
Is there a spice that tastes like cinnamon?
Allspice: Like nutmeg, allspice will give you some of the same sweetness as cinnamon, says Fine. "You'll likely need less (about a quarter of the amount) allspice than what the recipe calls for with cinnamon," Fine says. Cloves: This spice has similar earthy and sweet flavors as cinnamon.
What can I substitute for cinnamon in a recipe?
What Can I Replace Cinnamon With? 1 Nutmeg. This spice is a bit similar to cinnamon in that it is warm and sweet. ... 2 Allspice. Unlike what many think, allspice is the berry of a tree that received its name because it looks like a combination of spices. 3 Ground Cloves. ... 4 Cardamom. ... 5 Powdered Ginger. ... 6 Mace. ... 7 Pumpkin Pie. ...
Can I use allspice instead of cinnamon in cookies?
Warning: allspice is considerably more pungent when compared to cinnamon and therefore the two spices should not be used in equal quantities. When using allspice as cinnamon substitute, use a third of the amount of allspice that the recipe suggests for cinnamon.
What is the difference between cloves and cinnamon?
Cloves are shaped almost like small black screws. Unlike cinnamon, it cannot be ground down. So cloves are sold whole. Also unlike cinnamon, whole cloves are relatively soft but they are also chewy.
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What can I use as a substitute for cinnamon?
7 Creative Substitutes for CinnamonNutmeg. Nutmeg is the seed of the tropical evergreen tree Myristica fragrans, which is native to the Indonesian East Indies islands and Sri Lanka, as well as the West Indies ( 1 ). ... Allspice. ... Ginger. ... Pumpkin pie seasoning. ... Cardamom. ... Cloves. ... Mace.
Can mixed spice replace cinnamon?
The best substitutes for cinnamon are cassia, allspice, pumpkin/apple pie spice mixes, cloves, nutmeg, or cardamom, if you can't use cinnamon extract. The best substitute for cinnamon by purpose will depend on the dish (savory or sweet) and how it must be used (whole or ground).
Can I use allspice in place of cinnamon?
Because its taste is so versatile, it is another great substitute for cinnamon. The substitute ratio for allspice is similar to that of nutmeg, mace, and cloves since it has a quite strong flavor. ¼ teaspoon of allspice can replace 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Does nutmeg taste like cinnamon?
They're completely different. Cinnamon is warm, woody, hot, sweet, spicy, bark. Nutmeg is eggnog. If you want something to taste like Christmas, use it.
Does mixed spice contain cinnamon?
Mixed spice is a British spice blend. Although there is a little flexibility in this spice mixture, it does combine specific ingredients. Mixed spice includes a balance of some or all of the following ground spices: cinnamon, coriander seed, caraway, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice, and mace.
What can I substitute for mixed spice?
Use in my Christmas Cakes, Christmas Puddings, or my Homemade Mincemeat. If you need a substitute for mixed spice in a recipe and don't want to make your own you can just use Pumpkin Pie Spice instead. Both are made up of similar spices.
What can I use mixed spice for?
Mixed Spice is used in a variety of cakes, puddings, pies, breads and buns, cookies, pancakes, cupcakes, gingerbreads, and fruit salads. With the predominant flavor of cinnamon, it also makes a nice change to substitute this spice blend for anything calling for cinnamon for an added flavor boost.
What is the difference between mixed spice and all spice?
Unlike Allspice, which is a single spice, Mixed Spice is a blend of several spices, including Cinnamon, Coriander Seed, Caraway, Nutmeg, Ginger and Cloves. Flavour profile: Allspice has a strong flavour and aroma, similar to a mixture of Nutmeg, Cloves and Cinnamon.
What Is Cinnamon?
This is a spice that comes from the innermost bark of the Cinnamomum tree. The bark and ground spice both have a warm, sweet, and slightly pungent flavor. The stick of cinnamon tends to be used in liquids, such as warm chocolate, tea, and mulled wine.
Why Replace Cinnamon, Anyway?
While not very common, there are some reasons why people would like to replace ground cinnamon and cinnamon sticks at times:
What Can I Replace Cinnamon With?
If you need to replace this spice for whatever reason, these cinnamon substitutes are perfect for you:
Allspice Berries
This spice shares a similar flavor to cinnamon and makes a good replacement in dessert recipes. Add 1/4 of the recommended amount for cinnamon and add more according to taste, if necessary.
Cardamom
Cardamom is a particularly good replacement for cinnamon in Indian recipes. [2]
Nutmeg
Nutmeg has a similar sweetness to cinnamon and is a good substitute for baked foods. Like allspice, it is worth being initially frugal with the amount you substitute.
Mace
Mace may offer a sharper and less sweet flavor than nutmeg and is, therefore, a good cinnamon substitute in more savory recipes. Add it to the recipe in the same way as nutmeg and allspice. [3]
Ground Cloves
Ground cloves are an earthy, spicy, and sweet replacement for cinnamon.
Fresh or Powdered Ginger
To get the spicy, warming element that cinnamon gives to a dish, you may try adding fresh or powdered ginger.
Anise or Fennel Seeds
A good substitute for both sweet and savory recipes, anise and fennel seeds can be sweet with a bitter edge.
Introduction: What is Cinnamon?
Cinnamon is originally from the Ceylon cinnamon tree in South Asia. It thrives in moist and lowland tropical areas. People harvest and dry its inner bark to use for cooking and medicinal purposes. You can purchase cinnamon in bark form, as a powder, and as oil.
