Cinnamon can do more than finish a dessert. A small, considered addition can change the character of breakfast, fruit, a warm drink or a savoury dish.
1. Bring warmth to breakfast
Stir a little ground cinnamon into oats while they cook, or add it to a yoghurt bowl with fruit and toasted nuts. Start with a small pinch and build to taste. Mixing it into the food helps distribute the aroma more evenly than leaving a thick layer on top.
2. Give baked fruit another dimension
Apples, pears and other fruits make a simple canvas. Slice, add a light dusting of cinnamon and bake until the texture suits you. Try an unsweetened version first; ripe fruit may offer all the sweetness you want. Serve warm or let it cool for a breakfast topping.
3. Explore a savoury note
Add a small quill to a simmering rice dish, stew or sauce. Give it time to infuse, taste as you go and remove the whole quill before serving. The aim is a supporting aromatic note. Begin gently so the spice does not overwhelm the rest of the dish.
4. Make a fragrant baking mixture
Combine a little ground cinnamon with sugar for a toast topping, or mix it into the dry ingredients of a familiar cake recipe. Follow the recipe’s proportions on your first attempt, then make small changes on later batches. Notes on what you changed make a favourite result easier to repeat.
5. Warm up a drink
Infuse a food-grade quill in hot milk or a plant-based alternative, or add a small amount of ground cinnamon to a cocoa mixture before heating. Strain out bark pieces. Ground cinnamon can settle rather than dissolve completely, so stir as needed and expect a little texture.
A few habits that make a difference
Use clean, dry utensils and keep the container closed between uses. Avoid opening it over a steaming pan. Follow the best-before date and storage directions on the pack, and buy in quantities that fit your cooking habits.
Keep cinnamon essential oil separate from your culinary spices; a fragrance product is not a substitute for food-grade quills or powder. When a recipe calls for cinnamon, choose an ingredient explicitly intended for food.
Browse cinnamon sticks and cinnamon powder to find a format for your kitchen. If you are unsure which to choose, our team can help you explore the collection.
