Cinnamon Sugar Recipe: 15 Ways to Use Cinnamon Sugar

Cinnamon sugar is a sweet flavored sugar made by combining sugar with ground cinnamon. The warm, fall-friendly taste of cinnamon—a mildly sweet spice derived from the bark of the plants in the aromatic genus Cinnamomum—adds a spicy kick to the sweetness of granulated sugar in this recipe. Cinnamon sugar is a versatile ingredient that you can sprinkle over buttered toast, oatmeal, cereal, or use in baking to make desserts like cinnamon buns or churros.

As a rule of thumb, the perfect ratio for cinnamon sugar is 1 part cinnamon to 4 parts sugar. This means that there is about ¼ cup of cinnamon per cup of sugar. This ratio will allow the flavor of the cinnamon to shine through without yielding a sweetener that is too spicy. However, if you prefer a stronger cinnamon flavor, add an additional 1–2 tablespoons of cinnamon per cup of sugar at a time until you reach your desired balance. Although cinnamon sugar is traditionally made with white sugar, you can substitute brown sugar for a richer, more molasses-forward flavor.

This versatile spiced sugar topping can be used as both a garnish and core ingredient in a variety of sweet recipes. These dishes work particularly well with this classic topping.

1. 1. Snickerdoodle cookies: This classic sugar cookie is rolled in cinnamon sugar before baking for a perfect spiced treat.
2. 2. Bacon: You can sprinkle cinnamon sugar on raw bacon before you bake it in the oven to make sweet, savory, and spicy candied bacon.
3. 3. Cinnamon rolls: Cinnamon sugar is the filling for cinnamon rolls, whether you like to enjoy this treat as breakfast or dessert.
4. 4. Oatmeal or porridge: Sprinkle your morning oatmeal or porridge with some cinnamon sugar for a sweet and warming flavor.
5. 5. Pancakes or waffles: Add cinnamon sugar to your go-to pancake or waffle batter for a fall-friendly breakfast.
6. 6. Baked or fresh apples. Both warm, baked apples and the sliced fresh fruit will benefit from a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.
7. 7. Donuts: Toss your homemade donuts in some cinnamon sugar for a quick and flavorful topping.
8. 8. French toast: Use cinnamon sugar in your French toast batter for some extra warmth and sweetness.
9. 9. Cinnamon toast: Sprinkle buttered toast with cinnamon sugar to create a french toast effect without the extra work.
10. 10. Churros: This classic fried dough dish is coated in plentiful amounts of cinnamon sugar after hitting the fryer.
11. 11. Pie or cobbler crust: Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over your pie or cobbler crust prior to baking to add some pleasant cinnamon flavor to the overall dish.
12. 12. Streusel topping: Cinnamon sugar makes a great addition to streusel topping for muffins or large-format streusels.
13. 13. Pretzels: Coat homemade pretzels in cinnamon sugar prior to baking for a sweet-and-savory treat.
14. 14. Sweet tortilla: For the perfect cinnamon-flavored treat ready in no time, Top a warm tortilla with butter and cinnamon sugar, roll, and enjoy for a twist on cinnamon sugar toast.
15. 15. Whipped cream or Greek yogurt: Instantly upgrade your whipped cream or Greek yogurt topping with a spoonful of cinnamon sugar.