Wondering what to do with that jar of cinnamon sitting in your spice cabinet? Let me tell you, this warm, cozy spice is way more versatile than just sprinkling it on oatmeal or lattes. You can whip up a soothing cinnamon honey tea for a lazy afternoon, toss a stick into your chicken or pork bone broth for extra depth, or even bake it into sweet treats that taste like fall in a bite. Below, I’m breaking down all my go-to cinnamon recipes and little-known uses that you’ll want to copy ASAP.
Table of Contents
- How to Eat Cinnamon: Delicious Ways to Use This Cozy Spice
- Cinnamon Honey Tea Recipe
- Cinnamon Baked Apple Crisps
- Cinnamon Porridge
- Cinnamon Lamb Soup
- Cinnamon Brown Sugar Tea
- Medicinal Uses of Cinnamon for Specific Health Needs
- Top Health Benefits of Eating Cinnamon Regularly
How to Eat Cinnamon: Delicious Ways to Use This Cozy Spice
Cinnamon isn’t just for baking, you know? It works for sweet drinks, savory soups, breakfast bowls, and even traditional herbal remedies. Whether you’re here for a tasty new snack or a natural way to soothe a cramp, I’ve got a use for cinnamon that’ll fit exactly what you need.
Cinnamon Honey Tea Recipe
This is my absolute favorite lazy drink when I’m craving something warm that’s not coffee. It’s so simple to make, and it tastes like a hug in a mug, seriously.
Ingredients you’ll need:
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder (or 1 small cinnamon stick, if you prefer a milder flavor)
- 1 tsp honey (no more, unless you want a super sweet drink that adds extra calories!)
- 1 cup water
How to make it:
Pop your water in a small pot and heat it up before it starts boiling. Toss in the cinnamon powder and honey, then stir it up really well so no clumps of cinnamon get stuck at the bottom. Once the water hits a rolling boil, turn off the heat immediately and let it cool for 10 minutes—this stops the honey from losing all its good nutrients, by the way. If you hate hot drinks or it’s 90 degrees outside, stick it in the fridge for an hour or add ice. It’s so refreshing chilled, I promise!
Cinnamon Baked Apple Crisps
These are the perfect healthy snack when you’re craving something crunchy and sweet instead of chips. My kid gobbles these up in 10 minutes flat, and I don’t even feel bad giving them to him because there’s no added sugar.
Ingredients you’ll need:
- 6 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith work best for a little tartness)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- Extra pinch of cinnamon for topping
How to make them:
First, preheat your oven to 212°F (that’s 100°C, for anyone who uses metric). Core all your apples, then slice them as thin as you can get them—thinner slices get extra crispy, I learned that the hard way after a batch of soggy apples once. Toss the apple slices in a bowl with the cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg until every slice is evenly coated. Lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (don’t overlap them, or they’ll steam instead of crisp up!). Bake for 1 hour, then take them out and sprinkle that extra pinch of cinnamon on top. Let them cool for a few minutes, and they’ll crisp right up.
Cinnamon Porridge
This is my go-to winter breakfast, especially on days when I wake up freezing and my stomach feels a little off. It’s warm, filling, and has a subtle sweet spice that beats plain oatmeal by a mile.
Ingredients you’ll need:
- 60g white rice (or short-grain glutinous rice, if you want a creamier texture)
- 5g cinnamon powder
- Water or light broth, as needed
How to make it:
Rinse the rice really well, then toss it in a small pot with enough water to cover it by about an inch. Bring it to a boil, then turn the heat down low and let it simmer until it’s about halfway cooked, around 15 minutes. Stir in the cinnamon powder, keep cooking for another 10-15 minutes until the rice is totally soft and the porridge is thick. That’s it! No extra sugar needed, but you can add a tiny bit of honey if you want it sweeter.
Quick heads up: This porridge is great for warming up your body, so if you deal with cold hands and feet in the winter, or painful period cramps, this is a perfect breakfast option for you.
Cinnamon Lamb Soup
I know putting cinnamon in soup sounds weird if you’ve only ever had it in sweet stuff, but trust me—it works so well with rich, savory lamb. This is the ultimate soup to make when it’s freezing outside, or you’re feeling under the weather.
