REVIEW: Red Gate Bakery
Let’s talk cinnamon rolls.
Cinnamon rolls have held a VERY dear spot in my heart for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I’d spend weekends at my aunt’s house and I’d wake up to Wegman’s cinnamon rolls from the bakery section every Saturday morning. My mom would bake the iconic Pillsbury cans the morning after sleepovers with friends. Each summer though, I’d get to indulge in my perfect morning treat from The Bread and Cheese Cupboard.
The Bread and Cheese Cupboard is a tiny little bakery on 96th Street in Stone Harbor, NJ. They almost always sell out of baked goods early, and for good reason. Their cream cheese iced Danish bun occupies my thoughts 364 days out of the year just so I can bask in its ultimate glory on the 365th.
I’ve never quite found a bun anywhere that accomplishes what makes this bun so perfect. Flawlessly thick, tangy cream cheese frosting. A pastry-style bun that’s flaky, and not too dense. Enough cinnamon to make it clearly identifiable, but nothing overwhelmingly sweet. Then came Red Gate Bakery.
I’ve been thinking about Red Gate Bakery for about a year now, but I’ve never been quite able to get my timing right to snag one of their epically iced, rotating cinnamon rolls. Their hours are strange, and buns are only offered on Friday and Saturday weekly.
I first saw Red Gate Bakery mentioned in some since-forgotten food influencer’s reel of the best bakeries in NYC. I’d heard of almost everything on the list before and agreed with most of the recommendations. The influencer mentioned the cinnamon rolls, and I cautiously headed to Red Gate Bakery’s Instagram to review. So often in NYC, the buns are glazed instead of iced. I’ve been let down by many a trek for the “best cinnamon roll in NYC”, so my hopes were not high.
Then, I saw it. Absolutely mammoth mountains of frosting just like I’ve been dreaming of for the perfect icing-to-bun ratio. Let’s be honest, the roll is just not worth it without decadent cream cheese icing for every bite.
When I try something new, I always go for the standard offerings to form my opinion before I branch out. When baking a recipe for the first time, I follow the recipe exactly before I get creative and adapt to my tastes. When trying a new food, I order it as the chef wants it prepared before I start requesting any modifications. I want to know what the creator thinks it should be so I can accurately assess if it’s up my alley, or aimed for a different audience.
Red Gate Bakery is constantly changing its bun offerings. As I mentioned above, these buns are only offered on Friday and Saturday mornings, each week has a different flavor, and the original cinnamon bun only makes an appearance every few weeks. Since following them a year ago, they’ve rotated through tons of flavor-inspired buns such as Mango Lassi buns, Black and White Tahini buns, Tiramisu buns, and more. While they all sound delicious, I knew I had to start with the tried and true, original cinnamon bun to put this bakery to the test.
Finally, I timed it perfectly, and I made my way over to Red Gate Bakery. I arrived a few minutes after opening and stood in a short line as it rotated between drizzling and misting. I didn’t have an umbrella, but I didn’t mind the rain. Partially because cinnamon bun nirvana was steps away, and partially because they open at a cool 11 AM. We love bakers who value their sleep cycle.
The bakery is small with barely any space to wait before ordering, but the bakers are hard at work actively baking behind the counter to keep up with the demand. I’m a sucker for an open kitchen and found this incredibly charming. When I reached the counter, I ordered an original cinnamon bun (of course), a kitchen sinker cookie, and a malty lime bar. It’s taken me this long to get here, so might as well give a few of their staples a try to get a thorough read.
The malty lime bar is a slam-dunk option for a key lime pie lover like me. Essentially a key lime pie bar with a buttery graham cracker crust, the main difference here is the addition of malt to the key lime filling. Though I didn’t really pick up on any flavor or texture differences added by this ingredient, it was delicious nonetheless, and if you’re looking for a great key lime option without heading out to Red Hook to Steve’s, you’ve got a great summer staple here.
The kitchen sinker caught my eye immediately. This cookie is filled with chocolate, oats, coconut, and potato chips, and creates a wonderfully sweet and salty bite. There wasn’t a discernible flavor from the chips or chocolate, and it honestly just kind of tasted like an oatmeal cookie to me with some added crunch. You can skip this one when you venture- it’s good, but their other offerings are much more exciting.
Finally, the cinnamon bun. Oh, the cinnamon bun. This bun is a traditional yeast roll topped with what feels like a cinnamon streusel akin to a coffee cake. Finally, and most importantly, it’s doused in cream cheese frosting and a brown sugar cinnamon drizzle. It’s decadent, it’s delicious, and it’s perfect to share. This bun is enormous.
Coming in at a whopping $9.50 per bun, this is definitely not a regular treat, but it was the closest I’ve gotten to a perfect cinnamon bun in the city. I wish the frosting was slightly less tangy, but this bun is truly delightful in every bite.
If you’re going specifically for a cinnamon roll (or any of their bun varieties), be sure to get there at least 10 minutes before they open at 11 AM- the buns sell out quickly. Make sure to follow their Instagram for weekly flavor updates. I’m still on the hunt for my perfect cinnamon bun, but this is pretty darn close. If you give Red Gate Bakery a try, let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Until next week,
Em
Address:
68 E. 1st Street
New York, NY 10003
Hours:
Sun-Mon: CLOSED
Tues-Fri: 11 AM-6 PM
Sat: 11 AM-4 PM
*Buns only available on Friday and Saturday*