Joanna Gaines launched a line of frozen baked goods at Target. I tried every item and ranked them from worst to best.

• Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Table brand released a line of frozen baked goods at Target.
• I tried the six items and ranked them from worst to best.
• The frozen version of Jo’s Buttermilk Biscuit was my favorite of the bunch.

It’s hard to say what Joanna Gaines is more famous for at this point: her home designs or her food.

Gaines and her husband became household names through “Fixer Upper,” but over a decade later, they’re full-blown moguls who are constantly expanding their Magnolia empire. For Gaines, that has meant leaning into new food ventures, from the Magnolia Table restaurant in Waco to her ever-growing list of cookbooks.

Now, she’s getting into the frozen food game. On October 5, she launched a new line of frozen baked goods at Target through her Magnolia Table brand.

I decided to try every item so I could rank them. Here’s what I thought.

Joanna Gaines launched a new line of frozen baked goods.

Magnolia Table’s line of bake goods is sold exclusively at Target, just like the Hearth & Hand with Magnolia brand.

All of the baked goods in the collection were inspired by food Joanna Gaines makes at home or that’s served at Silos Baking Co. or Magnolia Table in Waco, Texas, as she told People.

The new line features:

• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Classic Sugar Cookies
• Silo Cookies
• Classic Cinnamon Rolls
• Jo’s Buttermilk Biscuits
• After School Banana Bread

Each item costs $11.99, except for the biscuits, which are $9.99.

“The Magnolia Table launch underscores our ongoing vision of connecting people through food, family, and tradition,” Magnolia Table told Business Insider of the line. “By pairing the quality of homemade baking with the convenience families need today, Magnolia Table is helping create opportunities for slowing down and savoring meaningful moments together.”

I’m no stranger to Gaines’ food offerings, having dined at Magnolia Table in Waco and made her homemade biscuit recipe. When I saw the news of Magnolia Table’s new frozen line, I knew I had to try it.

After grabbing the collection through a pickup order at Target, I spent an afternoon baking. Here’s my ranking from worst to best.

6. After School Banana Bread

When I first glanced at the box of the After School Banana Bread, I saw “ready to enjoy in minutes” written on the front. However, about an hour into my baking endeavors, I looked more closely and realized the bread required more preparation than I had thought.

The directions said to thaw the bread in its bakeable tray for three to four hours before baking it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. There was an option to microwave the bread from frozen, but I wanted to bake it to get the best possible version.

Thawing the banana bread wasn’t a huge deal, but remembering to take it out of the freezer hours before baking didn’t seem particularly convenient.

When I asked the brand about the timing, Magnolia Table said, “We know so many families love our After School Banana Bread recipe, and we wanted to give them a way to recreate that same warm, cozy aroma at home by baking it in the oven.”

“At the same time, we know life gets busy, so we also included a quicker option for those moments when convenience matters most,” the brand added. “If you’re warming from frozen, you can simply place the loaf in the microwave and enjoy it in just a few minutes. Both methods are there to make sure families can experience that homemade comfort, whether it’s a weekend bake or a weekday treat.”

The banana bread didn’t stand out.

I’m not generally a huge banana bread fan, but the Magnolia Table iteration was fairly tasty.

It wasn’t too banana-forward and had a comforting taste when I took a bite fresh from the oven. The bread offered easy eating, and as its name indicates, it seems like a good option for an afternoon snack for kids.

The flavor didn’t really stand out, though, especially compared to other items in the line, and I don’t think it was worth the hours of thawing. I would probably just make it in the microwave next time, though I’m unsure how that would change the texture.

5. The Classic Cinnamon Rolls

I’ve always loved a good cinnamon roll, and although homemade rolls are particularly good, I have no problem with frozen options. I spent most Saturdays of my childhood begging my mom to make the Pillsbury or Sister Schubert brand of refrigerated rolls.

As a frozen cinnamon roll connoisseur, I was excited to try Gaines’ take on the classic pastry.

In Magnolia Table’s pack, four rolls come in a bakeable tray sealed inside plastic wrap. I was a bit surprised by the small number of cinnamon rolls, but when I asked Magnolia Table about it, it said “a great deal of consideration” went into deciding how many of each baked good to include in its packs.

“Some decisions were guided by simple kitchen logic — like including a dozen cookies, which naturally feels right when baking at home,” Magnolia Table said. “We also relied on research and consumer insights to ensure each product offers both exceptional quality and convenience. Ultimately, every package was designed to feel intentional and familiar, much like something made in your own kitchen.”

The directions on the box instruct you to remove the rolls from the plastic wrap and then let them rest for 45 minutes to an hour before baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 23 to 25 minutes. The resting wasn’t my favorite, but I liked that you could just throw the rolls into the oven in the tray.

