I Tried All of Joanna Gaines' New Frozen Bakery Items at Target—Here’s What I’d Buy Again

As someone who hails from a small town, I’d be lying if I didn’t appreciate the farmhouse sensibility of lifestyle maven Joanna Gaines at least a little bit. Her down-home style might not match my personal vibe, but I was listening when Gaines announced plans to debut a line of frozen baked goods at Target. 

In addition to her real estate tips, Gaines has written multiple cookbooks and currently operates a bakery and restaurant in her home base of Waco, and having tried the pastries at those establishments, I had faith that Gaines could deliver a quality baked good that didn’t involve softening butter and dirtying up a whole bunch of dishes.

In addition to the frozen buttermilk biscuits I’ve already raved about, Gaines also brought her Magnolia Table brand’s Classic Cinnamon Rolls, After School Banana Bread, Silo Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Classic Sugar Cookies to Target's freezer aisle. The brand’s minty green packaging advertises that every item in the line is made with familiar ingredients, like butter, brown sugar, and vanilla. 

“This line of frozen baked goods came from a place of wanting to help make it easier to gather together around the table with your people,” Gaines said in a statement announcing the products’ debut. “It's about settling in for those everyday moments that end up mattering most and savoring the taste of home."

After receiving a box packed with each item in the line-up, I had to see if her cookies and cinnamon rolls really do taste homemade without all the work. Here’s what I’d buy again. 

Jo’s Buttermilk Biscuits

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: These are some of the best premade biscuits you can buy. They really do remind me of my own homemade biscuits, thanks to their tangy buttermilk flavor and tender layers. These biscuits run on the small side, making them perfect for splitting and slathering with jam or sausage gravy or serving alongside a hearty pot of soup for an easy weeknight dinner. 

Classic Sugar Cookies

I’m a sucker for a simple sugar cookie, and most of the premade options on the market don’t satisfy the craving like a soft, homemade version. Sold in a pack of 12, these cookies are soft and buttery, and don’t have the same chemical aftertaste that I find in many of the slice-and-bake cookie doughs.

They’re also an excellent size, perfect for snacking or a quick dessert. Just break apart the little pucks of dough and spread them out evenly on a cookie sheet, and then there’s only 15 minutes standing between you and a platter of freshly baked treats. 

Classic Cinnamon Rolls

I’ll admit it—I hate making cinnamon rolls because the work of making dough, letting it rise, rolling it out, and schmearing it with butter and sugar is the definition of tedious. The idea that I could simply pull out these cute little pinwheels from the freezer and have an apartment that smells like a Cinnabon in less than an hour was decidedly appealing.

A little denser and less bready than homemade cinnamon rolls, Jo’s riff is still solid. I also appreciated that the included icing packets were made with cream cheese, which added a little more flavor than the usual sugary stuff. (For my next project, I'll have to compare these to our expert pick for the best store-bought cinnamon rolls.)

These require a bit more forethought than other options in the Magnolia Table line—you have to let them rise on the counter for about 45 minutes before you bake. But if you can remember to pull them out of the freezer, the promise of fresh, fluffy cinnamon rolls is worth your effort.

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