One cinnamon roll here is big enough to share. That’s not your ordinary snack.
That’s a group project with frosting, and it comes with plenty of cinnamon-swirled sweetness.
The bakery behind it has been turning out donuts, cakes, and pastries since 1946. It also hosts cake decorating classes, makes custom wedding cakes, and sells a shirt poking fun at one bad muffin review.
A bakery that laughs at itself earns a spot on my list fast.
This Iowa shop opens early on weekdays, which matters when a roll this big needs a strategy. I’d plan a slow morning around it and bring at least one friend.
Maybe two, depending on how generous I feel.
A cinnamon roll you have to schedule is a reason I’d consider the drive. Wouldn’t you want to see one in person?
The Cinnamon Roll That Needs A Seating Chart
Most pastries fit in one hand. The giant cinnamon roll at ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery is built for sharing.
That size changes how you plan your morning. You don’t grab it on a whim between errands.
You make room for it, both on the schedule and in your stomach.
The roll comes topped with sweet frosting. It adds a creamy finish, while cinnamon brings that warm, cozy sweetness.
Together they make an inviting combination of cinnamon and sugar.
So how do you tackle one? Bring backup.
Grab a friend, a family member, or a coworker who owes you a favor. Ask for extra forks and pick a table.
Here’s a tip that saves your day. Eat it as breakfast, not dessert after a big meal.
A roll this large works best as the main event, maybe with a coffee from the counter.
The bakery even seems to enjoy the challenge it creates. When one customer admitted he was still working up the courage to try one, the team simply replied that they believed in him.
Honestly, that’s the kind of encouragement every big breakfast deserves.
A Neighborhood Bakery With Roots Going Back To 1946
Harry Truman was in the White House when this bakery’s story started. The shop has been serving the north side of Des Moines since 1946, and that’s a long run for any small business.
The name gives a clue about the neighborhood. ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery sits in the Highland Park area, and the old Hiland spelling stays right on the name.
It’s a nice nod to the place’s past.
You’ll find it at 3615 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313. That puts it on a main street north of downtown, an easy drive from most of the city.
Longevity like this says something. Bakeries don’t last nearly eight decades by accident.
They last because people keep coming back for donuts, birthday cakes, and weekend treats, year after year.
Some families have shopped here for a long time. One customer mentioned buying donuts and pastries at this spot for 15 years.
That kind of loyalty turns a bakery into a neighborhood habit.
Today the shop has owners named Cha-Cha and Ed, and their name sits up front. The history stays, though.
You get an old Iowa bakery with a fresh, playful personality, which is a fun combo to find on one city block.
Donuts Do A Lot Of The Heavy Lifting Here
Cinnamon rolls may grab the headline, but donuts carry the daily load. They’re the item people talk about most at this bakery, and the case shows why.
Classic glazed donuts sit alongside more playful options. One cream-filled favorite goes by a name that hints at how habit-forming it might be.
Maple long johns, apple fritters, and cream horns also show up among the pastries.
Then there are the donut holes. During one cake class, the team handed out warm complimentary donut holes, which sounds like a very smart way to win a room.
Here’s my practical tip. On weekdays, the doors open at 5 a.m., so early birds get the first look at the case.
That’s handy before work, school drop-off, or a long drive across Iowa.
Try mixing things up when you order. Grab a familiar glazed donut for comfort, then add one item you’ve never tried.
A dozen gives you room to experiment without much risk.
Bringing a box to the office is also a classic move. Nobody complains about the coworker who shows up with donuts.
In fact, that person usually becomes everyone’s favorite by about 8:15 in the morning.
You Can Learn To Decorate A Cake Right At The Source
Cake decorating looks easy until you hold the piping bag yourself. At this bakery, you can find out how tricky it really is with a pro nearby.
ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery hosts decorating classes, and they’re one of the shop’s more popular extras. Owner Cha-Cha has led sessions herself.
One recent class had a fun theme called the Mystical Cake.
The vibe seems relaxed and social. During one evening class, a guest’s birthday came up, and the owners turned it into a mini celebration for the whole group.
Warm donut holes also made an appearance.
Why sign up? A class gives you something to do besides eat, though eating still happens.
It’s a solid pick for a birthday, a friend night, a date, or a team outing.
Plan ahead, since classes run on set dates rather than every day. Check the bakery’s social pages or call to see what’s coming up.
Themes change, so there may be a new one each time.
Also, don’t stress about skill level. Nobody expects a masterpiece on the first try.
You’ll leave with a cake, a few new tricks, and a much deeper respect for the people who decorate cakes all day long.
Custom Cakes That Go Way Beyond Happy Birthday
A hobbit door made of cake. Moss you can eat.
