Don’t have cinnamon, or realized you’re all out while you’re making a recipe? Here’s the best substitute for cinnamon.
Making a recipe that calls for cinnamon and don’t have it? It’s hard to replace, but there are few options that are perfectly suited as a substitution.
Cinnamon is a popular spice used across many world cuisines in baked goods and both sweet and savory foods. It’s made from the bark of a a tree, and is used powdered and ground or as dry sticks.
Best Substitute For Cinnamon
Cinnamon is so unique that it’s impossible to truly mimic its flavor. I recommend making a trip to the store if the word “cinnamon” is in the recipe title, like Apple Cinnamon Pancakes or Cinnamon Apple Smoothie. But there are a few ideas if you’re all out of the stuff!
1. Allspice
The best cinnamon substitute? Allspice. The allspice berry is berry that grows on evergreen trees in Jamaica, Mexico and other tropical climates. Its flavor tastes like a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. It mimics the cozy-spiced flavor of cinnamon. Substitute ½ the amount of cinnamon with ground allspice.
2. Cloves and ginger
Another good cinnamon substitute? Cloves and ginger. The earthiness of cloves and the spice of ginger can somewhat mimic cinnamon. Substitute equal parts cloves and ginger to stand in for ½ the amount of cinnamon in the recipe.
3. Pumpkin pie spice
Another good cinnamon substitute? Pumpkin pie spice. If you have it on hand, most pumpkin pie spice mixes contain about half cinnamon and half other spices, like allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. In many recipes, it’s not a bad thing to add these spices: they might make it taste even better!
4. Nutmeg
Another substitute for cinnamon is a very small amount of nutmeg: it brings the same warm notes. However, start with a very small amount of nutmeg: even just a pinch to start: because it’s very strong.
5. Cardamom
Cardamom also works as a substitute: it has a warm flavor that can work in baked goods and cozy drinks. However, cardamom is very strong and has a distinctive flavor that is bitter. I would start with ¼ the cinnamon the recipe calls for and adjust to taste.
What about whole cinnamon sticks?
If your recipe calls for whole cinnamon sticks, you may use ground cinnamon if you have it on hand. Whether it’s a good idea depends on the recipe! A rule of thumb is to use ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon to replace 1 cinnamon stick.
