I cannot say no to cinnamon, and I don’t know of anyone who can resist it. The combination of cinnamon and vanilla takes me to a magical world, very much like the one portrayed in the movie Chocolate Factory. Mine is better, though. It is full of fairies, and there are no twisted plots. Every time I want to go there, I just bake myself some cinnamon-filled cookies!
We all know that ground cinnamon is an indispensable ingredient in various sweets such as cinnamon rolls, apple pie, churros, and coffee cakes. It is almost impossible to stay away from this versatile spice if you like to bake pastries. Today, I am going to share my crispy cinnamon ball cookies recipe. It is crispy yet melts quickly in your mouth. If you make these very small like I do, you will probably end up finishing them in one sitting. I also added the dark cocoa version as a bonus!
Did you know that cinnamon can also be used as a food preservative? Cinnamon is anti-bacterial. Its medicinal properties are too many to list. That is why it is used as a warming agent in Ayurveda. Many believe that it helps digestion as well. It is no coincidence that cinnamon is loaded with polyphenols. According to some studies, cinnamon even beats other superfoods like garlic in terms of antioxidants. One of its most famous properties is the anti-inflammatory effects it has on our bodies. What better way to fight infections than this delicious spice? You may also reduce heart disease risk if you regularly consume it. Please note that some studies suggest that cinnamon may help to improve sensitivity to the insulin hormone. Keep in mind that the insulin resistance is a major issue for many people. It is one of the key hormones that control our metabolism. Any serious malfunction in insulin resistance can lead to serious illnesses such as diabetes.
Cinnamon is also considered to be beneficial for the aging brain. As I mentioned earlier, the health benefits of this miraculous spice are too many to list here. And you should definitely include it in your diet if you are not allergic to it.
What tools you will need:
If you are making cookies regularly, you must get yourself a cookie scoop set to make things easier. Speed up the process with this handy item so that you can skip to the best part; eating them. The following cookie scoop set from Jsdoin is a great choice, and it shows in its ratings. The trigger is ergonomic. You should be aware that some scoops hurt your hand and wrist when preparing cookies. However, you do not have to worry about that with this set. They are dishwasher safe. If you want to retain the glitter, then I suggest you handwash them.
I make these cinnamon ball cookies as small as I can. However, it is totally up to you to decide. Just note that they get crispier when they are smaller.
Crispy Cinnamon Ball Cookies Recipe
This recipe’s trick is to use the highest quality, unsalted butter when making these tasty cookies. Also, make sure to make them as tiny as possible. We basically bake the cookies just like regular cookies. However, you must immediately coat them with the cinnamon-sugar topping. Do not wait for the cookies to cool down! Otherwise, the topping will not stick to the cookies.
What type of cinnamon is best for baking?
Crispy Cinnamon Ball Cookies
Course: DessertCuisine: InternationalDifficulty: Easy8
servings10
minutes15
minutes25
minutesIngredients
3 cups of all-purpose flour
250 g butter, unsalted
1/2 cup vegetable oil (use your favorite)
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vinegar (use your favorite)
1/2 cup crushed hazelnuts or pecans
- Cinnamon Topping
2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon
1 cup confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar)
- Dark Cocoa Topping
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder (add more if you like)
1 cup confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar)
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C).
- Place all the ingredients into a medium-size bowl, except for the all-purpose flour and the crushed hazelnuts.
- Blend them well with a spatula.
- Gradually add in the all-purpose flour and continue to knead until the dough comes together.
- Add in the crushed hazelnuts (or pecans) and continue to knead for another minute.
- Make mini balls out of the dough in the size of cherries
- Place a baking sheet on the oven tray.
- Place the mini cookie balls on the tray.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 13 to 15 minutes.
- Remove the tray when the cookies get a light golden color.
- Immediately roll half of the balls in the cinnamon topping to coat them well.
- Roll the other half in the dark cocoa topping mixture.
- Let them cool down for twenty minutes or so.
- Preparing the Toppings
- Mix in two tablespoons of cinnamon (or dark cocoa) with one cup of confectioner’s sugar.
Notes
- Cinnamon always pairs well with vanilla, caramel, or cocoa. Therefore, you can spice up this recipe with your other favorite seasonings. Note that the highly popular, old-world Mayan chocolate is a combination of dark chocolate and cinnamon.
- Please make sure you use organic cinnamon in your recipes.
- If you do not like vinegar, you can reduce it from one teaspoon to just a few drops in the recipe.
- Do not crush the hazelnuts into super tiny pieces as they would get lost in the mix. Instead, keep them at a quarter size of garbanzo beans.
- You can form better rolls out of the dough if you keep it in the fridge for about thirty minutes.
Most people use ground cinnamon when it comes to baking. It is the easiest method to add this powerful spice to your recipes. Cassia cinnamon is the most widely used version. However, you must use it in small doses. Additionally, cassia cinnamon is much cheaper in comparison to cinnamon sticks. So, it would also be a budget-friendly solution for you. Note that cinnamon sticks are much more effective in drinks.
Is it good to drink cinnamon everyday?
Cinnamon contains many health benefits. It is full of various antioxidants and polyphenols. You may keep your cholesterol under control, reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, protect your heart health, and reduce the risk of cancer if you consume it regularly. However, as too much of everything is bad, it is recommended that you should stay within daily suggested limits when consuming cinnamon on a regular basis. Always be safe and check with your medical advisor.
Is cinnamon good for weight loss?
Cinnamon alone will not make you lose weight in the long run, but it may effectively help to get rid of harmful side effects of the high-fat, high-calorie foods you consume. Since cinnamon improves insulin sensitivity in your body, you may lose weight due to its effect on blood glucose levels. In simplest terms, it may aid to help reduce the bad effects of refined sugar in your diet.