Those details showed up on a Lord of the Rings groom’s cake made by this bakery’s decorators.
Custom cakes are a huge part of what happens here. The team has made a SpongeBob birthday cake, a sun and moon design, a space-themed cake, and plenty of elegant wedding tiers.
Flavors can get creative too. Past orders have included lemon cake with raspberry jam, chocolate with salted caramel and espresso buttercream, and almond cake with raspberry filling.
Red velvet and lavender cakes are other options on the bakery’s published flavor list.
Wedding couples can do tastings and pick different flavors for each tier. The bakery offers delivery or pickup for the big day.
One family even had 11 pies and a sheet cake delivered for a wedding.
My advice? Bring a clear photo of what you like, then stay open to ideas.
Decorators often have creative solutions you didn’t think of.
Order early, especially for weddings and big parties. Custom work takes planning, and popular weekends fill up.
Give the team time, and they can turn a rough idea into the centerpiece of your celebration.
Savory Bites Keep The Sugar Rush In Check
Not everything here comes coated in frosting. The bakery also makes savory options, which is great news for anyone who wants breakfast that isn’t dessert.
One standout is the glizzy, a savory sausage roll. Think of it as a heartier cousin of the pig in a blanket.
It sounds like the kind of thing you’d grab on a busy morning.
There are also breakfast flips, made from sweet crescent dough stuffed with cheese, eggs, and a variety of meats or vegetables.
The combination sounds especially cozy on a cold Iowa morning.
Here’s a smart way to order. Pair one savory item with something sweet.
That way you get balance, and you won’t crash halfway through the afternoon.
Savory bites also help when your group can’t agree. One person wants a donut, another wants something filling, and the third wants both.
A mixed bag solves that argument fast.
Selection can change from day to day, so ask what’s fresh when you arrive. Going earlier usually gives you more choices.
Showing up late might mean you’re picking from whatever the morning crowd left behind, which still isn’t a bad problem to have.
Grab A Latte And Claim A Couch
Couches in a bakery are a dangerous idea. Once you sit down with coffee and a pastry, getting up becomes a real negotiation.
ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery offers a full coffee menu, and drinks are more than an afterthought. The Caramel Loco Latte is a staff favorite.
It pairs nicely with a slice of strawberry tres leches cake, another favorite on the menu.
The space is bright, clean, and welcoming. Comfy couches give it a hangout feel, so it works for more than quick grab-and-go visits.
That makes it a nice option for a slow morning. Bring a book, a laptop, or a friend who talks a lot.
One out-of-town visitor even dreamed about spending hours there knitting with coffee.
Timing matters if you want to linger. The bakery stays open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Monday through Thursday, it closes at 3 p.m., and Sunday hours run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Those late nights open up fun possibilities. An evening coffee and dessert stop feels different from a morning donut run.
It’s a relaxed way to end a day in Des Moines without needing a fancy plan.
Dutch Letters That Travel Well Beyond Iowa
Few treats feel more Iowa than a Dutch letter. These flaky, S-shaped pastries come from the state’s Dutch heritage, and this bakery makes its own version.
They usually have an almond paste filling tucked inside buttery pastry. The S shape is the classic look, and it’s easy to spot in the case.
Here’s a fun detail. One customer took a batch of ChaCha’s Dutch letters all the way to Minnesota for a business partner.
The crew up there asked for a repeat order almost right away.
That makes them a smart gift idea. Heading to see out-of-state family?
A box of Dutch letters says Iowa better than a postcard ever could.
They also make a nice break from the donut routine. If you’ve already worked your way through the classics, this is a great next step.
A quick tip for travelers. Buy a few extra, since one will probably go missing on the drive home.
Nobody needs to know who ate it. Just say the road was long and leave it at that.
A Sense Of Humor Comes Free With Every Order
Plenty of businesses get grumpy about bad reviews. This one printed a shirt about it.
The T-shirt proudly calls the shop home of the worst carrot cake muffins ever, according to that one lady from Facebook.
Many folks in Des Moines food circles recognize the joke right away. It’s a clever way to turn a sour moment into a laugh.
That playful attitude shows up all over ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery. Owners Ed and Cha-Cha clearly enjoy a good celebration.
Decorators happily take on silly, themed, and wildly creative cake ideas.
The team also helps people out in a pinch. A small business owner from Minnesota once forgot her vanilla drizzle on a trip to Des Moines.
The bakery sold her some of its homemade drizzle and saved her weekend.
Those little stories matter when picking a place to visit. A bakery with personality makes the trip feel more fun than a plain errand.
So when you stop by, grab that giant cinnamon roll, a box of donuts, and maybe a shirt. Few bakeries in Iowa can sell you dessert and a joke at the same counter.
That combo alone deserves a spot on your list.