Substitutions / cinnamon
What to use instead of cinnamon
Use mixed spice in equal amounts. A British blend of warm spices — slightly more complex and less sharp than straight cinnamon.
Every option, best first
| Use instead | How much | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed spice | 1:1 | A British blend of warm spices — slightly more complex and less sharp than straight cinnamon. |
| Allspice | ½:1 | Stronger and more peppery, so use half as much; works best in baked goods and stews. |
| Cardamom | ¼:1 | Floral and intense — use sparingly or it will dominate the dish. |
How much is a cup of cinnamon?
Substituting by volume and weighing are different problems, and the second one has an exact answer. Weigh cinnamon in grams →
A word on how to read these
A substitution is a trade, not an equivalence. The ratio gets the quantity right; the third column is the part worth reading, because it tells you what you are giving up. In a stew, most of these are invisible. In a cake — where flour, liquid, fat and leavening are in a fixed relationship — the same swap can change the crumb.
Why baking notices and stew doesn't →
Where these came from
These substitutions were written by Gather's own kitchen model — the same one the app uses when you tap an ingredient and ask what else would work — then checked and saved as a fixed list in July 2026. Nothing on this page is generated while you read it. They are a good starting point and not a substitute for tasting as you go.