Cinnamon sugar facts for kids
Cinnamon sugar is a yummy mix of ground cinnamon and sugar. People use it to add flavor to many foods. Think of it on Belgian waffles, Snickerdoodle cookies, and churros. It's also great on apples, cereals, and other fruits.
Many companies describe cinnamon sugar as a comforting smell. It reminds people of warm cinnamon toast or holiday treats. This spice mix is not just for desserts. It has been mentioned in old recipes and cookbooks for a long time. It even shows up in poems! For example, one poem talks about how toasting bread with cinnamon sugar brought back sweet memories.
While in the United States people often use cinnamon sugar on cereals, bread, and fruits like apples, other places use cinnamon differently. In the Middle East, cinnamon is often used in savory chicken and lamb dishes. In Mexico, it's used to make chocolate. But in South Africa, there's a famous dessert called melktert that is lightly flavored with cinnamon sugar.
How Did Cinnamon Sugar Start?
No one knows exactly when the term "cinnamon sugar" first appeared. But we can find it in old books!
One of the earliest mentions is in a cookbook owned by Martha Washington. This book was bought by a historical society in 1892. In a recipe for stewing pears, it says to cook them with "cinnamon sugar and rose water."
In 1846, a British cook named Charles Elme Francatelli wrote a cookbook. He suggested shaking "some cinnamon sugar" on different desserts. These included "cherry bread" and German cakes.
Later, in 1865, another cookbook by J.E. Tilton explained how to make the spice mix. It even suggested putting it on eggs! By 1881, J.E. Thompson Gill's cookbook recommended putting it on pound cakes.
In the early 1900s, more cookbooks mentioned cinnamon sugar. It was suggested as a topping for cakes like "French Baba" and "Parisian Cake."
Cinnamon Sugar Becomes Popular
During the 1920s and 1930s, cinnamon sugar was mainly used as a topping for desserts. It appeared in many publications, especially in the U.S.
By the 1970s and 1980s, cinnamon sugar was in lots of cookbooks. It became a very common topping for sweet dishes. In the early 1990s, it was even mentioned in books about teaching young children.
Today, cinnamon sugar is still a favorite in cookbooks, especially for desserts.
