The Best Cinnamon Sugar Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is there a difference between ground cinnamon and cinnamon sugar? ›

What Is the Difference Between Cinnamon and Cinnamon Sugar? Cinnamon is a spice made from the ground bark of a plant and is used in sweet and sometimes savory dishes. It has a spiced, slightly sweet flavor. Cinnamon sugar combines ground cinnamon with sugar to make a sweet ingredient or topping for desserts.

When does cinnamon sugar expire? Unopened, cinnamon sugar should adhere to the best before date printed on the packaging, which is typically 2-3 years. Once opened, it should keep its peak quality for about the same time, assuming no moisture or contaminates have entered.

Cinnamon sugar is a mixture of ground cinnamon and granulated sugar used as a spice to flavor foods such as Belgian waffles, Snickerdoodle cookies, tortillas, coffee cake, French toast, and churros. It is also used to flavor apples, cereals, and other fruits.

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.

McCormick, a more than 125-year-old company, is a trusted name in the food industry that you can count on to deliver a marriage of quality and affordability. Their ground cinnamon is classified as cinnamon cassia, so the flavor profile is much stronger and sweeter than Ceylon cinnamon.

Cinnamon may help lower blood sugar and fight diabetes by imitating the effects of insulin and increasing the movement of sugar from the bloodstream into cells ( 10 ). It can also help lower blood sugar levels by increasing insulin sensitivity, making insulin more efficient at moving sugar into cells ( 11 ).

There's no research to suggest you can overdose on cinnamon. The concern with eating too much cinnamon relates to its coumarin content, which in excessive amounts, could increase your chance of liver damage.

Homemade cinnamon sugar will keep for at least six months if stored in an airtight container with a tight fitting lid.

Generally, spices that are past their prime aren't dangerous to consume, but they will lose their aroma and flavor potency over time.

Cinnamon can boost metabolism, since the body uses more energy to process the spice than it does for other foods. Cinnamon may have an insulin-like action in the body, which is seen in the way sugar is broken down in the body. Cinnamon can also improve body metabolism, targeting the fat deposited in the abdominal area.

Why do diabetics take cinnamon? ›

Some of this work shows it may curb blood sugar by lowering insulin resistance. In one study, volunteers ate from 1 to 6 grams of cinnamon for 40 days. (One gram of ground cinnamon is about half a teaspoon.) The researchers found that cinnamon cut cholesterol by about 18% and blood sugar levels by 24%.

If you crave cinnamon, it may just reflect your desire for a favorite food, especially if you haven't eaten it for a while. It could also come from a need to eat sweets or be an ingredient in the type of foods you like to eat when your mood dips or stress levels are high.

The cinnamon bark is harvested directly from the tree—McCormick sources premium quality whole cinnamon, which mitigates the chance for added ingredients and contamination that could be encountered by sourcing a pre-ground product.

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.

Cinnamon is non-toxic to dogs according to the ASPCA. In small amounts, which means one teaspoon or less per serving as an occasional treat, it is perfectly safe and may even offer health benefits. However, in large quantities, it may irritate the mouth or stomach, cause low blood sugar or even liver disease.

Cassia cinnamon sticks are darker in color and comprised of a thick layer of rolled bark, whereas Ceylon sticks are lighter with thinner, more fibrous-looking layers. The distinction is harder to make with the powdered form, but if not called out on the label, it is safe to assume you are buying cassia cinnamon.

Ceylon cinnamon is more delicate and floral. It is suited for baking or savory foods, but they should be lighter types of food. Try Ceylon cinnamon as a seasoning for baked chicken or fish, or steeped in hot water as a tea. It's also great in lighter baked goods, like a pillowy-soft snickerdoodle.

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.