RECIPE // pumpkin cinnamon rimming sugar

With Halloween & Thanksgiving (two of my favorite holidays) on the horizon, I’m all about finding fun ways to work pumpkins into all my festivities. So when Sara from Cake Over Steak reached out with an invitation for a virtual pumpkin party I was so in.

I wanted to find a way to work pumpkin into a simple recipe you could whip up in a matter of minutes either for yourself or as a nice little gift for a friend. What’s easier or more festive than something special for a cocktail?

Ingredients

• 1/4 c. raw cane sugar
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• sugar pumpkin zest

I love this recipe because it just requires a few spices you already have around the kitchen… and it’s the excuse I’ve been looking for to pick up one of those cute pie pumpkins from the market!

Start by measuring out a cup of your raw cane sugar into a medium sized bowl. Next add the cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. Take your sugar pumpkin and carefully zest into the sugar mixture. For this step you can use any kind of grater you have around the kitchen. I used a nutmeg grater, but a zester or microplane would work just as well.

Give it a good stir until the spices and sugar are completely incorporated. The rimming sugar turns a gorgeous golden color and sparkles with the natural raw sugar cane crystals. It’s just that extra bit of aromatic magic every cocktail around the holidays deserves.

Once your rimming sugar is ready, prepare your glass by running a slice of orange around the rim. You can use any kind of citrus for this, but I found the subtle orange note compliments the spices perfectly. Next, carefully twirl the glass in the sugar, making sure to pick up little pieces of the pumpkin peel along the way.

Pumpkin cinnamon rimming sugar also makes for a great present to give as a hostess gift or an extra little token during the holidays. Just pour the mixture into a cute, air-tight container and wrap with bakers twine. Perfect for last-minute get-together or someone on your list who needs something special in their stocking.

This cinnamon sugar rim is great for a your favorite liquor on the rocks. You can impress the cocktail aficionados in your circle by serving with a Spiced Apple Old Fashioned. Garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick and enjoy!

For more #virtualpumpkinparty recipes check out these other participants:

• Cake Over Steak Pumpkin Ginger Cookies with a Vanilla Glaze
• B. Britnell Pumpkin & Goat Cheese Macaroni
• A Couple Cooks Pumpkin Spice Almond Butter
• I Am a Food Blog Roasted Pumpkin and Pork Stuffed Shells
• Well and Full Harissa-Spiced Pumpkin Gnocchi
• Loves Food, Loves to Eat Pumpkin Pork Burrito Bowls
• Girl Versus Dough Pumpkin Challah
• Snixy Kitchen Black Sesame Pumpkin Mochi Cake
• Hungry Girl por Vida Pumpkin Chocolate Crumb Cake
• Donuts, Dresses and Dirt Pumpkin Spice Latte Truffles
• Two Red Bowls Pumpkin & Caramelized Onion Galette
• The Frosted Vegan Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Gingersnaps
• Warm Vanilla Sugar Dulce de Leche Pumpkin Ice Cream + Affogato
• An Edible Mosaic Pumpkin Spice Latte Snack Cake with Brown Butter Buttercream
• Kitchen Konfidence Yeasted Pumpkin Waffles with Candied Ginger
• Chocolate + Marrow Pumpkin Scones with Cinnamon Butter Swirl
• The Pig & Quill Pumpkin Pie Milkshakes with Pumpkin Spice Caramel + Coconut Cream
• Salt & Wind Apple Cinnamon Pumpkin Muffins with Pepita Streusel
• With Food + Love Creamy Pumpkin Polenta with Balsamic Roasted Beets
• A Cookie Named Desire Pumpkin Crepes with Cinnamon Ginger Cheesecake
• Nommable Pumpkin Moon Pies
• Feed Me Phoebe Thai Pumpkin Curry with Shrimp and Bok Choy
• The Yellow Table Coconut-Curry Pumpkin Soup
• Ginger & Toasted Sesame Pumpkin Ricotta Gnudi
• The Crepes of Wrath Pumpkin Pie Cake
• The Swirling Spoon Pumpkin Hand Pies
• Erin Made This Pumpkin Rye Waffles with Coconut Caramel
• Beard and Bonnet Pumpkin Spice Pizzelle Ice Cream Sandwiches
• My Name is Yeh Pumpkin Slice and Bake Cookies
• Earthy Feast Pumpkin-Stuffed Turnip-Ravioli with Pepita Pesto
• Broma Bakery Pumpkin Pie White Chocolate Brownies
• Floating Kitchen Pumpkin Beertail with Tequila and Spiced Rum
• The Sugar Hit Pumpkin Everything Bagels
• The Bojon Gourmet Pumpkin Flatbread with Gruyére and Crispy Sage (gluten-free)
• Sprinkled with Jules Pumpkin Spice French Macarons
• Feast + West Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Toffee Bark
• Fix Feast Flair Japanese Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake with Quick Caramel
• Appeasing a Food Geek Pumpkin Ale Cake
• Tending the Table Roasted Pumpkin with Tamarind and Coriander Chutney
• Long Distance Baking Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream + Pumpkin Pancakes
• My Blue & White Kitchen Roasted Pumpkin Risotto with Crispy Prosciutto
• Fork Vs. Spoon Pumpkin Buttermilk Pudding
• Alyssa & Carla Pumpkin Tea Bread (in a Coffee Can!)
• Twin Stripe Pumpkin Spice Toffee
• Le Jus d’Orange Lentil-Stuffed Acorn Squash, Crispy King Oyster Bacon + Aged Goat Cheese
• The Scratch Artist Japanese Pumpkin Temaki with Ginger Kale Chips
• Brewing Happiness Caramelized Apple Pumpkin Muffins
• Blogging Over Thyme Homemade Candied Pecan Pumpkin Ice Cream Drumsticks
• Heartbeet Kitchen Pumpkin Swirled Mashed Potatoes
• The Speckled Palate Pumpkin Brown Butter Streusel Muffins with Maple Cream Cheese Glaze
• Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt Pumpkin Gingersnap Pie
• Style Sweet CA Chocolate Stout and Pumpkin Checkerboard Cake
• Fork to Belly Pumpkin Orange Brulee Pie
• Tasty Yummies Grain-Free Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
• Påte á Chew Pumpkin Almond Cake with Almond Butter Frosting
• Holly & Flora Pumpkin Pie Martini with Coconut Cream + Homemade Pumpkin Spice Syrup
• Southern Soufflé Sorghum Pumpkin Soufflés
• SugarHero! Cinnamon Swirl Pumpkin Pound Cake
• Okie Dokie Artichokie Creamy Pumpkin and Chorizo Pasta Bake
• Kale & Caramel Pumpkin Goat Cheese Polenta with Brown Butter Thyme Mushrooms & Kale
• The Little Epicurean Maple Pumpkin Butter Brioche Toast
• Vigor and Sage Maple Pumpkin Harvest Smoothie
• Tried and Tasty Whole Wheat Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
• Sprouted Routes Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Risotto with Sweet & Spicy Roasted Pepitas (gluten free)
• The Fauxmartha Baked Pumpkin Donuts
• So… Let’s Hang Out Grain-Free Apple Crumble Pumpkin Pie
• Wit & Vinegar Pumpkin Flaxseed Dog Treats
• Dunk & Crumble Pumpkin Roundup
• Biscuits and Such Pumpkin Pound Cake
• A Little Saffron Spiced Pepita Brittle

Project and styling by Gwen McKenzie for Jojotastic.

Photography by Meghan Klein.