25 Cinnamon Recipes That Prove It’s the Best Spice on the Rack (2024)

Gingerbread, nutmeg, and peppermint are classic flavors during the colder months, but there’s a reason that cinnamon spice is associated with everything nice (and it isn’t just because it’s an easy rhyme). It’s just so good, and it comes with some pretty sweet health benefits too. So why limit your use to just desserts? Check out these 25 sweet and savory ways to use cinnamon that prove it may just be the most versatile spice in your cabinet.

1. Simple Cinnamon Pumpkin Pancakes

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With almost five grams of protein per serving thanks to the eggs and Greek yogurt, this isn’t your usual pancake recipe. Puréed pumpkin and cinnamon add that quintessential fall flavor, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself chowing down on these at the height of summer—they’re that good.

2. Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

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Unlike most artificially flavored oatmeal, this recipe is made with real apples and cinnamon spice. With applesauce; chopped, fresh apples; and two generous teaspoons of the ground spice, there’s so much sweetness already that all it needs is a touch of maple syrup for an extra cozy touch.

3. Cinnamon Pear Pancakes

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A standard pancake recipe gets a fiber boost from the use of oat flour instead of white flour, adds natural sweetness from grated pear in the batter, includes tons of flavor from the two teaspoons of cinnamon, and keeps the fat to a minimum by avoiding oil. On second thought, maybe these pancakes aren’t standard at all.

4. “Cinnamon Life” Muesli

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The problem with most store-bought cereals? They lack protein and fiber. Packing in a big dollop of cottage cheese and using whole grain oats, this muesli fills those nutritional holes, while the sweetener and cinnamon in the mix keep it tasting like the packaged stuff (in a good way).

5. Cinnamon Walnut Flax Muffins

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Get your morning started with fiber and protein, all packed into one delicious, cinnamon-y muffin. Coconut flour, eggs, and ground flaxseeds make them full of healthy and filling fats, but with no flour in sight, these are totally suitable for grain-free diets too.

6. Cinnamon Banana Breakfast Bulgur

With more fiber than oats or quinoa and a quick cooking time, bulgur scores in both the nutrition and the prep departments. Combine it with almond milk, bananas, and of course, a hefty sprinkle of cinnamon, and it’ll win when it comes to taste too.

7. Maple Cinnamon Peanut Butter Banana Toast

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Peanut butter and banana toast is an old standby, but mash the fruit instead of slicing it and add a dash of cinnamon, and it’ll taste like an entirely new breakfast. If your banana isn’t quite ripe enough, add a drizzle of maple syrup, or better yet, sprinkle some dark chocolate chips on top for a bit of sweetness.

8. Almond and Cinnamon-Scented Oatmeal

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Pairing well with practically any topping, oatmeal is the Miss Congeniality of breakfasts. But this recipe—a gorgeous bowl of sliced almonds and apples along with lots of cinnamon to taste (read: lots!) may just take the crown for looks, ease, and taste too.

9. Cinnamon Quinoa Bake

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The gluten-free cousin of an oatmeal bake, this high-protein, quinoa-based breakfast features an entire tablespoon of cinnamon. Eat on its own to savor the spice, or pair it with fruit and nut butter for an even more balanced meal.

10. Cinnamon, Sweet Potato, and Carrot Soup

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Who needs dessert when you’ve got this soup? With cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg bringing out the flavor in the sweet potatoes and carrots, it almost tastes more like a velvety pie filling without the sugar.

11. Pear Walnut Salad With Maple Cinnamon Dressing

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Take a detour from your usual lunchtime pile of veggies with this recipe. Cinnamon-spiced candied walnuts, pears, and a cinnamon-infused dressing may sound like they’d be out of place in a salad, but they totally work against the peppery arugula base here.

12. Roasted Cinnamon Lemon Chicken

Your run-of-the-mill roast chicken dinner just got a lot more exciting with the addition of lemon, caramelized onions, and cinnamon; the spice may seem like an unlikely companion for the bird, but in this case, opposites clearly attract.

13. Bolognese Sauce With Cloves and Cinnamon

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Instead of ground cinnamon, this recipe goes for two whole sticks of it. Along with several cloves, they lend a subtle but definitive “something different” to a classic meat sauce—just enough to raise eyebrows in the best way possible.