A packet of icing was also included, but the directions didn’t specify what to do with it while the rolls rested. I left my packet on my kitchen counter.

The cinnamon rolls were fine, but I probably wouldn’t pick them over another brand at the grocery store.

My cinnamon rolls were ready in about 25 minutes, with the edges slightly crispy and the center gooey.

I poured my icing — which had softened from sitting on the counter — over the cinnamon rolls, and it spread out fairly thin. The icing might have had a better consistency if I had kept it in the refrigerator while the rolls thawed, but the directions didn’t indicate that I should have done so.

I informed Magnolia Table about my icing consistency issues, and the brand expressed appreciation for the feedback, clarifying that the icing could be left out without compromising safety.

“Our icing is completely safe to leave out while the rolls thaw and bake, but for those who prefer a thicker consistency, placing it in the fridge is a great option,” Magnolia Table said.

Despite my issues with the icing, the cinnamon rolls smelled inviting, so I was optimistic when I took a bite. It wasn’t bad, but it reminded me of cinnamon rolls I’ve had at the mall. The cinnamon lining the swirl had a slightly artificial taste, and it was almost cloyingly sweet.

I would prefer to eat other frozen or refrigerated cinnamon roll brands over Magnolia Table’s, as I think they taste better and offer more bang for your buck. For instance, you can buy a can of five Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls at Target for around $5, compared to the $11.99 rolls from Magnolia Table.

4. The Silo Cookies

All three flavors of cookies in the Magnolia Table line came in rectangular boxes with a set of twelve plastic-wrapped cookies inside. They also had the same directions: Bake the cookies two inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 350 degrees on the middle rack for 15 to 18 minutes.

My oven is pretty small (apartment life, am I right?), but I managed to bake the chocolate chip and Silo cookies at the same time, though one had to go on the bottom rack. I switched them halfway through to ensure both were fully baked.

In my oven, the cookies needed to bake for 20 minutes until they were cooked through with a soft center.

Of the three, Magnolia Table’s Silo Cookies ranked lowest for me, but they were still really good. They blended the best parts of an oatmeal and a chocolate chip cookie, as they included peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate, and walnuts.

At first bite, I found the Silo Cookie to be mostly peanut butter-forward. I liked that they weren’t too cloying, and when I got a bite with chocolate in it, the flavor became more inviting.

All three sets of cookies were also moist and tasted fresh despite being frozen, which was a relief.

3. Chocolate Chip Cookies

Gaines’ chocolate chip cookies were quite tasty.

The cookie had a salty-sweet taste, and I liked that the chocolate chips were sizable and generously included in each cookie, ensuring there was chocolatey goodness in each bite.

They didn’t taste particularly distinct from other frozen chocolate chip cookies I’ve had, but they were yummy.

2. Classic Sugar Cookies

Of the three cookies, I was most skeptical of the Classic Sugar Cookies, as I often find that frozen sugar cookies can be overly sweet.

However, Gaines’ cookies were the perfect balance of sugary and buttery. When I took a bite of one fresh from the oven, it melted in my mouth.

The sugar cookies ended up being my favorite of the three, which was a shock. I could easily see myself buying them again.

1. Jo’s Buttermilk Biscuits

Most fans of Gaines are likely familiar with her biscuits, whether they have tried her homemade recipe themselves or have had them at the Magnolia Table restaurant in Waco.

Her biscuits are known for being deliciously crumbly and buttery, and I was skeptical that the frozen version could live up to the homemade one.

Six biscuits come in a pack, and they bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. The directions also say to top the biscuits with melted butter and salt when you take them out of the oven.

The biscuits would be great with any dinner.

I tried a biscuit warm from the oven after I topped it with butter and salt. I smiled as the pastry hit my tongue.

The biscuit was buttery and crumbly, and I was pleased it wasn’t dry. The salt balanced out the rich butter, creating an addictively delicious bite. I instantly thought of several meals my husband and I eat regularly that I would love to pair with the biscuits.

I don’t think they would be best for feeding a crowd, since there are only six in a pack, and I still prefer the homemade version. However, the frozen biscuits are a great choice for a weeknight meal for a family.

I would buy four of the six products in the new Magnolia Table line again.

Overall, I think Magnolia Table’s collection is a fun new venture for the Gaineses. It’s a playful way for their fans to easily access some of the foods they offer in Waco, and the food is tasty overall.

I could see myself buying the biscuits and cookies again, but I don’t think I’d revisit the cinnamon rolls or banana bread. They were a bit too time-consuming to make, and in the case of the cinnamon rolls, better alternatives are already on the market.

Considering Gaines has published three cookbooks, I’m excited to see what other frozen foods she creates next.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The post Joanna Gaines launched a line of frozen baked goods at Target. I tried every item and ranked them from worst to best. appeared first on Business Insider.