Knaus Berry Farm, the Homestead farmstand that is well-known for its freshly baked cinnamon rolls, is now open for the season.
Knaus has a passionate following, with individuals prepared to attend in line for hours to get their arms on a dozen cinnamon rolls. Traces generally kind effectively earlier than the bakery opens at 8 a.m., full of individuals who’ve traveled for miles for an opportunity to be the primary on their block to snag these recent, candy rolls.
Thomas Blocher, head of operations at Knaus, says that this yr Knaus is staying with its tried and true array of rolls, pies, and bread. “There’s nothing even barely new this yr. We’re sticking with the menu we have had these previous couple of years.”
Blocher says prices have risen — particularly for eggs — however his group is making an attempt to maintain the costs cheap. “I hope that it is a luxurious that folks can nonetheless afford,” he says. This season, a dozen cinnamon rolls price $15.25 (up 75 cents from final season) and there is a 12-dozen-per-person cap on purchases.
Whilst you’re on the bakery, Blocher suggests making an attempt another of the rolls and bread, baked recent every day. “The egg rolls are well-liked and the cheese rolls have been rising in recognition,” he notes, including that there was a time when the breads outsold the cinnamon rolls. “That was about 30 years in the past,” he admits.
As all the time, Knaus accepts money solely and is closed on Sundays in addition to on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Yr’s Day.
When requested about any suggestions and tips for avoiding the lengthy traces, Blocher says there actually are no. “Not this time of yr. It is all just about the identical,” he says including that traces are all the time longer on Friday and Saturday (so examine you probably have any PTO and make a day of it). “It is all the time loopy once we open up, and it stays that means till after Thanksgiving. When you get previous the primary of the brand new yr, it is manageable.”
That mentioned, he stories that the bakery just about sells all the things it makes, each day. What number of cinnamon rolls does that embody? “Quite a bit,” he says.
Blocher says he is nonetheless stunned every year on the traces that kind for the cinnamon rolls. Possibly as a result of the rolls have grow to be a practice that will get handed down? “We hear tales about generations of individuals coming to Knaus,” he agrees. “It is good to listen to that we have left a optimistic reminiscence of their lives.”
Knaus Berry Farm was based in 1956 as a roadside stand the place Ray and Russell Knaus offered berries. The brothers expanded their stock to incorporate pies, breads, and different baked items after a fruit dealer instructed Ray’s spouse, Barbara, that her cookies have been ok to promote. The farm is now run by Ray and Barbara’s youngsters and their households.
In case you plan to go to Knaus, be ready to attend in line. Convey water and an umbrella to protect you from the solar. And remember to deliver money.
Knaus Berry Farm. 15980 SW 248th St., Homestead; 305-247-0668; knausberryfarm.com. Monday by Saturday 8 a.m. to five:30 p.m. Closed Sunday. Shake stand closes quarter-hour sooner than the farm. Money solely.