14. Spicy Broccoli Soup

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When cinnamon can even manage to sneak into broccoli soup, that’s proof enough that when it comes to this spice, there are no limits. Plus, along with turmeric and ginger, this recipe sure isn’t kidding around about its immunity-boosting benefits.

15. Apple Pie Pork Chops

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While the idea of meat inside an apple-filled pastry crust seems pretty odd, there’s nothing weird about infusing those pie flavors into a pan full of pork chops. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and paprika are stirred into applesauce, then slathered over the chops for a sweet and spicy complement to the savory pork. You may have to taste this one to believe it, but you’ll be so happy you did.

16. Fusilli With Whipped Feta, Cinnamon, and Crispy Garlic

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Cinnamon + garlic + feta cheese in the same pasta dish may not make sense. It may seem totally absurd. Go with it and prepare for your mind (and your taste buds) to be blown away.

17. Sweet Potatoes With Turmeric and Cinnamon

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As if sweet potatoes weren’t nutritious enough, they’re seasoned here with both cinnamon and turmeric for even more healthy benefits. Roasted until crispy, they’re better than fries.

18. Healthy Cinnamon Carrot Cookies

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This recipe may only yield 12 cookies, but the batter is packed with a ton of nutritious ingredients. From the rolled oats and entire cup of carrots to the two whole teaspoons of cinnamon, this recipe is going in the “cookies so healthy they work for breakfast” file.

19. Whole-Wheat Cinnamon Sugar Baked Donuts

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Fluffy but chewy, with a crunchy, just-sweet-enough cinnamon sugar crust, these golden-brown donuts look (and taste) like they were plucked out of Krispy Kreme. Take double pleasure in the fact that they’re baked instead of fried.

20. Simple Cinnamon Apple Cake

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Thanks to Greek yogurt and white whole-wheat flour, this cake manages to get away with using just a single tablespoon of butter without turning out dry. While it’s much more wholesome than most cakes, the cinnamon and nutmeg keep it as rich-tasting and comforting as ever. Meanwhile, the sliced apple pattern on top makes it a pretty stunning centerpiece for your dessert table.

21. Simple Cinnamon Ginger Apple Crisp

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One of the coziest desserts out there has to be a warm, crumbly crisp. This version, with cinnamon in the gluten-free oat-y topping and the gooey apple filling, manages to be highly addictive yet still lighter than most, thanks to nixing the butter and opting for pure maple syrup instead of refined sugar.

22. Cinnamon Chickpea Blondies

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These gooey squares rely on chickpeas to give the dessert some extra protein and fiber. But while the beans might be the not-so-secret ingredient, it’s the one and a half tablespoons of cinnamon that takes the cake (blondie?) when it comes to flavor.

23. Skinny Snickerdoodles

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It wouldn’t be a legit cinnamon roundup if it didn’t include this classic cookie! These are slightly healthier, with a fraction of the fat and sugar of the traditional recipe, but don’t be afraid to roll them in as much of the spice as you’d like. When it comes to snickerdoodles, there’s no such thing as too much cinnamon.

24. Maple Cinnamon Cheesecakes

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There’s no actual cheese in these bite-size cheesecakes—blended cashews take the place of the dairy—but there’s plenty of cinnamon. It’s featured in both the crust and the filling, so that each mouthful comes with a hint of spice.

25. Cinnamon Brown Rice Pudding With Almond Milk

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Cinnamon’s a must-have ingredient in rice pudding, and this one sticks to that rule by calling for a good tablespoon of it. It does stray from the usual recipe in some pretty delicious ways, using brown rice instead of white and almond milk instead of regular milk or cream.

25 Cinnamon Recipes That Prove It’s the Best Spice on the Rack (2024)

FAQs

25 Cinnamon Recipes That Prove It’s the Best Spice on the Rack? ›

Salt always enhances the flavors of spices. So does fat. Depending on your recipe, you could mix the cinnamon in oil or butter AND add cinnamon/sugar mix inside the rolls. Touch of salt, some nutmeg and even the slightest amount of cardamom, I mean a touch.

What enhances the flavor of cinnamon? ›

Salt always enhances the flavors of spices. So does fat. Depending on your recipe, you could mix the cinnamon in oil or butter AND add cinnamon/sugar mix inside the rolls. Touch of salt, some nutmeg and even the slightest amount of cardamom, I mean a touch.

What spices pair well with cinnamon? ›

Since cinnamon is known for its place in baked goods, it's not surprising that cinnamon pairs excellently with other warming spices like cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.

