Cinnamon (Ceylon)

Ceylon cinnamon (kurundu කුරුඳු)

Flavor and role: The thin inner bark of the Ceylon cinnamon tree, rolled in many layers and dried, with a soft, delicate, sweetish aroma. Whole sticks go into broths and braises, ground cinnamon into baking and desserts.
Typical dishes and uses: Moussaka, cinnamon rolls, apple pie, Mexican hot chocolate, Moroccan tagine. In this book: moussaka (ground cinnamon) and hot cross buns.
Substitutes: Cassia can replace it in the same amount, but its aroma is stronger, so use about ⅔. 1 cinnamon stick (about 5cm) = ½ tsp ground cinnamon.
Storage: In an airtight container at cool room temperature, away from direct sunlight and moisture. For best aroma, use ground spices within 6 months to 1 year and whole spices within 2-3 years.
Main countries: Sri Lanka · India
Used in this book: Moussaka Chicken Tagine with Lemon and Olives Viennese Apple Strudel Classic American Apple Pie Baklava Banana Bread Birria Tacos with Consomé Bunny Chow (Durban Chicken Curry in a Loaf)Chicken Machboos (Emirati Spiced Chicken and Rice)French Toast (Pain Perdu)Harira Hotteok (Korean Brown Sugar Pancakes)Jerk Chicken Chicken Kabsa Kanelbullar (Swedish Cinnamon Buns)Massaman Curry Pastéis de Nata Pastitsio Beef rendang Rogan Josh Sri Lankan Chicken Curry (Kukul Mas Curry)Chocolate-Dipped Alfajores, Mar del Plata Style Hand-Pulled Apple Strudel with Walnut Butter Crumbs Apple Strudel Turon (Filipino Caramel Spring Rolls)Apple Strudel French Toast with Butter Crumb Crunch Brown Butter Lattice Apple Pie Apple Pie Empanadas with Dulce de Leche Apple Pie Crumble Bars with Cinnamon Glaze Pecan Pie Maple Baklava Rolls Baklava Ice Cream Cups Brown Butter Walnut Banana Bread Banana Bread Baked Oats Cinnamon Sugar Croffles with Vanilla Ice Cream Short Rib and Shank Quesabirria Tacos Lamb Bobotie with Geelrys Mexican Hot Chocolate Brigadeiros with Cinnamon and Chili Durban Lamb Bunny with Fresh-Ground Masala Tandoor-Style Murgh Makhani Maple-Cinnamon Bannock on a Stick Classic Ceviche with Leche de Tigre Pindi Chole Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani Royal Chicken Machboos with Saffron Rice, Daqoos and Crispy Onions Charcoal-Skewered Chicken Tikka Masala Choux Churros with Cinnamon Sugar and 70% Chocolate Churro French Toast Sticks Three-Chile Enchiladas Gratinadas Apple Crumble French Toast Bake Saffron Lamb Harira with Egg Ribbons Chicken Harira Tortilla Soup Harira Chickpea Toast with Lemon Yogurt Tangzhong Hot Cross Buns with Tea-Soaked Fruit Masala Chai Hot Cross Buns Busan-Style Seed Hotteok Churro Chocolate Hotteok Bread Hotteok with Vanilla Ice Cream Pimento-Smoked Charcoal Jerk Chicken Lamb Kabsa with Toasted Spices and Daqqus Oven-Baked Kaiserschmarrn with Homemade Zwetschkenröster Cinnamon-Sugar Kaiserschmarrn Bites with Warm Vanilla Dip Brown-Butter Cardamom Knots (Kanelknutar), Overnight Proofed Hotteok Kanelbullar (Korean-Style Pan-Fried Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buns)Puff Pastry Kanelbulle Twists with Cardamom Glaze Slow-Braised Beef Shin Massaman with Whole Spices Lamb Seven-Vegetable Couscous with Tfaya Lamb Moussaka with Pecorino Béchamel Moussaka Doria (Japanese Rice Gratin)Crispy Moussaka Bowl Deli-Style New York Cheesecake with Sour Cream Topping and Strawberry Glaze Butter-Spiral Pastéis de Nata (Belém Style)Pastel de Nata Custard Toast Pastitsio with Slow-Simmered Beef and Pork Ragù and Bay-Infused Béchamel Pastitsio Melt Toast with Cinnamon Beef and Béchamel Crust Churro Dessert Quesadillas Padang-style dry rendang Slow-Braised Lamb Shank Rogan Josh Rogan Josh Birria-Style Tacos Tower-Roast Chicken Shawarma with Toum Brown Butter Salted Dark Chocolate S'mores Churro S'mores Quesadilla No-Yeast Soda Bread Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze Sri Lankan Black Chicken Curry with Toasted Coconut Lamb Tagine with Prunes and Almonds Korean Sujeonggwa Pear Tarte Tatin with Ginger-Cinnamon Caramel Upside-Down Caramel Apple Puff Squares Cinnamon-Sugar Mini Yorkies with Berries and Cream

Updated 2026-10-10