Looking for Healthy Recipes with Cinnamon?

I can think of many favorite desserts that highlight cinnamon.

Cinnamon Rolls, Cinnamon Ice Cream, Snickerdoodles, etc.

But I’m trying to curb some of my sugar addiction and as much as I love these treats, I don’t feel exceptionally healthy after eating them.  I’ve been trying out some different recipes lately and here are a few of my favorites:

Cinnamon Sore Throat Tea

I found this recipe on Sip and Om when I had a horrible sore throat from a bad cold.  It’s wonderful!!!  In fact, it’s so comforting that I found myself making it when I wasn’t sick anymore just because I enjoy it so much.  I don’t use regular milk for this because I’d always heard that dairy can cause your body to make more mucus – thus making more sore throat-causing drainage.

8oz (1 c.) non-dairy milk, like almond milk, rice milk, soy milk, coconut milk

1/2 tsp cinnamon (remember to use ceylon cinnamon!)

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 Tbs honey

-Heat the “milk” until hot but not boiling and then stir in the remaining ingredients.

Apple Pie Breakfast Drink

1 apple, cored and sliced

1 banana

1/4 c. almonds

1/2 c. plain yogurt

1/2 c. milk (dairy or a non-dairy milk)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Ice cubes, to taste (I tend to like a little less ice in this so it’s more of a drink and less of a smoothie)

*Optional*

1 tsp honey

1 tsp chia seeds or flax seed meal

-Blend all ingredients together well.

Cinnamon Applesauce

8 apples, peeled/cored/sliced

1/3 c. apple cider

1 Tbs lemon juice

1/4 c. packed brown sugar

1/4 – 1/2 tsp cinnamon (to taste)

-Combine apples and cider in a saucepan and bring to a boil under high heat.

-Cover, lower heat to medium-low and cook for 15 minutes until apples are tender.

-Stir in cinnamon and sugar until the sugar dissolves.

-At this point, either run apples through a blender/food processor for a fine-textured sauce or use a potato masher for a chunky sauce.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Okay, okay, so this one isn’t super healthy but it isn’t horrible for you either.  It’s actually less sugary than the store-bought packets and oh so much tastier.  I credit the cinnamon.  Check out my post on this Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix!