World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls

If you’ve ever wondered why cinnamon rolls taste so good, look into the types of cinnamon your favorite cinnamon roll bakery has. This guide gives you a clue.

Did you know that cinnamon has been used as a spice for thousands of years? Despite this fact, when most people think of spice, they tend only to picture one flavor.

But, the reality is that there are many different variations of cinnamon. So, what are these different types of cinnamon? And which ones go best in cinnamon rolls? If you want to learn the answer to these questions, you’re in the right place.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the different types of cinnamon for your next baking project. Let’s get started!

When cinnamon is harvested, it’s peeled away from the inside bark of a tree. It’s then dried and typically ground down into a powder. However, it’s important to note that there are a variety of different cinnamon trees out there.

Each cinnamon tree comes from the Cinnamomum genus but contains other flavor profiles and characteristics.

For the most part, you can break down the different cinnamon varieties into four categories. In this section, we’ll briefly go over each of them and discuss their flavor profiles.

Ceylon cinnamon (which is known by some as true or soft cinnamon) is originally from South India and Sri Lanka. However, since it was first cultivated, it has spread rapidly to Mexico.

Because of this, it’s often known as Mexican cinnamon. As the name suggests, this type of cinnamon is famous for its incredibly soft texture when grounded down.

In addition to this, it’s not super sweet in terms of its flavor profile. It’s more herbal in terms of taste which makes it a great addition to savory dishes with cinnamon, like curries.

Saigon cinnamon, also known as Cinnamomum cassia, comes from Southeastern Asian countries like Vietnam. Considering cinnamon production has been increasing by 10% in Vietnam each year, it’s fair to say that this option is pretty popular.

There’s a good reason for this too. While Ceylon cinnamon falls on the savory side of the flavor profile scale, Saigon cinnamon is much sweeter.

It doesn’t bring a lot of spice to the flavor. This characteristic makes it a great choice for cinnamon for baking recipes.

If you were to buy generic cinnamon from a grocery store in the United States or Canada, it would likely be Korintje cinnamon. There’s a good reason for this. Korintje cinnamon is perhaps the most balanced of the four options.

It works pretty well with everything, from sweet to savory dishes. That being said, the saying a jack of all trades is a master of none rings true with this product.

If you’re making something sweet, like a cinnamon roll, you’re better off going with a more flavor that’s geared toward it.

The last option, royal cinnamon, is definitely the hardest option to find. You’re not likely to find it at supermarkets, but you might be able to locate it at spice markets.

So, what does it taste like? You can think of it as a combination of Saigon cinnamon and Ceylon cinnamon. It’s incredibly sweet but also quite spicy as well.

This type of cinnamon is really only for spice lovers. The average person might get a bit overwhelmed by the flavor profile that comes with it.

If you’re hoping to capture the delicious smells of Cinnabon, you might be wondering what type of cinnamon they use. The answer is a specialty type of cinnamon known as Makara cinnamon.

You can learn more about this type of cinnamon in our guide here. However, all you really need to know is that it has a higher percentage of essential oils than some of the other cinnamons on this list.

As such, it’s packed with flavor, which gives off that intoxicating smell from most Cinnabon establishments.

Finding Makara cinnamon can be a bit of a challenge. But, if you’re eager to try it, consider looking on Amazon or a specialty spice store. That way, you can try to recreate Cinnabons at home by yourself.

In our opinion, the best variety of cinnamon for cinnamon rolls is Saigon cinnamon. It’s true that it’s not the special type of Makara cinnamon that Cinnabon uses.

But, the reality is that this type of cinnamon really isn’t necessary. Saigon cinnamon brings the sweetness and bold flavor that cinnamon rolls require to the table. It’s also much easier to find at stores.

That’s why we use it in our best cinnamon rolls recipes. However, it’s important to note that Saigon cinnamon isn’t a dealbreaker. If all you have in the pantry is Korintje cinnamon, just use that instead.

It’s good all-purpose cinnamon that will lend itself to the dish nicely. Or, if you want to get creative, you can think outside the box. Savory cinnamon rolls that use bacon or similar ingredients can benefit from Ceylon cinnamon.

Remember that there are no hard-and-fast rules for what cinnamon to use in your rolls. But, if you need a recommendation, you can’t go wrong with Saigon cinnamon.

Or, if you don’t feel like cooking, just look for the best cinnamon roll bakery near me for “research.”

We hope this article helped you learn about the best types of cinnamon for cinnamon rolls. While Saigon cinnamon is definitely a favorite for those delicious twirly desserts, it’s important to think outside the box.

Experimenting with different cinnamon flavors can result in some unique flavor combinations. Who knows?

If your cinnamon is tasty enough, it might get listed on World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls. If you have a cinnamon roll that you want us to review, make sure to get in touch with us today.

Don’t forget about national cinnamon roll day on October 4th! Our team of Cinnamon Roll experts at World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls have created an activities guide so you don’t miss out on any of the fun!