There are a lot of spices out there, and cinnamon is probably one of the most famous out of all of them. It is a versatile ingredient that can be added to all types of different foods. For example, it is a key ingredient in a lot of spicy dishes such as curry or it is the key ingredient in foods such as cinnamon buns. Cinnamon also comes in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, one of which is known as cinnamon sticks.
Substitutes For Cinnamon Sticks
Cinnamon sticks, much like cinnamon in general, are great for preparing a lot of different meals. However, there are times when someone wants to prepare said meals but they don’t have cinnamon sticks for the time being. If this has happened to you as well, you’ll obviously want to find a good substitute as soon as possible. Fortunately, there are quite a few different alternatives for cinnamon sticks and they are given in the list below.
1. Ground Cinnamon/Cinnamon Powder
As already mentioned, cinnamon comes in all sorts of different forms. You’ll be happy to know that all of these forms have the same taste unless there are any extra ingredients mixed with them. This means that you’ll be able to easily use ground cinnamon as a replacement for cinnamon sticks in just about any recipe. Ground cinnamon goes well with just about any cinnamon stick recipe and is one of the safest alternatives that you can try.
It is fairly common in stores and you should probably also have some lying around in your kitchen. The conversion between stick cinnamon and ground cinnamon is fairly easy, as 1/3 of the former is equal to 1/2 of the latter. All of this also is also the case for cinnamon powder, which is actually more common. Both ground cinnamon and the powder are quite similar to one another and there are only a few minor differences that won’t affect your recipe at all.
2. Ground Nutmeg
Ground nutmeg is a solid and reliable substitution for cinnamon sticks in a handful of different recipes. It is another type of spice, but it isn’t as common as cinnamon. However, you should still be able to find in some stores in your area of residence. Much like cinnamon, it is another spice that is capable of being used in some deserts. It is also great for mixing with other substances in order to create sauces which go well with specific meals. In short, you can use it as a replacement for cinnamon sticks in a few specific recipes.
3. Pumpkin Pie Spice
Another great option for all those that ran out of cinnamon while preparing a meal is pumpkin pie spice. Pumpkin pie spice is a very popular combination of multiple different spices. It also includes cinnamon in abundance, making it a great alternative for cinnamon sticks. You can add it in most spicy foods that you planned to make with cinnamon sticks, such as curry or anything else of the sort. Apart from the inclusion of cinnamon, the main reason why pumpkin pie spice is a great substitution is the fact that it is commonly found in most households. You probably have a jar of it lying around in your kitchen.
4. Allspice
Lastly, allspice is another alternative that you can try if you’re trying to make something with cinnamon sticks. It is mainly great for sweet recipes that require cinnamon sticks or cinnamon in general. This is due to the fact that it possesses a similar type of sweet taste that cinnamon also possesses. You should usually add 1/4 the amount of allspice as compared to the amount of cinnamon sticks needed in the recipe. However, this amount can also vary depending on the recipe itself.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a few great alternatives for cinnamon sticks. You have nothing to worry about even if you’re out of cinnamon sticks as these substitutes are fairly common. A couple of them are found in pretty much every household, and this is probably the case for you as well. You can try any of them out but you should also check which of them go well with specific cinnamon stick recipes.