One Of The Best Trader Joe's Breakfast Finds Under $5 Rivals Your Local Bakery

A quarter could buy all sorts of fast food goodies in the '60s, and while the same can't be said nowadays, there are still some incredible bargains to be snapped up. We think one of the very best has also been one of Trader Joe's highlights of the year so far, and costs less than 5 bucks. Of course we're talking about a box of frozen morning buns, and if you're a fan of the store's near-unpronounceable kouign-amann, you'll know what sort of treat lies in store. For the uninitiated, allow us to explain. Morning buns are a kind of cousin to a croissant, insofar as they're also made from flaky pastry, but instead of that iconic crescent shape, morning buns are swirls: Think cinnamon buns without the icing.

There's lots to love about TJ's morning buns, and not just the price. For a start, there is almost zero preparation. Just take them out of the box the night before, pop them in the neat paper cups that come in the box, and leave them out overnight on a sheet pan to rise. By the time you get up the next morning, they're ready to bake. After around 15 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, the tastiest warm breakfast that would give your local bakery a run for its money is yours to devour. Trader Joe's morning buns have a cinnamon sugar, cardamom, and orange zest filling, so you don't even need to worry about toppings — though we think they'd go great with a glass of OJ or a latte.

Oven-warming your TJ's morning buns is dandy, but if someone's hogging it for their crispy breakfast bacon, you can slip them in the air fryer too, though you may need to revise down the cooking time a little for the best results. If you do pick up a box, it's worth paying attention to the recommended proofing time of 7-9 hours. Too little and they won't fully expand, potentially selling you short at breakfast time, but one buyer who left their morning buns proofing for more than 11 hours said their finished results were dry. That said, lots of Trader Joe's customers sang the praises of these morning buns online, particularly the mouthwatering aromas of the spices and citrus, and the delicious, flaky pastry.

Despite their similarity to the French croissant, morning buns are a 100% American creation. Wisconsin-based Ovens of Brittany in Madison, is widely credited with inventing the pastry treat in 1972, and they've been a hit with millions of foodies ever since. If you can lay your hands on some ready-made flaky pastry, a sprinkle of warm spices, and an orange, you can make your own morning buns. But when TJ's has made them so cheap and convenient, why bother? We'd rather sit back and enjoy another one of these delicious store-bought versions.