Cinnamon is a delicious spice that is used all over the world. This spice doesn’t come cheap so we’ve put together a list of 8 substitutes for cinnamon that you can use. These can either be widely available in the grocery store, DIY or quite rare.
We love cinnamon for many reasons. It’s a nostalgic taste and aroma that takes us to the best times of our lives.
Cinnamon is a warm spice that is commonly associated with pies, autumn, orange leaves, warm drinks, the fireplace, and so on.
It’s a great spice that is used in many cultures and cuisines from east to west. Cinnamon is known to be an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory spice. This special spice originated in Sri Lanka and when explorers discovered the beautiful secret of cinnamon, it spread to the neighboring countries until it reached the west.
Cinnamon is a versatile spice that is valued by many, all over the world. If you’re out of cinnamon in the middle of that cold night or in the middle of baking or cooking, don’t worry.
Here’s a list of cinnamon alternatives for baking, cooking, and drinking.
Table of Contents
1. Cassia
Cassia is the best substitute for cinnamon. They’re not the same kind of spice but they taste very similar. They both come in bark form but cassia rarely comes in ground form.
Cassis is called Chinese cinnamon. It’s a lot thicker than the cinnamon bark and it is less delicate in flavor compared to cinnamon. The taste is sharper. If you’re using this as a substitute for cinnamon, make sure to use less of it to balance the cinnamon flavor.
2. Cinnamon Extract
Cinnamon extract is a direct alternative in terms of that straightforward cinnamon flavor.
If you’re looking for a strong cinnamon flavor, this actually may be better to use than the actual cinnamon bark or powder.
3. Allspice
Allspice is another great alternative for cinnamon. It is also a warm spice that is commonly used as a substitute for cinnamon. It has a slight sweetness and warm characteristic that makes up for the cinnamon void.
You may use allspice for sweet goods like pies, muffins and cakes. This could use be used for rubs that contain cinnamon.
4. Pumpkin Pie Spice
Cinnamon is often associated with autumn and what do we have in autumn? We have pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie spice is actually a blend of spices that contain cinnamon in it.
This is a good alternative if you’re using cinnamon for warm drinks in autumn or winter. It has that automatic sweetness to it that will surely warm your bellies.
5. Apple Pie Spice
Another pie spice blend that is famously known for having cinnamon in it is apple pie spice. Apple pie is known for having cinnamon in it and it’s delicious.
If you have apple pie spice lying around, it might be a good idea to pick it up and use it as a sub most especially for sweet treats.
6. Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a spice with an earthy tone and it is commonly blended with cinnamon in a series of spice blends. It has that warm characteristic that cinnamon has. Nutmeg is often used for savory foods. It’s a good alternative to have for cinnamon if you need it for stews or other Indian dishes.
7. Cloves
Just like nutmeg, cloves are also an earthy spice that quite warm too. Cloves are quite strong compared to cinnamon. It has a distinct taste and aroma that is surely different from cinnamon.
This substitute won’t exactly be like cinnamon but it’ll capture the same idea.
8. Cardamom
Cardamom is a spice that cinnamon is blended in with in Indian spice blends. Just like cinnamon, it is used for savory and sweet food and even beverages. Cardamom is used beside cinnamon in the famous Indian chai masala. It is a powerhouse blend.
