Baking with Cinnamon: Essential Tips and Flavorful Recipes
Baking with Cinnamon: Two Sweet Corn Recipes and Essential Tips
For centuries, cinnamon was a timeless spice that changed baking.
It has a warm, sweet, and slightly spicy flavor that gives desserts, breads, and pastries depth.
When it comes to the kitchen, the spice that’s a staple in every baker’s pantry is cinnamon.
From adding flair to cookies to enhancing the taste of classic cinnamon rolls, there’s really no room in the pantry for cinnamon.
In this guide, I share the different types of cinnamon, how to use it for baking, and give you ideas on how to add extra something to your recipes with this ever-variable spice.
Why Use Cinnamon in Baking?
The spice known as cinnamon is much more than a spice; it is a flavor enhancer that can make ordinary recipes spectacular things.
Its sweet and a little spicy flavor is incredibly compatible with sugar, chocolate, and fruits.
Baked goods, too, may be made even more irresistible by the power of cinnamon to boost their aroma.
The flavor of cinnamon offers only some of the benefits available.
Antioxidants can be connected to potential health benefits such as blood sugar regulation. (1)
It is a harmony between sweetness and spice that makes dessert more forthcoming without overloading the palate in baking.
Cinnamon and Types of Cinnamon
There's not such thing as one flavor of cinnamon. There is a whole range in quality.
Cinnamon can come in different types, and each one adds to your recipe a different taste and character. (2)
Ceylon Cinnamon
True cinnamon is Ceylon cinnamon.
With a fairly delicate, mildly sweet flavor, they’re best suited for use in desserts such as cakes and cookies.
As a lesser voluble flavor, it is popular for recipes that don’t want to have the cinnamon overpower.
Cassia Cinnamon
This cinnamon is stronger and bolder on the tongue.
This is the most common variety you can find at grocery stores.
Perfect for spiced breads and the like that need a robust flavour.
Saigon Cinnamon
Saigon cinnamon is spicy with a fiery punch while adding intense sweetness.
This is a great choice for cookie-full recipes such as cinnamon rolls and spiced lattes.
Korintje Cinnamon
The mellow, smooth Korean cinnamon.
Used in commercial baking, it works well with sugar for toppings and fillings.
When picking cinnamon, educate yourself on the recipe and the type of flavour you need to reach.
How to Use Cinnamon in Baking
It is versatile, but how to use it properly will determine if you get the best results or not.
Blend It with Other Spices
Switching to spices like nutmeg, cloves, and ginger—both cinnamon really works. (3)
The warm, cozy flavor that these combinations produce works so nicely for the holiday season.
Balance Sweetness and Spice
When you use cinnamon, make it spicier by balancing it with sugar or honey.
That helps to preserve the sweet natural sweetness without overpowering the dish.
Add in some cinnamon.
For cinnamon rolls, use the flavoring too early in the filling, too early in the dough, and later in the glaze to accomplish these layers of flavor.
How much cinnamon to use?
For most baked goods, use about 1-2 teaspoons of cinnamon.
If you’re using stronger flavor, like in cinnamon bread, you can add a bit more.
Avoid Common Mistakes
An old or stale cinnamon can be dangerous to use because it is already expired and loses its potency.
To keep the cinnamon fresh in your container, store it in a place out of light and heat and not in the refrigerator.
It’s another mistake of adding too much cinnamon and overpowering the recipe.
Use less and increase until you hit the right spot.
Cinnamon Recipes That Shine
Many beloved recipes feature cinnamon front and center.
With that being said, here are a few of my favorites and some tips about how to make them as good as they can be.
Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamony is the flavor of these fluffy pasties.
Saigon cinnamon gives you a bold filling, and cream cheese frosting takes it to the finish.
Snickerdoodle Cookies
The bestselling classic is this one loaded with cinnamon and sugar.
When baked, it gives a cinnamon-sugar crispy, flavorful coating when you roll the dough in a cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Spiced Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin bread can be bitter and earthy, which is why cinnamon is a must to add warmth and depth.
Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
To develop a quick treat, roll donuts just fried or baked in a syrup made from cinnamon and sugar.
This makes for a sweet, aromatic crust that resists impossible.
If you don’t like using it in a pie, try using it in muffins, or even pancakes, to get a taste of cinnamon in other recipes.
Choosing The Best Cinnamon For Baking
Your choice of cinnamon will make or break your recipe.
Aromatic, flavorful cinnamon with no additives. (4)
Look for Freshness
Fresh cinnamon is strong, aromatic, and a little oily.
Cinnamon with a faint smell or ultradry and brittle should be avoided.
Cinnamon: Organic vs. Conventional
Cinnamon grown without synthetic pesticides is organic, which is healthier.
That's not to say, however, that the cinnamon found in a spice rack can't provide excellent taste, provided you source it carefully.
Store Cinnamon Properly
Cinnamon should be stored in a dry, cool place that is accessible to direct sunlight.
Keep it in an airtight container if you don’t think you’ll be able to consume it all in one sitting.
So, you can be sure that every piece of baked goods you make will have the best flavors by using the best cinnamon.
Final Thoughts
With warmth, sweetness, and depth, cinnamon is a baker’s secret weapon.
No matter if you’re making the old-fashioned cinnamon rolls or trying out familiar recipes in new ways, you can use this spice ad nauseam.
Once you know how to properly use the type of cinnamon at hand and pick the best quality of it, you will be able to get the most out of your ingredient.
It’s now your turn to be creative.
Wildfoods’ sustainably sourced cinnamon will allow you to infuse bold, authentic types of flavors into your kitchen.
Cinnamon is something that should make its way into your next recipe.
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FAQs
Can I add any cinnamon when doing any type of dessert?
Of course, cinnamon goes with most desserts.
It's a neutral flavor enhancer and works with cakes, cookies, and pies.
What are the effects of cinnamon on yeast in baking?
Yeast can slow down with cinnamon. (5)
For yeast-based recipes such as bread, use it in moderation.
Q: How does cinnamon taste in baked goods?
When you add cinnamon, you get a bit of sweetness, a bit of spiciness, and a whole lot of warmth that works really nicely with desserts.
How much cinnamon to use in baking?
Use 1-2 teaspoons for every recipe and adjust to taste as you go.
Which cinnamon should I use for my baking?
Ceylon cinnamon is for mellow flavors, Cassia for strong.
Related Studies
1. Title: The Effects of Cinnamon on Antioxidant Status and Blood Glucose Levels in Overweight Individuals
Summary: This study investigates the impact of an aqueous cinnamon extract on antioxidant status and fasting blood glucose levels in overweight individuals with impaired fasting glucose, demonstrating significant improvements in both areas.
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4586554/
DOI link: 10.3402/fnr.v55.21012
2. Title: Cinnamon: Mystic powers of a minute ingredient
Summary: This systematic review discusses the different types of cinnamon, including Ceylon and Cassia, highlighting their unique flavor profiles and culinary uses.
Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4466762/
DOI link: 10.1186/s12906-017-1744-6
3. Title: Efficacy and Synergistic Potential of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) and Clove Essential Oils
Summary: This study explores the synergistic antibacterial effects of cinnamon and clove essential oils, demonstrating enhanced efficacy when used together against food-borne pathogens.
Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4003790/
DOI link: 10.3390/molecules19010001
4. Title: Cinnamon: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant
Summary: This research highlights the health benefits of consuming high-quality, additive-free cinnamon, particularly its antioxidant properties and potential health advantages.
Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11047545/
DOI link: 10.3390/molecules19010001
5. Title: Ultrasonic Encapsulation of Cinnamon Flavor to Impart Heat Stability for Baking Applications
Summary: This study investigates how cinnamon affects yeast activity in baking, demonstrating that cinnamon can inhibit yeast fermentation, leading to denser baked goods.
Link: https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10147084
DOI link: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2019.04.017
