Cinnamon Stick Uses Beyond Baking: 4 Ideas and 1 to Skip

October 18, 2026

That jar of cinnamon sticks can do more than flavor a cake. These cinnamon stick uses beyond baking are simple and cheap: simmer a few for a warm scent, tuck a dry one in a drawer sachet or use one to flavor your coffee. One popular household trick deserves a reality check, though: Extension guidance says sprinkling cinnamon on counters won’t solve an ant problem.

The short answer: cinnamon sticks are useful for a simmer-pot scent and for flavoring hot drinks, and a dry stick in a cloth sachet is a simple scent idea. Don’t rely on cinnamon for ant control. Extension guidance says ants will most likely trail around it, while cleaning, sealing entry points and using appropriate baits address the problem more directly.

Four cinnamon stick uses beyond baking

1Simmer them for a warm seasonal scent

Verdict: good for a warm seasonal scent. Put two or three sticks in a small pot with a strip of orange peel if you like, cover them with water and keep it at a low simmer. Our stovetop potpourri guide and bay leaf uses have more combinations. Treat a simmer pot like any other pot on the stove. NFPA says the leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking, and recommends checking simmering food regularly, staying in the kitchen and using a timer as a reminder. Watch the water level and add water before the pot runs low. Our practical rule is to turn the burner off whenever you leave the kitchen.

2Tuck a dry stick into a drawer sachet

Verdict: a subtle scent, and an untested household idea. Put one or two unused, completely dry sticks in a small breathable cloth bag and slip it into a linen or sock drawer. The bag keeps loose bits off your clothes. The scent is light and it fades over time, so replace the sticks when you can no longer smell them. This is our practical tip, not a tested method, and it is a light scent, not a deodorizer. Don’t put a damp stick in a closed drawer or sachet.

3Flavor your coffee or stir a hot drink

Verdict: an easy flavor boost. McCormick suggests using a cinnamon stick to stir your coffee, espresso or hot cocoa. For a stronger flavor, add a small broken piece of stick to your French press with the grounds, or steep a stick in freshly brewed coffee. The amount is up to your taste, so start small. That method is our practical tip. For an automatic brewer, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and don’t put spices into its grinder or water reservoir. That is an equipment precaution, not a finding. Our guide to reusing coffee grounds covers what to do with the grounds afterward.

Cassia vs. Ceylon: Cassia cinnamon contains more coumarin than Ceylon cinnamon. Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) recommends moderate consumption of cassia and choosing low-coumarin Ceylon cinnamon if you frequently use large amounts. It says cassia sticks have a thick outer layer that forms a small roll, while Ceylon sticks have several fine layers and resemble a cut cigar. This advice concerns cinnamon you eat or drink. It does not establish how much coumarin ends up in a particular cup of cinnamon-infused coffee.

4Give older sticks another use, with limits

Verdict: fine for a simmer pot, but expect a weaker scent. Older dry sticks may still be useful in a simmer pot if they still smell like cinnamon. A stick that has already simmered can go back in a pot, though the scent and flavor will be weaker. Our practical advice is to rinse it, let it dry completely and throw it away if it smells musty or shows mold. Don’t move a wet, freshly simmered stick straight into a closed drawer sachet. Our guide to whether spices go bad says whole spices hold their flavor longest when stored in tightly sealed, dark containers away from the stove and sink.

Does the cinnamon ant trick work?

Don’t count on it. A cooperative extension resource, Pests in the Home, says sprinkling cinnamon on counters will not solve an ant problem, because the ants will most likely trail around it and find another way into your home. The University of California’s UC IPM ant guide recommends cleaning ant trails with soapy water, which removes the scent trail, storing food in closed containers, cleaning up spills and grease, sealing cracks around entry points and using baits. It calls baits a key tool for managing ants. Our guide to a pest-free home covers sealing and cleanup.

Cinnamon stick questions, answered

Can you put cinnamon sticks in a French press?

Yes, a small broken piece with the grounds works, and you can adjust to taste. For an automatic brewer, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Can you reuse cinnamon sticks?

You can reuse them in a simmer pot, though the scent will be weaker. Rinse and dry them first, and discard any that smell musty or show mold.

Is Ceylon cinnamon better than cassia?

It has lower coumarin. The BfR recommends moderate use of cassia and suggests Ceylon if you often use large amounts.

The bottom line

Use cinnamon sticks for a simmer-pot scent, a dry drawer sachet and flavored coffee, keep the pot attended and skip the ant trick. For ants, clean the trails, store food closed and seal the entry points.

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