What is 1 cinnamon stick in ground cinnamon? ›

If a recipe calls for cinnamon sticks but you only have ground cinnamon, you can use the ground version instead. Most recipe developers recommend using a 1/2 teaspoon (about 1.4 grams) of cinnamon for every cinnamon stick the recipe calls for.

Is McCormick cinnamon real cinnamon? ›

Other sources of cinnamon can have inconsistent color, aroma and taste. Our stringent safety practices and natural cleaning process ensures our cinnamon is 100 percent pure flavor, with no added fillers.

What not to mix with cinnamon? ›

For example, if you're taking medications that may affect your liver, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or statins, excessive intake of the coumarin in cinnamon may increase the chance of liver damage. Also, the spice may enhance the effects of diabetes medications and cause your blood sugar to fall too low.

What are the benefits of cinnamon in a woman's body? ›

  • Regulates period cycle. Cinnamon has been found to regulate menstrual cycles by balancing hormones and increasing blood flow to the uterus. ...
  • Improves fertility. ...
  • Reduces PCOS symptoms. ...
  • Helps with weight loss. ...
  • Helps regulate blood sugar levels. ...
  • Boosts immunity. ...
  • Aids digestion. ...
  • Promotes heart health.
Oct 17, 2023

Why do you put cinnamon in coffee? ›

Adding cinnamon into your cup of coffee will alter its taste—for the better. It will make your coffee sweeter without adding any sugary, diet-busting products. Whether you stir in a teaspoon or two of the spice or add a cinnamon stick to your cup, both methods will provide a sweet taste.

Is it OK to mix turmeric and cinnamon together? ›

Yes it is completely safe to mix these ingredients as turmeric is anti inflammatory can balance the spiciness of cinnamon very well… Even we can use them both to have a warm glass of milk at night to have a good sleep and to increase the immune system to prevent ourselves from cough and cold.

Does McCormick use Ceylon cinnamon? ›

While commercial brands like McCormick & Company do market Saigon and Ceylon cinnamon in their gourmet lines, Orth and Brohier agree that the best way to be sure you're getting the “real thing” is to find a local spice purveyor who knows the origin of their product.

What spice balances cinnamon? ›

Balance Spices

If the cinnamon flavor is too sweet, add a contrasting strong spice, such as chili powder, lemon pepper, garlic powder or paprika. If the cinnamon is on the spicy side, add white or brown sugar and a sweet spice, such as nutmeg.

What is the best cinnamon in the world? ›

The world's best cinnamon

Cassia comes from other Asian countries like China, Indonesia and Vietnam; its bark is sturdy with a rough texture, it is dark brown in colour and is stronger and hotter in taste. Cassia is considered lower quality, while Ceylon often triumphs as the pure, “true cinnamon”.

What type of cinnamon is best for weight loss? ›

Ceylon Cinnamon - Ground

Cinnamon's anti-inflammatory properties are also helpful for those who are trying to lose weight because inflammation can lead to increased fat storage around the stomach area. Cinnamon also reduces the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

What is considered the best cinnamon? ›

The “best” type of cinnamon depends on what you're looking for. Ceylon is wonderful if you want cinnamon that's delicate, with a citrusy-floral aspect to lighten the woodsy notes. Chinese Cassia cinnamon has straightforward, up-front cinnamon flavor.

What makes cinnamon taste sweet? ›

Cinnamon word is derived from a Greek word meaning “sweet wood”. Its sweetness is due to the presence of its essential oil called cinnamaldehyde. It is an important component of cinnamon. This aromatic spice, commonly found in everyone's kitchen, is one of the oldest spices in the world.

Which cinnamon has the most flavor? ›

Saigon cinnamon is usually considered strongest in flavor and routinely has the highest volatile oil content. Korintje comes in second place for high volatile oil content, with a smoother finish and less bite compared to Saigon and cassia.

How do you upgrade cinnamon spices? ›

Automatic Installation
  1. Use the Applets menu in Cinnamon Settings, or Add Applets to Panel in the context menu (right-click) of your desktop panel.
  2. Go on the Download tab to... download this Spices Update applet.
  3. Go on the Manage tab to install this Spices Update applet on a panel of your desktop.
Dec 9, 2023

How do you make cinnamon smell stronger? ›

We Recommend. If you want a longer-lasting cinnamon air freshener, you can boil cinnamon and vanilla pods together to infuse water with the fragrance.

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