Cinnamon is probably the most useful spice on the planet. It can warm up a steaming mug of cocoa or chilled eggnog, round out the flavors in countless baked goods, and even add depth to savory dishes like Cincinnati chili and curry. Whether or not you agree with the world’s sudden obsession with pumpkin spice, you can’t argue that cinnamon reigns supreme as the spice of fall.
So what is the history behind cinnamon, when did oatmeal raisin cookies make their way into every Christmas cookie gift box, and how can you have some of our delicious cinnamon-flavored cookies shipped to your door this holiday season? Good questions! Read on to find the answers.
(TheoCrazzolara / pixabay)
Cinnamon: A Brief History
Cinnamon is among the oldest spices in the world, but certain details around it were shrouded in intrigue for many years. The Chinese have used it medicinally for thousands of years, and the Egyptians used it in their embalming rituals. The Roman Emperor Nero reportedly burned a year’s worth of cinnamon after the death of his wife, Poppaea (though whether she died of natural causes or he murdered her is less certain). Cinnamon’s value has fluctuated throughout history, but there were times when people considered it to be worth more than gold.
So where did it come from?
Cinnamon’s origin route throughout history was a carefully guarded secret. Through a series of port changes, difficult terrain, and shifting routes, Ceylon, modern-day Sri Lanka and the original home of cinnamon, remained unknown to many traders who would have liked to exploit it. It probably helped that historians of the time told stories of the mystical sources of cinnamon instead of publishing facts. Additionally, there are several different kinds of cinnamon trees, and people were happy getting less potent varieties from lands other than Ceylon.
Prior to the mid-1600s, the Portuguese kept tight control over Ceylon, but then the Dutch swooped in took over. This takeover eventually made cinnamon more accessible because the Dutch learned that high-quality cinnamon trees could be grown in other areas of the world.
Cinnamon in Baked Goods
Cinnamon might have started out in medicine and religious rituals, but people know it best for enhancing cooking and baking. Probably the most popular cinnamon-flavored cookie is the oatmeal raisin cookie. There’s something about the chewy texture from the oatmeal, the plump, sweet raisins, and the warmth from the cinnamon that makes oatmeal raisin cookies the signature cookie for fall and winter.
Even though people have inevitably been making oatmeal cookies for longer than Quaker Oats was around, their Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin cookie is probably the best-known recipe. The origin of the oatmeal raisin cookie started with similarly flavored (though crispier) Scottish oatcakes, and a modified, raisin-less cookie version first appeared in the last 1890s in the U.S. When Americans started really incorporating oatmeal into their diet in the early 1900s, Quaker Oats capitalized on it by publishing their oatmeal cookie recipe on the back of the oatmeal container. They passed it off as a “health cookie,” but in reality, it’s no healthier than your standard chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Our Cinnamon-Flavored Cookies
All of our fresh-baked, deliverable cookies are scrumptious beyond belief, and our cinnamon-flavored cookies are certainly no exception.
- Snickerdoodle: You don’t have to worry about a hard, crispy snickerdoodle because our recipe bakes out soft and delicious. We generously coat each ball of cookie dough with our cinnamon-sugar mixture before letting the flavors marry in the refrigerator for a divine, cinnamony result.
- Oatmeal Cookies: Our fat, chewy oatmeal cookies are flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg throughout the dough. They come in two irresistible varieties: oatmeal with raisins and walnuts or oatmeal with semi-sweet chocolate chips. Either way is sure to leave you drooling!
Seasonal Cookies: The holiday season is known for incorporating cinnamon into its baked goods, and our kitchen is more than happy to embrace that tradition. We offer two seasonal cookies for your holiday pleasure:
- Gingerbread Cookie: Not to be confused with a gingersnap, our soft and chewy gingerbread cookie is perfectly spiced with all of your favorite seasonal flavors. They come out of the oven smelling amazing, and then we make them even more incredible by spreading a fantastic almond-flavored glaze on top.
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip: This cookie is one you definitely can’t miss, and the only complaint we get is how it’s not available all year round! Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves blended with smooth pumpkin make this mouthwatering cookie a customer favorite. You never have to worry about a dry cookie – these come out of the oven soft and gooey! They are also available with or without our decadent cream cheese frosting.
Cinnamon is one of those flavors that bring back warm, happy memories. Thrown in with something savory, and the dish becomes warm and homey, but where cinnamon truly shines is in baked goods. Snickerdoodle, oatmeal, gingerbread, and pumpkin chocolate chip – these are the cookies that make cinnamon sing! Visit our website today to order your holiday cookie gifts!