Just Buns!

I have to state before even getting into the taste of these delicious confectioneries, that I absolutely love the name of this company. I mean, who amongst us would actually have the moxi to name their company ‘Just Buns’?! It’s such a catchy name that succinctly defines the company and the product, the name is a real winner, so how about those buns?

I generally support almost any food company that chooses to specialize and excel rather than be a jack of all trades and produce a wide-range of mediocre crap. Just Buns is certainly the former, specializing in sweet, sticky buns that are just the perfect breakfast, snack or dessert.

Just Buns has gone as far as to blatantly pigeon-hole their company with their name, clearly stating right on their label that they are not fooling around, they are Just Buns and nothing else. Don’t look for a donut or a cookie from this bakery, Just Buns is just buns, and these are buns are really good!!

So, if a company just makes buns, what exactly defines a ‘bun’? Good question I thought, as I had an inkling of what a bun was, but no real definition. After a bit of searching I came to discover that a bun can actually be many things, but is always a small, typically sweet dome-shaped bread with a flat bottom. Buns are usually produced using flour, sugar, milk, yeast and butter and are sometimes served topped with an icing or filled with chocolate, cinnamon, fruits and jams. In reality, almost anything can be wrapped up in side sweet bread and formed into a bun and Just Buns has taken their cue from this indecision.

If you’re going to only make buns, you’d better at least have a wide bun selection! Just Buns has just that, making over thirty different types of buns! Flavors include sweet and savory varieties with more than a few standouts! For the sake of getting your mouth watering, here are your bun options in alphabetical order:

Almond
Almond & Chocolate
Apple
Apricot
Black & White
Blueberry
Butterscotch
Cherry
Chocolate
Chocolate Coconut
Chocolate Marshmallow
Cinnamon & Brown Sugar
Coconut
Cranberry
Cranberry Walnut
Honey Nut
Lemon
Nutella
Original
Peanut Butter & Chocolate
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Pesto
Raspberry
Raspberry & Almond
Raspberry & Chocolate
Roasted Garlic
Roasted Onion
Toffee
White Chocolate
White Chocolate & Raspberry

While some varieties are only available at Just Buns’ in-store location (located in Congers, New York), most of the flavors are accessible to any internet surfer. Like any good specialty food producer of the modern age, Just Buns buns are able for online purchase (http://www.swirlybuns.com/order-baked-goods-online.shtml).

My fave? Chocolate!!! I was bowled over with surprise at my first bite. It’s not that I had low expectations, but I just didn’t know what to expect. What I got was pure breakfast bliss! After 18 seconds in the microwave (they recommend 10-25 seconds) my chocolate bun was the absolutely perfect accompaniment to my morning coffee. It’s a lightly sweet bun, delicately folded with rich milk chocolate. The entire experience was closer to a Parisian pan chocolate than it was anything I’ve found in the USA, and for that, I applaud!

These buns are worth your time and certainly worth a try. I would highly recommend the Chocolate Lovers package available online ($22) that includes the following: Chocolate (3), Black & White (3), Chocolate Raspberry (3) and Peanut Butter & Chocolate (3).

-bryan

At this point, I’ve only tried the chocolate (amazing), cinnamon (great), almond (really good) and blueberry (eh), but I’m dying to try more and hear more.. So let me know your thoughts as well!