Ingredients you’ll need:
- 5-6g cinnamon (a stick works better here than powder, so you can fish it out later if you don’t want bits in your soup)
- 1 pound lamb (bone-in is better for flavor, but boneless works too)
- 1 small knob of ginger, sliced
- Salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste
- Optional: 10g angelica root (dong quai) for extra nourishment
How to make it:
Rinse the lamb, cinnamon, and ginger first. If you’re using bone-in lamb, blanch it in boiling water for 5 minutes to get rid of any scum, that stops the soup from being cloudy. Throw all the ingredients in a big pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down low, cover, and let it simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours until the lamb is fall-apart tender. Add salt and pepper to taste right before serving. If you want it to be extra nourishing for period pain or post-sickness recovery, toss in that angelica root while it simmers.
This soup is so good for warming up your stomach, easing cold aches and pains, and even giving your energy a little boost. I make a big pot of it every January when the weather is brutal.
Cinnamon Brown Sugar Tea
This is a lifesaver for anyone who deals with brutal period cramps, bloating, or just feels super cold all the time that time of the month. It’s way better than plain hot water, and it tastes like a warm dessert without all the sugar.
Ingredients you’ll need:
- 3g cinnamon (stick or powder, both work)
- 5g brown sugar
- 2-3 red dates, pitted
- 3-4 dried longans
- Optional: 1 tsp honey for extra sweetness
How to make it:
Add the cinnamon, brown sugar, red dates, and longans to a small pot with 2 cups of water. Bring it to a boil, then turn the heat down and let it simmer for 10 minutes so all the flavors infuse. Turn off the heat, strain it if you used cinnamon powder, then add the honey if you want it a little sweeter. Sip it slowly while it’s warm, and you’ll feel those cramps fade in 10 minutes, no lie.
Medicinal Uses of Cinnamon for Specific Health Needs
Okay, so we’ve covered the tasty recipes, but cinnamon has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years for a reason. Depending on what you need help with, you can pair it with other herbs to get specific benefits. Let me walk you through the most common uses:
- If you’re always cold, have frequent diarrhea, or stomach pain from excess cold: You can take cinnamon on its own! Grind it into a fine powder, add it to warm water or a light soup, and drink it. It helps chase out the cold in your body, warm up your spleen and stomach, and give your energy a little lift.
- As a helper for blood and qi nourishing herbal formulas: If you’re taking Er Chen Tang (a classic formula for phlegm and digestive issues) adding a little cinnamon helps boost the formula’s ability to move qi around your body. If you’re taking Si Wu Tang (a common blood-nourishing formula for women), cinnamon helps improve blood circulation so the formula works even better.
- If you have deficiency fire in your liver, kidney, or spleen: Pair cinnamon with codonopsis root, prepared aconite, and rehmannia root. This combination helps clear that excess weak fire and replenish your body’s vital energy.
- For period pain, postpartum bleeding headaches, or even kids’ eczema from cold deficiency: Combine cinnamon with angelica root and Sichuan lovage root. This is a classic traditional remedy for all those female reproductive health issues, and it even works for mild eczema and itchy skin in kids caused by excess cold in the body.
Quick note: If you’re going to use cinnamon for medicinal purposes, especially with other herbs, it’s always a good idea to check with a licensed herbalist first, just to make sure it’s right for your body!
Top Health Benefits of Eating Cinnamon Regularly
You’re probably thinking “it’s just a spice, how good can it be for you?” But modern research has backed up a lot of the traditional uses for cinnamon. Let me break down the most impressive benefits:
- Sedative, calming effect: Studies have found that cinnamaldehyde, the main active compound in cinnamon, has a noticeable calming effect. It can help reduce restlessness and make it easier to relax, which is why that cinnamon tea before bed works so well!
- Helps lower blood sugar: Cinnamon has compounds that help your cells respond better to insulin, which speeds up how your body metabolizes glucose. Regular small doses of cinnamon can help lower blood sugar levels, and even improve insulin resistance and lipid metabolism issues linked to type 2 diabetes. That’s a huge win for anyone managing blood sugar levels!
- Supports menstrual health: The cinnamaldehyde and essential oils in cinnamon help increase blood flow to the uterus, which can help with delayed periods, painful cramps, and irregular cycles. Just don’t use it if you’re pregnant, obviously, since it increases uterine blood flow.
- Relieves coughs and congestion: The essential oils in cinnamon get absorbed into your system and are released through your lungs, which helps thin out mucus and phlegm so it’s easier to cough up. If you have a stubborn chest cough, a warm cinnamon drink can help clear it up faster.
Just remember, a little goes a long way with cinnamon. You only need 1-3 grams a day to get all these benefits, no need to chug spoonfuls of the powder (that can actually irritate your stomach if you have too much). Now go grab that cinnamon jar and try one of these recipes, you won’t regret it!