Top 5 Substitutes For Cinnamon
Allspice is one of the best cinnamon replacements because it closely resembles the flavor of cinnamon and many people already have it in their cupboards. Allspice also has a similar texture to cinnamon in its ground state. Like cinnamon, you can use allspice whole, but it’ll be in the form of small, dried berries instead of long bark pieces.
Conclusion
With so many options to choose from, if you get in a cinnamon pinch, you can easily “pinch” in one of the alternative spices we discussed here. Many of these cinnamon substitutes are so similar to cinnamon that you just may forget your recipe doesn’t have cinnamon in it!
Substitute for Cinnamon Stick
If a recipe calls for a whole cinnamon stick or quill, but you only have ground cinnamon, use 1/2-1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon for one stick or quill. You could also use ground allspice to substitute cinnamon sticks. If you use allspice instead, start with a 1/4 of the amount of allspice for cinnamon.
Substitute for Cinnamon in Apple Pie
A good substitute for cinnamon in apple pie is the aptly named apple pie spice. This is a good alternative because cinnamon is a key ingredient in apple pie spice. Other good substitutes include nutmeg and allspice (use 1/4 amount).
Substitute for Cinnamon in Baking
Cinnamon is a key ingredient in sweet baking recipes , especially cinnamon rolls and apple pie. If you need to substitute cinnamon, consider using nutmeg, cloves, or allspice. Another option is apple pie spice which contains cinnamon.
What is Similar to Cinnamon?
There are a few spices that are similar to cinnamon in flavor profile including nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, and mace .
Can You Substitute Ginger for Cinnamon?
Ground ginger is a good substitute for cinnamon because they both lend a warm, sweet flavor to dishes. Both spices are fairly equal in strength, so you can try a 1:1 substitution ratio.
Can You Use Cinnamon Sugar Instead of Ground Cinnamon?
Yes! Cinnamon sugar is a good substitute for ground cinnamon as both contain the key spice: cinnamon. Obviously the sugar should be considered and lessened in the recipe as a result. Typically in a cinnamon sugar recipe with ½ cup there is 1-2 tablespoons of cinnamon.
Which Cinnamon is Best?
There is no right or wrong way to use cinnamon in regards to its flavor. We do suggest buying it often and in smaller amounts to enjoy its peak flavor. Each type of cinnamon has its own nuanced flavor, and each lends themselves better to certain recipes.
Origins of Cinnamon
Before we get into the best things to swap out cinnamon for, let’s go over exactly what cinnamon is and how it became such a popular seasoning in our food.
History of Cinnamon Usage
Cinnamon has been used since ancient times. We don’t know exactly when it was first discovered and humans have likely been using it for millennia. What we do know is that cinnamon was imported to Egypt as early as 2,000 BCE.
Uses of Cinnamon
As we have already mentioned, cinnamon is hugely popular in dishes from around the world. It can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. Although, in the US, cinnamon is most commonly used in sweet dishes, especially during the winter months and around Christmastime.
Best Substitutes for Cinnamon
So, now you have an overview of the best ways to substitute cinnamon, here is our in-depth guide to the best substitutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cinnamon is commonly used in banana bread recipes, however, if you’re in a bind and a recipe calls for it, nutmeg is a great substitute for cinnamon. Although nutmeg is rarely used as a spice alone, it is often used in conjunction with other spices, especially cinnamon, as it has a similar earthy tone.
Summary
Overall, cinnamon is one of the easiest flavors and spices to substitute. There are lots of different spices that have a similar flavor and aromatic essence to cinnamon.
Your best bet: Allspice
Despite the fact that allspice comes from the New World and cinnamon comes from Asia, the two spices do have a lot in common when it comes to flavor. Allspice berries have many of the cinnamon notes along with notes of nutmeg and cloves. This means that it should fit seamlessly into any recipe that contains those two spices.
A decent second choice: Cinnamon extract
Cinnamon extract may not be suitable if you are trying to avoid an allergic reaction, but it can still work as an alternative in other situations. It is made by soaking cinnamon bark in alcohol.
In a pinch: Cardamom
Cardamom is a fragrant spice that is used in many dishes alongside cinnamon. For example, both spices can be found in many curry powder blends. Cardamom can serve as an effective substitute for cinnamon in quite a few dishes, especially savory dishes. You can substitute cardamom for cinnamon in a 1:1 ratio.
Other alternatives
Your other options include pumpkin pie spice, which contains cinnamon. You can use this spice blend in place of cinnamon in sweet dishes. You will want to use ½ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice for every ½ teaspoon of cinnamon in your recipe. Pumpkin pie spice is not the only spice combination that you can use in place of cinnamon.

What Is Cinnamon?
Why Replace Cinnamon, Anyway?
- While not very common, there are some reasons why people would like to replace ground cinnamon and cinnamon sticks at times: 1. Allergy: Some individuals have an evident allergy to cinnamon, which makes them break out in hives, and could result in their trachea to close. In this case, anything with cinnamon is out of the question. 2. Low Blood Sugar:People that have diabet…
What Can I Replace Cinnamon with?
- If you need to replace this spice for whatever reason, these cinnamon substitutes are perfect for you: Best For Baking, Cinnamon Toast, and Pumpkin Pie
FAQs
- Conclusion Cinnamon is a common ingredient for bakers and cookers alike, but sometimes it can be too overpowering or scarce. These 7 alternatives are all delicious and easy to get. Use them whenever you want to get similar tasty flavors. Up next: Does cinnamon go bad? *Image by depositphotos.com/slowmotiongli