How to Make Cinnamon Sugar (Plus: Gourmet Variations)

Sweet and simple.

To be honest, I was not planning on writing an article on something this basic. But I was in the spice aisle at the grocery store the other day when I saw that a certain multinational spice conglomerate was selling small containers of cinnamon sugar for several dollars per canister. The horror! This perfect, sweet toast topper can be made at home in seconds — and for pennies. Here’s how to make homemade cinnamon sugar, with gourmet variations for good measure.

You’ll also like: Healthy Baked Oatmeal and The N.Y. Times’s Famous Plum Cake

How to Make Homemade Cinnamon Sugar

• The ratio: Use 1 cup of sugar to 2 1/4 teaspoons of ground cinnamon. But if you like a stronger cinnamon punch, you can go up to 2 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon. This ratio can also be halved or doubled, depending on how much or little you want.
• The recipe: Combine 1 cup of sugar with 2 1/4 teaspoons of ground cinnamon. Stir with a spoon until everything is fully mixed.
• Cinnamon sugar will keep indefinitely.

Feeling Fancy? Make Your Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Gourmet

If you want to be a little fancier with your homemade cinnamon sugar, try the following variations:

• Add 1/8 teaspoon of cardamom and a generous pinch of sea salt. Taste. If you’d like a stronger cardamom flavor, add an additional 1/8 teaspoon.
• You can add fresh vanilla bean for an absolutely wonderfully sweet and aromatic version. Split a vanilla bean in half and scrape the bean paste into the cinnamon sugar. Whisk well or beat the vanilla paste with the cinnamon and sugar in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until well mixed.
• Zest one orange and whisk the zest into the cinnamon sugar until it is well distributed and fragrant.

That’s it! Just remember that 1 cup : 2 1/4 teaspoon ratio of sugar to cinnamon, grab your toast and butter, and enjoy from there.