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National Cinnamon Day

Food · November 1

A day for cinnamon, the warm, sweet spice made from tree bark that shows up in rolls, cider, curries and morning toast.

National Cinnamon Day falls on Sunday, November 1, 2026. That is 5 days away.

Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of certain trees. The bark is peeled, dried, and curls into the familiar quills sold as sticks, or it is ground into the reddish brown powder that lives in nearly every spice rack.

There are two main kinds. Ceylon cinnamon is lighter in color, with thin, papery layers and a mild, delicate flavor. Cassia is darker and thicker, with a bolder, sharper bite, and it is the type most American kitchens reach for without knowing it.

In the United States, cinnamon tends to mean sweetness: cinnamon rolls, apple pie, snickerdoodles, oatmeal, a dusting on toast with butter and sugar. Elsewhere it does just as much work in savory food. It warms up stews, rice dishes, Mexican hot chocolate and many spice blends, where it sits alongside cloves, cumin or black pepper.

A stick of cinnamon dropped into a pot of simmering cider or coffee gives a gentler flavor than the ground spice, and it can be fished out before serving. Ground cinnamon loses its aroma over time, so a jar that smells faint when opened has probably been in the cupboard for a while. A quick sniff tells you more than the label does.

Ways to celebrate

• Try Ceylon and cassia side by side and compare the flavor.
• Stir a cinnamon stick into hot cider, tea or coffee.
• Add a pinch of cinnamon to a savory stew or chili.
• Bake a batch of snickerdoodles or cinnamon toast.
• Sniff your ground cinnamon and replace it if the aroma is faint.

Dates

All national days on November 1

Also on November 1

• National Calzone Day
• National Cook For Your Pets Day
• National Author's Day
• National Deep Fried Clams Day
• National Pâté Day
• National Vinegar Day

Categories: Food days