Cinnamon in drinks adds flavor and spice with no appreciable calories and fat. Trying to dissolve powdered cinnamon can be frustrating because it generally floats on the surface no matter how many times you stir it in. It's not just you. Cinnamon's chemical components are nearly water-resistant, making it almost impossible to blend cinnamon into liquids. Fortunately, infusing stick cinnamon into honey, or making a sugar syrup, is much simpler and leaves you with a sweet and spicy treat to add to drinks.
Cinnamon-Infused Honey
Step 1
Fill a clean jar with approximately 2 cups of honey. The lighter the honey, the less strong its flavor and the more noticeable the cinnamon will be.
Step 2
Stir in 4 tbsp. of ground cinnamon or four cinnamon sticks, broken into small pieces.
Step 3
Close the jar rightly and let it sit in a cool place for at least 2 weeks so that the cinnamon oils can leach out into the honey.
Cinnamon-Sugar Syrup
Step 1
Place equal amounts of sugar and water into a pot, depending on how much syrup you want to make.
Step 2
Break cinnamon sticks into small pieces. Three sticks for every ½ cup of water is a good proportion to start with. Add the cinnamon to sugar and water.
Step 3
Bring the water to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar.
Step 4
Let the concoction boil for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring it to keep the bottom from scorching.
Step 5
Remove the syrup from the heat, cover the pot and let it stand for at least 4 hours.
Step 6
Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer and into a jar with a lid. Use the syrup in drinks for up to 2 months.
Tips and Warnings
- Place a cinnamon stick in plain water to flavor it, because while it will not dissolve, the oils will leach out of it.
- Do not touch your eyes after handling cinnamon sticks because the oils can sting.
Things You'll Need
- Jar with lid
- Honey
- Pot
- Sugar
- Water
- Fine mesh strainer
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