Category: Spice
Cinnamon is a spice that is made from the inner bark of trees belonging to the genus Cinnamomum. It is commonly used in both sweet and savory dishes to add a warm, sweet flavor. Cinnamon can be found in both ground and stick form, with the ground version being more commonly used in cooking and baking. It is often used in desserts, such as cinnamon rolls, apple pie, and snickerdoodle cookies, as well as in savory dishes like curries and stews. Cinnamon is also known for its health benefits, including its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Flavor Profiles:
- Sweet
- Spicy
- Warm
- Woody
What goes with Cinnamon:
- Orange – Orange and cinnamon pair well together because the sweet and tangy flavor of orange complements the warm and aromatic notes of cinnamon, creating a harmonious and festive combination.
- Chocolate – Cinnamon and chocolate create a rich, decadent pairing, with the spice intensifying the depth of chocolate’s flavor.
- Sugar – The natural sweetness of sugar complements the warm, sweet-spicy flavor of cinnamon, creating a balanced and harmonious taste sensation.
- Oats – Oats have a mild, nutty flavor that complements the warm, sweet taste of cinnamon, while cinnamon enhances the natural sweetness of oats and provides a delicious contrast to their creamy texture.
- Honey – Honey pairs well with cinnamon because their complementary flavors create a balanced sweetness, with honey providing a mild, floral note and cinnamon contributing a warm, pungent depth.
- Olive Oil – Olive oil’s fruity and slightly peppery notes complement the sweet and warm flavors of cinnamon, creating a balanced and aromatic combination in both sweet and savory dishes.
- Butter – Butter’s creamy richness balances and complements cinnamon’s warm, sweet, and slightly spicy flavor profile, creating a harmonious and delicious combination in various dishes.
- Greek Yogurt – Greek yogurt’s tangy flavor balances well with cinnamon’s sweet and warm notes, creating a harmonious and flavorful combination.
- Dried Fruits – Dried fruits pair well with cinnamon because the warm, sweet, and slightly woody flavor of cinnamon complements the natural sweetness and chewy texture of dried fruits, such as apricots, raisins, and dates.
- Yogurt – Yogurt’s tangy creaminess balances cinnamon’s warm sweetness, creating a harmonious flavor combination.
- Flour – Flour pairs well with cinnamon because the mild, slightly sweet flavor of flour provides a neutral base that complements the warm, sweet, and slightly pungent taste of cinnamon.
- Sweet Potatoes – Cinnamon and sweet potatoes create a harmonious pairing, as cinnamon highlights the natural sweetness in sweet potato dishes, like sweet potato casserole or pie.
- Marshmallows – Marshmallows and cinnamon pair well together because the warm, sweet, and slightly spicy flavor of cinnamon complements the light, airy, and subtly sweet taste of marshmallows, creating a delightful combination that is popular in various desserts and beverages.
- Brown Sugar – Brown sugar, with its rich molasses notes, complements the warm, sweet-spicy flavor of cinnamon, creating a harmonious and classic combination in various culinary applications.
- Maple Syrup – Maple syrup and cinnamon share similar warm, sweet, and slightly woody flavors, making them a classic and harmonious pairing.
- Coconut Milk – Coconut milk’s creamy sweetness complements cinnamon’s warm, subtly sweet and slightly woody flavor, creating a harmonious and exotic taste experience.
- Oatmeal – Cinnamon and oats create a comforting pair, as cinnamon adds warmth and subtle sweetness to oatmeal, often paired with fruits, nuts, and sweeteners.
- Nutmeg – Nutmeg and cinnamon share similar warm and sweet flavor profiles, with nutmeg adding a hint of nuttiness and cinnamon providing subtle citrus notes, creating a harmonious and well-rounded combination that is popular in many baked goods and savory dishes.
- Rice Pudding – Cinnamon is a classic addition to rice pudding, adding a warm, aromatic flavor that complements the creamy, sweet rice.
- Eggs – Eggs pair well with cinnamon due to the warm, sweet flavor of cinnamon complementing the savory taste of eggs, creating a delightful balance in various dishes such as omelettes, French toast, and cinnamon sugar scrambled eggs.
- Vanilla Extract – Vanilla extract and cinnamon share warm, sweet, and slightly creamy flavor profiles that complement each other, with vanilla enhancing and rounding out the bold and pungent taste of cinnamon.
- Apples – The sweetness of apples complements the warm, sweet flavor of cinnamon, often used in pies, crisps, and cobblers.
- Ginger – Ginger and cinnamon complement each other well in recipes due to their shared warmth and pungency, with ginger providing a fresh, spicy kick and cinnamon offering a sweet, woody aroma.
- Salt – Salt enhances the sweetness and warmth of cinnamon, creating a balanced and complex flavor profile that is popular in both sweet and savory dishes.
- Egg –
- Pepper – Pepper, particularly black pepper, complements cinnamon in both sweet and savory dishes due to their shared warm, pungent, and slightly sweet flavors, with pepper adding a hint of spiciness that enhances and balances cinnamon’s sweetness.
- Vanilla Ice Cream – Vanilla ice cream’s mild sweetness and creamy texture complement the warm, sweet, and slightly pungent flavor of cinnamon, creating a harmonious and popular flavor combination.
- Almond Milk – Almond milk pairs well with cinnamon because the warm, sweet flavor of cinnamon complements the mild, nutty taste of almond milk.
- Pumpkin – Cinnamon is a key spice in pumpkin-based dishes, like pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin spice lattes, accentuating the sweet, earthy flavors.
- Milk – The warm, sweet flavor of cinnamon complements the creamy, mild taste of milk, creating a harmonious and comforting combination.
- Pumpkin Puree – Pumpkin puree pairs well with cinnamon because the warm, sweet, and slightly woody flavor of cinnamon complements the mildly sweet and earthy taste of pumpkin puree, creating a harmonious and comforting combination often associated with autumn and holiday dishes.
- Whipped Cream – Whipped cream pairs well with cinnamon due to the warm, sweet, and slightly pungent flavor of cinnamon being complemented by the cool, creamy, and mildly sweet taste of whipped cream.
- Cloves – Cloves and cinnamon share similar warm, sweet, and pungent flavors, making them complementary spices in both sweet and savory dishes.
- Allspice – Allspice and cinnamon share similar warm, sweet, and slightly pungent flavors, making them complementary in various dishes such as baked goods, stews, and mulled drinks.
- Vanilla – Vanilla and cinnamon pair well together because their flavors complement each other, with vanilla providing a sweet and creamy backdrop for the warm and slightly pungent notes of cinnamon.
- French Toast – Cinnamon is frequently used in French toast recipes, as it enhances the sweetness of the egg-soaked bread and pairs well with maple syrup.
- Squash – Cinnamon adds a warm, sweet depth to various squash dishes, such as butternut squash soup or roasted acorn squash.
- Chili Powder –
- Carrots – Cinnamon and carrots work well together, especially in carrot cake or glazed carrots, as cinnamon enhances the natural sweetness of carrots.
- Butternut Squash – The sweetness of butternut squash complements the warmth of cinnamon, creating a harmonious balance of flavors.
- Pears – Pears have a sweet and subtle flavor that is enhanced by cinnamon, commonly found in poached pears or pear crumble.
- Garlic Powder –
- Toast –
- Ricotta Cheese – The mild, creamy flavor of ricotta cheese provides a lovely contrast to cinnamon’s bold, warm notes.
- Chai Tea – Cinnamon is a primary ingredient in chai tea, contributing to its warm, spicy, and slightly sweet flavor profile.
- Pie Crust – The warm, sweet, and slightly pungent flavor of cinnamon complements the buttery, flaky, and mildly sweet taste of pie crust, creating a harmonious and delightful combination.
- Egg White – Egg white pairs well with cinnamon due to the combination of the protein-rich, mild taste of egg white and the warm, sweet flavor of cinnamon, which complement each other in various culinary applications such as omelettes, pancakes, and meringues.
- Black Pepper – Black pepper’s spiciness and warmth complement cinnamon’s sweetness and pungency, creating a harmonious and flavorful combination in both sweet and savory dishes.
- Black Tea – Black tea’s robust and bold flavor profile complements the sweet and warm notes of cinnamon, creating a harmonious and comforting blend.
- Orange Slices –