Cinnamon Buns

Cinnamon rolls and a good cuppa coffee--what could be better?

* Brentwood Baking Company. Weighing in at 14 ounces each, with the circumference of a dinner plate, these cinnamon rolls might be the biggest in the city. They’re certainly among the tastiest, and they come in six versions: plain or with raisins, nuts, raisins and nuts, blueberries, or cranberry-apple. (Cinnamon rolls, $2.) Brentwood Baking Company, 11640 San Vicente Blvd., West Los Angeles, (310) 826-9400.

* Blueberry. The buns of choice at this small Santa Monica cafe are decidedly the sticky buns. They’re the usual coils of yeasted dough filled with sugar and cinnamon, but are most remarkable for their profound gooey-ness. (Sticky buns, $1 large; 50 cents small.) Blueberry, 510 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 394-7766.

* Il Fornaio. This Italian bakery makes two cinnamon rolls: a classic tall American sticky bun made with brioche dough, and a classic European cinnamon roll, flatter and made with croissant dough. Both contain raisins. (Sticky bun, $1.60; cinnamon roll, $1.95.) Il Fornaio, 301 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 550-8330; 24 W. Union St., Pasadena, (626) 683-9797; 155 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, (310) 451-7800.

* Pie ‘N Burger. Here is where you go to make a whole meal from coffee and a single cinnamon bun--or its sister pastry, the pecan roll. The big, fluffy bun has a white icing, the taller, denser pecan roll a sticky caramel glaze. Both are served warm with an enormous dollop of melting butter. Yow. (Cinnamon and pecan rolls, $2.25.) Pie ‘N Burger, 913 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 795-1123.

* Dolores West Restaurant. Dolores’ kitchen has been making the same big, warm cinnamon roll since 1944. A good, unsweetened yeasted dough is coiled with lots of cinnamon and a bit of sugar--but most of the sweetness comes from the opaque, melt-in-your-mouth white icing. Served warm, with butter. (Cinnamon rolls, $1.50.) Dolores West Restaurant, 11407 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles, (310) 477-1061.

* Stan’s Corner Donut Shop. For a terrific doughnut-style cinnamon roll, raised and glazed, try this Westwood legend. In addition to the basic roll, Stan’s makes a blueberry and cinnamon crunch, a raisin and chocolate chip, and a wonderful cinnamon stick that’s sort of like a churro--a perfect dunker. (Cinnamon rolls, $1.25.) Stan’s Corner Donut Shop, 10948 Weyburn Ave., Westwood, (310) 208-8660.

* Europane. Sumi Chang’s cinnamon buns are buttery, intensely cinnamony, with a thin icing. (Cinnamon rolls, $2.) Europane, 950 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 577-1828.