The Best Possible Way to Make Cinnamon Toast
Cinnamon sugar is a commonly used ingredient in baked treats like cinnamon rolls and snickerdoodles, but there's a quicker and easier way to enjoy this superstar spice combo: sprinkle it on hot buttery toast. Why yes, I'm talking about cinnamon toast.
Cinnamon, butter, sugar and bread. Somehow this list of basic ingredients comes together to create something magical that makes you feel all warm and good inside. And while it may seem like it's impossible to improve upon perfection, it turns out there's a secret fifth ingredient that can take this heavenly snack to the next level: cocoa powder.
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Why You Should Add Cocoa Powder to Cinnamon Toast
Like PB loves J, cocoa and cinnamon were meant to be together. Combining the warmly spiced and sweet notes of cinnamon with the bitter, earthy undertones of cocoa creates an intricate and satisfying flavor combination. A small amount of cocoa in your cinnamon-sugar mix will come through as a subtle accent rather than a dominant flavor, making your cinnamon toast taste richer and more delicious in an undefinable kind of way. It's similar to how adding cinnamon to Mexican hot chocolate creates a deeply rich drink or how adding espresso powder to chocolate cake batter can enhance the chocolate flavor without making your dessert taste like coffee.
Related: The 20 Best Chocolate Dessert Recipes
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How to Make Cinnamon Toast with Cocoa Powder
For each teaspoon of ground cinnamon, add 1 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder. Here’s a quick cinnamon-cocoa sugar recipe that you can make and keep on hand:
1/2 cup granulated sugar or light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
The salt is optional, but salt plays a role in enhancing the flavors of spices. Also, keep in mind that fat helps activate cinnamon's flavor, so don’t be shy with the butter!
To make cinnamon-cocoa toast, melt a large pat of butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add a couple slices of bread and toast until the bread absorbs the butter, adding more butter if necessary. Cook until the bottom of the bread is golden brown then flip the bread and add another pat of butter. Sprinkle a thin layer of cinnamon-cocoa sugar on the toast and cook until the other side is golden brown.
You can stop there, or take things a little further, which we strongly recommend. For the ultimate cinnamon toast, flip the bread again and cook for a minute to caramelize the sugar. Transfer to a plate and sprinkle with more cinnamon-cocoa sugar.
Related: Fried Cinnamon French Toast
Where Else to Use Cinnamon-Cocoa Sugar
Once you've made a batch of this cocoa-boosted spice mix, you can use it in any recipe that calls for cinnamon sugar. For more breakfast options, try sprinkling it on oatmeal, French toast, or yogurt. You can also smear your cinnamon-cocoa toast with peanut butter instead of butter for a different take on this tasty treat. And the next time you make cinnamon rolls, try this blend instead of standard cinnamon sugar.
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