnamon-scented marketing tactics,
to the truth behind the taste, here are the secrets Cinnabon doesn't want you to know.
Have you ever had a hankering for Cinnabon but dreaded trekking to the mall? Well,
it's no coincidence that Cinnabon is located in high-traffic areas near other shops.
Because even if people were just walking by with no intention of eating anything,
they're more likely to stop when they smell that warm, gooey cinnamon.
"Unspool it into my mouth 'til that card is at zero."
Inside malls and airports, Cinnabon bakeries are also arranged in a way that puts the fresh,
hot rolls in plain sight for shoppers. Passersby might miss these sensory details with a standalone
store, which is why most Cinnabons can be found in so-called "oasis locations."
These days you don't have to hit up the mall to get your Cinnabon fix.
Lucky for you, you can make a quick grocery store run and pick up a can of
Pillsbury cinnamon rolls made with Cinnabon's trademarked spice. And, luckily for Cinnabon,
they're still making those sales. According to a study by the University of Washington,
"One of the biggest complaints from Cinnabon's customers is the inaccessibility of the product
[and] store locations. The grocery store provides Cinnabon with a channel
for reaching potential customers who do not partake in the 'mall' experience."
"It tastes exactly like Cinnabon. In fact, same shape, same swirl, same frosting."
May you fully enjoy "partaking" in the gooey cinnamon roll experience — as
Cinnabon generates even more profits by partnering with other iconic brands.
In 2014, Cinnabon's then-president Kat Cole explained to the Wall Street
Journal that scent is a huge factor in the company's success. One test location,
where ovens were installed at the back of the store, even saw "significantly" lower sales. So,
Cinnabon store layouts feature ovens up front. This puts the cinnamon aroma
closer to customers and allows the scent to spread to surrounding areas, as well.
"You can smell the Cinnabon from the second floor."
Cole also revealed that the company recommends that franchise owners
install weaker oven hoods — while still abiding by local
regulations — to prevent the delicious smell from being lost in the air duct.
While Cinnabon typically has no trouble enticing people to stop and buy all the tasty treats,
if business seems slow, employees have a few tricks up their sleeves. Sure,
it's typical practice to bake a new batch of rolls at least every 30 minutes. But if you're
suddenly hit by that sweet, cinnamon-sugar smell, it might not be the rolls alone.
According to Cole, employees may sometimes warm up trays of cinnamon and brown sugar in the oven.
It's a quick and easy way to intensify the smell already emanating from the baking buns.
Surely no one is running to Cinnabon for a green juice and kale salad,
but just how unhealthy are these decadent rolls? When you consider the thick, fluffy dough,
brown sugar filling, and rich cream cheese icing — all held together with even more gooey brown
sugar, cinnamon, and margarine — it's no surprise that every roll is jam-packed with sugar and fat.
"It's all the stuff you're not supposed to eat,
put in once place, and then heated up, and then in."
In fact, one original Cinnabon roll boasts a whopping 880 calories — along with 37 grams
of fat and 58 grams of sugar. For reference, the American Heart Association recommends no more than
25 to 36 grams of sugar daily.
If you're doing the math, one Krispy Kreme original glazed donut will cost you 11 grams
of fat and 10 grams of sugar…which pales in comparison to an original Cinnabon roll.
Although many have attempted to replicate Cinnabon's signature treat,
a few things have left them coming up short. The cream cheese icing is tricky to duplicate,
and there's no substitute for their trademarked Makara cinnamon. But there's
another reason so many recipes are literally coming up flat.
"Welcome to Cinnabon. Would you like a Cinnabon?"
You may have noticed the enormous size of a Cinnabon roll. While most recipes on the internet
call for filling rolls with butter, Cinnabon's secret to the perfect shape is actually margarine.
The dough is made with butter. But before adding the original blend of cinnamon and brown sugar,
employees smear margarine across the dough. According to executives,
the margarine helps the dough maintain its shape
thanks to its higher melting point. And, bonus, it's also freakin' delicious.
The very center of a cinnamon roll is a deeply coveted bite. It is typically
the most flavorful part of the bun, since it's always packed with filling,
the dough is extra-soft, and the icing really soaks into the middle. To capitalize on this,
Cinnabon launched sales of its "Center of the Roll" in 2010.
Although it started as a limited-time promo, it became so popular that it's now a menu staple.
And absolutely no one is mad about it. Former company president Gary Bales once explained,
"Guests often crave the middle portion of our famous rolls, so we created these portable,
melt-in-your-mouth products as delicious,
exciting ways for Cinnabon fans to put some frosting on their day."
At this point, you might be wondering what Cinnabon is doing with the outside of the
cinnamon rolls. Well, Reddit users revealed a bit of sorcery behind this delicacy — allegedly,
it's really just half of a regular Cinnabon roll, chopped up and tossed into a special container.
Um…either way, we're putting that frosting all over our day.
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