We Tried 12 Jars Of Ground Cinnamon And One Stood Out As The Winner We’ll Bake With Forever
Ground cinnamon isn’t just another spice hiding in your cabinet—it’s the aromatic powerhouse behind everything from your morning toast to holiday cookies. We’ve spent weeks sniffing, tasting, and baking with every jar I could find to bring you this no-holds-barred ranking.
Whether you’re a casual shaker or a cinnamon connoisseur, this guide will forever change how you view those innocent-looking brown flakes.
1. Burlap & Barrel Royal Cinnamon
Holy cinnamon sticks! This stuff is basically the Beyoncé of the spice world—rare, expensive, and absolutely worth every penny. Harvested from Vietnam’s Quang Nam mountains, it delivers an almost scandalous sweetness that regular cinnamon can only dream about.
I nearly fell off my kitchen stool when we first opened this jar. The aroma hits like a flavor grenade—bright, citrusy notes dancing with deep warmth that makes supermarket brands seem like sad, distant relatives.
2. Morton & Bassett San Francisco Organic Ground Cinnamon
Surprise contender alert! This elegant little jar packs a serious flavor punch that sent my taste buds into a happy dance. The moment I twisted off that signature black cap, everyone knew we were dealing with the real deal—warm, complex aroma with none of that dusty afterthought you get from cheaper brands.
Morton & Bassett sources their cinnamon from high-elevation farms where the spice develops deeper character. Each particle seems perfectly ground—fine enough to blend seamlessly into your coffee but substantial enough to announce its presence in your snickerdoodles.
3. Simply Organic Ceylon Cinnamon
Move over, imposters! True Ceylon cinnamon (the kind that doesn’t come with a side of liver damage when consumed in large quantities) has entered the chat. Simply Organic’s version is the gentle sophisticate of the cinnamon world—lighter in color with a delicate, almost floral quality that makes regular cassia cinnamon seem like a brute.
The subtle complexity unfolds slowly, without that harsh punch that cheaper varieties deliver. For cinnamon rolls, it creates a more nuanced experience that won’t overpower your other ingredients.
4. Loisa Organic Cinnamon
Loisa’s cinnamon explodes with freshness that made me question whether I’d ever actually tasted real cinnamon before. This Latinx-owned company doesn’t mess around when it comes to sourcing top-quality spices that honor cultural cooking traditions.
The grind is perfect—fine enough to dissolve completely in my arroz con leche but still substantial enough to provide texture in my morning oatmeal. There’s a brightness here that most cinnamons lack, a kind of zingy quality that wakes up your taste buds instead of just sitting heavily on them.
5. McCormick Ground Cinnamon
The Toyota Corolla of cinnamon—it’s everywhere, it’s reliable, and nobody gets particularly excited about it. McCormick’s familiar red-capped jar has probably graced your spice rack at some point, offering consistently acceptable (if somewhat uninspiring) flavor.
Let’s be honest—this isn’t the cinnamon that’s going to change your life or win you accolades at the bake sale. But it delivers exactly what most people expect cinnamon to taste like: warm, slightly sweet, with that characteristic spicy bite.
6. Costco Kirkland Signature Organic Cinnamon
Size queens, rejoice! This massive jar of cinnamon proves that sometimes bigger really is better. Kirkland Signature has somehow managed to combine bulk pricing with surprisingly respectable quality—a rare feat in the spice world.
Opening this behemoth for the first time, I was struck by the robust aroma that didn’t scream “mass-produced.” The cinnamon has a satisfying reddish-brown hue and a potency that holds up impressively well in baking. Our pumpkin bread emerged with that perfect spice balance that had friends demanding the recipe.
7. 365 Organic Ground Cinnamon
Whole Foods’ house brand delivers exactly what you’d expect—solid quality without breaking the bank or your ethical standards. We got hit with that distinctive warm aroma that’s neither too aggressive nor too timid.
The medium-fine grind works beautifully in both baked goods and sprinkled atop drinks. There’s a clean, straightforward cinnamon flavor here that lacks the complexity of premium brands but avoids the dusty staleness of cheaper options. We’ve found it particularly good in apple-based recipes, where it provides reliable warmth without stealing the show.
8. Red Ape Organic Ground Cassia Cinnamon
Cinnamon with a conscience! Red Ape doesn’t just deliver excellent spice—they donate 5% of profits to orangutan conservation. The moment we opened this jar, we were greeted by an intoxicating aroma that’s surprisingly bold for an ethically sourced product.
The flavor profile leans toward the sweeter side of the cinnamon spectrum, with a pronounced warmth that lingers pleasantly. I’ve found it particularly stellar in sweeter applications like cinnamon rolls and snickerdoodles, where its natural sweetness amplifies the sugar without requiring extra.
9. R.L. Schreiber Ground Cinnamon
Restaurant secret alert! R.L. Schreiber has been quietly supplying professional kitchens with superior spices for decades, and their cinnamon is the stuff of chef legends. This isn’t your average grocery store find—you’ll need to track it down online or through specialty retailers.
The effort is absolutely worth it. The aroma alone is a revelation—intensely fragrant with complex notes that cheaper brands can’t touch. There’s a perfect balance of sweetness and heat that elevates everything from your morning toast to sophisticated desserts.
10. Unpretentious Ground Cassia Cinnamon
Don’t let the humble name fool you—this newcomer to the spice scene delivers serious flavor without the fancy packaging or marketing hype. The minimalist glass jar houses a surprisingly potent cinnamon that punches well above its weight class.
We were skeptical at first (aren’t we all tired of brands trying too hard to seem authentic?), but the proof is in the pudding—literally, as I made cinnamon rice pudding that had my entire household fighting over the last spoonful. There’s a clean, pure cinnamon flavor here without any bitter aftertaste.
11. Nancy’s Candy & Spice Ground Cinnamon
Small-batch magic in a jar! A family operation that treats spice-grinding like an art form rather than a mass production line. Each small batch is ground just before shipping, resulting in an almost obscene freshness you can smell the second you break the seal.
The flavor profile leans toward the complex side, with surprising depth that reveals different notes depending on how you use it. In apple pie, it highlighted the fruit’s natural sweetness; in chili, it added mysterious warmth without screaming “CINNAMON!”
12. Frontier Co-Op Ground Ceylon Cinnamon
Forget everything you think you know about cinnamon. Frontier Co-Op’s Ceylon variety is like discovering that your favorite song sounds completely different—and better—on vinyl. The pale sandy color might throw you at first, but that’s how you know you’re getting the real deal.
We conducted a side-by-side taste test with regular cassia cinnamon, and the difference floored me. This stuff has a subtle complexity that unfolds gradually—hints of citrus, floral notes, and a gentler heat that doesn’t overwhelm. No question, it’s a favorite—and it’s staying in my kitchen for good.
