Homemade Cinnamon Extract for Baking

Love to bake? You need to whip up a quick batch of this delicious homemade cinnamon extract to take your cinnamon rolls, ice cream, apple pie, and other recipes to the next level!

If you enjoy making your own extracts, you’ll love our vanilla extract, lavender extract, and this coffee extract recipe!

It’s so much fun to tinker around in the kitchen! With a little bit of this and a little bit of that, you can create something new to play with!

This homemade extract is made with the most popular spice: cinnamon.

It requires almost no effort and will be done in about a week!

Make a big batch to share with your friends and family around the holidays (or hoard a bunch for yourself – that’s fine, too).

What is Cinnamon Extract?

Cinnamon extract is an infusion of Ceylon cinnamon sticks in alcohol. The alcohol pulls out the oils and other components from the cinnamon, allowing you to add that cinnamon flavor to any recipe.

Unlike ground cinnamon which can become bitter quickly, cinnamon extract is a great way to get the strongest cinnamon flavor without bitterness.

Equipment

• Glass mason jar
• Mortar and pestle (optional)

Ingredients for Cinnamon Extract Recipe

Whole Ceylon cinnamon sticks – You’ll need fresh cinnamon sticks for this recipe, not cinnamon powder. Keep reading to learn more about the types of cinnamon below.

Unflavored vodka – Choose a neutral, flavorless vodka with at least 40-50% alcohol. I prefer to use organic vodka, but any inexpensive vodka is okay.

How to Make Cinnamon Extract

1. Add your whole cinnamon sticks to a jar.
2. Cover the cinnamon sticks with alcohol.
3. Shake and allow to sit out of direct sunlight for approximately a week.
4. Once at the appropriate strength, strain out the cinnamon sticks and bottle the extract in amber glass.

Tips & Variations

Choose any neutral alcohol – Feel free to use a grain spirit or even ethyl alcohol. You can use other alcohols, like rum or whiskey, but they may slightly change the flavor of your recipes.

Crush the cinnamon sticks – To speed up this recipe, try crushing your cinnamon sticks in a mortar and pestle. The extra surface area will help the alcohol pull out more cinnamon flavor quickly.

Make it alcohol-free with glycerin – The most popular alternative to alcohol for extracts is food-grade glycerin. It is a 1:1 replacement for alcohol, so it’s a simple swap for the vodka in this recipe.

How to Use Cinamon Extract

Personally, I use this recipe to add a kick of cinnamon flavor to a variety of recipes. This small bottle packs a depth of flavor you just can’t get using dried cinnamon!

• Add it to your cinnamon raisin bread for extra flavor
• Give your cinnamon rolls a little kick
• Take your coffee cake to the next level
• Make the best cinnamon ice cream ever
• Whip up a horchata milkshake
• Bump up the flavor in your pumpkin pie pudding cups

However, this recipe can also be called cinnamon tincture. Cinnamon has potent anti-inflammatory properties and is a powerful antioxidant. People often consume pure cinnamon extract for its beneficial effects, specifically improving insulin sensitivity (source).

This recipe was not formulated for a medical purpose and I am not a medical professional, so I cannot provide more information about using this product for your health.

FAQs

Which type of cinnamon makes the best cinnamon extract?

Did you know there are different varieties of cinnamon? The most common type, the cassia variety, is the cheapest option and has that spicy, traditional cinnamon flavor.

Cassia cinnamon has significant amounts of a compound called coumarin, which could possibly harm the liver or even cause cancer (source)! I’m not a doctor and don’t feel like worrying about this, so I use Ceylon cinnamon, also known as “true cinnamon,” for all of my recipes.

Ceylon cinnamon has significantly less coumarin and is a great alternative (source).

Since this cinnamon extract is so concentrated, I only recommend using Ceylon cinnamon, usually grown in Sri Lanka. It has a sweeter, more complex flavor that pairs perfectly with your baked goods.

What is cinnamon extract used for?

It is often found in the baking aisle because it adds a rich, spicy flavor to baked goods and other desserts.

Some people consume it to access the health benefits of cinnamon, especially in reducing blood sugar.

What is the difference between cinnamon and cinnamon extract?

Cinnamon is made from the inner bark of trees and can usually be purchased either rolled in a stick or ground into a powder.

The extract is made by infusing cinnamon sticks in organic alcohol. The strong alcohol pulls the cinnamon oil and other compounds out of the sticks and stores them in the alcohol. With this liquid, you can add a strong cinnamon flavor even with a small amount of extract.

What is the difference between cinnamon extract and cinnamon oil?

The extract is made from infusing cinnamon in alcohol. It is similar to vanilla extract, which is alcohol packed full of the oils and flavor from vanilla beans.

On the other hand, cinnamon oil is made from extracting the natural oils in the cinnamon bark. It is extremely concentrated, even more so than cinnamon extract.

Related Recipes

Looking for more homemade extracts? Try these recipes:

• Lavender Extract
• Vanilla Extract Recipe
• Coffee Extract
• Blueberry Extract
• How to Make Lemon Extract
• Cardamom Extract
• How to Make Orange Extract