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Cinnamon sugar is one of the most iconic flavors, delicious on everything from homemade donuts to toast, cakes, and more. Make a little – or a lot – to keep on hand for all your sweet cravings!

white milk glass container with homemade cinnamon sugar on a brown transferware plate next to cinnamon sticks.

You know what? I had to google how to make cinnamon sugar for years.

I knew I could just whisk it together, but somehow, I either added way too much cinnamon. Then I’d add more sugar to balance it, and then it was somehow not enough cinnamon.

Next thing I knew, I had a giant bowl of cinnamon sugar when I needed like two tablespoons. What?! How does this sort of thing always happen?

The trick is to know the perfect cinnamon sugar ratio. Once you know it, you’ll probably never need this post again because you’ll be able to do it in your head every time. (Come back and see me sometime?)

close up view of a spoonful of cinnamon sugar in a white baking dish with cinnamon sticks sticking out.

The Perfect Cinnamon Sugar Ratio

You need 4 times as much sugar as cinnamon. That’s a 4:1 ratio, and you can scale it up or down however you’d like.

Need a teeny bit? Try 4 teaspoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.

Want a lot? Use 4 cups of sugar and 1 cup of cinnamon.

Works every time!

Ingredients

Obviously, this is a two-ingredient recipe and you already know the ingredients. But, let me tell you that the type of cinnamon can make a big difference!

I normally just use the organic white sugar from Costco, but for cinnamon…I splurge.

I prefer to use the Royal Cinnamon from Burlap & Barrel because it’s ridiculously good. The Tung Hing from Penzey’s is right up there, too.

Even if I use a “regular” grocery store cinnamon, be sure to follow the toasting steps below to make it taste even better.

How to Make Cinnamon Sugar

This is a very simple recipe, but there is ONE step I implore you to try – toasting the cinnamon first.

You do not have to, but toasting the cinnamon for about 5-10 minutes in a 300F oven really brings out the fullness of its flavor.

Just spread it on a piece of parchment paper, toast, then use the parchment to funnel it into your bowl or mason jar. So easy, so worth it!

overhead view of a bowl with cinnamon and sugar being whisked together.

Step 1: Combine cinnamon and sugar in a bowl with the sugar and whisk to combine.

close up view of a spoonful of cinnamon sugar with a jar in the background.

Step 2: Transfer to your favorite container and use however you’d like!

Storing Suggestions

The sugar can clump from moisture in the air, so it’s best to store your cinnamon sugar in an airtight container. I usually keep a bunch in a pint mason jar and have it on hand any time I need it.

If you’re going to use it pretty quickly, put it in a shaker jar to make cinnamon toast or whatever else you’d like!

overhead view of a white milk glass bowl with homemade cinnamon sugar swirled on top with cinnamon sticks on the side.

Tips & Variations

Use a spice blend. You can easily replace the cinnamon with apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice. I like to do this for my Apple Cider Cookies, which I roll in apple spice sugar before baking.

Play with the type of sugar. For a deeper, richer flavor, replace some of the white sugar with brown sugar. So good melted on toast!

Add a little salt. Salt brings out sweetness and the fullness of flavor. A little goes a long way, too. Feel free to add about 1 tsp of kosher salt per cup of sugar or adjust to taste.

How to Use Homemade Cinnamon Sugar

The options are really endless! I like to use cinnamon sugar as a topping for muffins, like my Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins, or to sprinkle over scones before baking.

It’s the star of these Snickerdoodle Blondies with their crunchy cinnamon sugar topping. We also enjoy it over toast, oatmeal, French toast, or even as a fun topping for fresh apples.

Since the ingredients are typically inexpensive, it also makes a nice homemade Christmas gift! Put your cinnamon sugar in cute jars, write out some little labels, and add them to a gift basket.

More Infused Sugar Recipes

overhead view of a milk glass bowl with homemade cinnamon sugar next to a bowl of sugar and cinnamon sticks.

If you made this recipe, please leave a comment or ask a question below! I’d love to hear what you think or troubleshoot any issues.

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