Sticky Buns, Cold Hands: Nottingham’s Nuttiest Cinnamon Swirls, Ranked for 2026

There are few better cold-weather rituals than buying a cinnamon bun, wrapping your hands around the paper bag, and eating it while the city huffs steam around you. Nottingham does this sort of thing well. The independent bakery scene is small enough to feel knowable but varied enough to justify a proper crawl, especially when the buns involve pecans, hazelnut praline or a cobnut crumble.

This is not a hunt for the biggest bun or the sweetest glaze. It is a search for balance: dough with enough structure to hold a topping, spice that tastes of cinnamon rather than just sugar, and nuts that add something beyond crunch. We bought five buns from independent bakeries across the city and nearby neighbourhoods, ate them warm where possible, and judged them on the things that matter when you are standing on a pavement in November.

How we judged

Each bun was scored on five points: dough, spice, glaze, nut topping and value. Dough had to be soft but not flabby, with some chew and a clean bake. Spice needed to be present without turning the whole thing into a potpourri experience. Glaze could be sticky, crisp or barely there, but it had to earn its place. Nut toppings were checked for freshness and flavour, not just decoration. Value was judged against the price of a decent coffee, because a bun that costs almost as much as lunch needs to be very good indeed.

We did not taste blind this time. Cinnamon buns are too distinctive in shape and style for that to be honest. Instead, we tasted as a pair, compared notes, and revisited the top two on a second cold walk to see whether they held up. That second visit changed one ranking. It always does.

5. The Sherwood Cobnut Crumble Bun — £4.20

A generous bun with a crumble topping that tastes properly of roasted cobnut, this one starts well. The dough is a little tight in the middle, though, and needs more time to prove. The cinnamon is gentle — almost shy — and the glaze is thin, which makes the whole thing feel more like a breakfast bread than an indulgent treat. The crumble is the best part: buttery, nutty and not too sweet.

Best eaten at home, split and toasted under the grill for a minute. On a cold city walk it would be fine, but it lacks the sticky drama you want when your fingers are numb. Value is fair for the size, but the tight crumb keeps it in fifth place.

4. The Hockley Hazelnut Praline Twist — £4.80

This is the most polished bun on the list. The twist looks good in the bag, the glaze shines, and the hazelnut praline is deeply flavoured — almost like a Ferrero Rocher that has been allowed to grow up. The problem is sweetness. The praline is sweet, the glaze is sweet, and the dough is sweet, so the cinnamon gets pushed to the back. Halfway through, you want a glass of milk or a very strong coffee.

That said, the texture is excellent: crisp edges, soft centre, good nut coverage. It is worth a second visit if you have a serious sweet tooth, but not if you want a bun you can eat on the move without feeling like you have been ambushed by sugar. Value is on the high side for the size, but the praline is clearly made with care.

3. The West Bridgford Pecan Sticky Bun — £4.50

The first thing you notice is the caramel. It is dark, slightly salty and properly sticky, the sort that catches on your fingers and makes a paper bag translucent. The pecans are plentiful and toasted, and the dough underneath has a good chew. The cinnamon is present but polite, which works here because the caramel is doing the heavy lifting.

This is a bun for a cold city walk — specifically, a walk that ends with a bench and a coffee. It holds its shape well, and the topping does not fall off in one sad clump. The only issue is that the bottom can get a little soggy if you leave it in the bag too long. Eat it within ten minutes and it is a very good thing. Value is solid: not cheap, but generous enough to share, if you are the sharing type.

2. The City Centre Brown Butter Pecan Knot — £4.60

A knot rather than a swirl, this one has a beautiful laminated texture — crisp layers on the outside, soft and buttery inside. The brown butter gives it a nutty, almost toffee-like depth without relying on sugar, and the cinnamon is warm and clear. The pecans are chopped small and scattered across the top, so every bite gets a little crunch. The glaze is minimal, just enough to catch the light.

This is the bun that justifies a second visit. We went back on a colder day and it was even better: the edges had caramelised slightly more, and the spice felt more pronounced. It is not the stickiest bun on the list, but it is the most grown-up. Best eaten on the spot, ideally while walking towards the Market Square with your collar up. Value is good for the craftsmanship.

1. The Mapperley Cobnut & Cinnamon Morning Bun — £4.40

Here is the one we would cross the city for. The dough is soft but has real structure, the cinnamon is confident without being aggressive, and the cobnut topping is the best nut work on the list: a crumble that is crisp, buttery and deeply savoury-sweet. The glaze is a thin brush of something sticky and faintly salted, which keeps the whole thing from tipping into dessert territory.

It is also the best bun for a cold city walk. It holds together in one hand, does not shed nuts all over your coat, and has enough spice to warm you from the inside. We went back for a second one and it was just as good, which is rarer than it should be. At £4.40 it is not a bargain, but it is worth it. This is the bun we would recommend to anyone who says Nottingham cannot do a proper cinnamon bun.

The verdict

Nottingham’s nutty cinnamon buns are in good shape for 2026. The top two are genuinely excellent, and the rest are worth trying if you are nearby. If you want sticky, go for West Bridgford. If you want praline, go for Hockley — but bring a coffee. If you want the best all-round bun for a cold walk, head to Mapperley. And if you see a cobnut crumble, buy it. That is the rule.