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?

RECIPE pumpkin cinnamon rimming sugar // jojotastic.com

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!

RECIPE pumpkin cinnamon rimming sugar // jojotastic.com

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.

RECIPE pumpkin cinnamon rimming sugar // jojotastic.com

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.

RECIPE pumpkin cinnamon rimming sugar // jojotastic.com

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.

RECIPE pumpkin cinnamon rimming sugar // jojotastic.com

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.

RECIPE pumpkin cinnamon rimming sugar // jojotastic.com

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:

Project and styling by Gwen McKenzie for Jojotastic.

Photography by Meghan Klein.

Behind The Blog

Joanna Hawley-McBride is a Pacific Northwest-based social media strategist, content creator, and former textile designer. Joanna is the founder and editor-in-chief of Jojotastic, a lifestyle blog focused on Joanna’s work-in-progress cabin, finding the best pair of underwear through #UnderwearThesis, and empowering women to explore nature — all in her signature unfiltered style. Her work has been featured in Domino, CNBC, and Eating Well.

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Leave a Comment

9 Comments

  1. 12.4.15

    Genius! I love a good rimming sugar on my cocktails. Thanks for being a part of this! :-*

  2. 10.25.15
    cindy ensley said:

    This is so clever! I’ve never considered using pumpkin zest before.

    • 10.25.15
      joanna said:

      we’re glad you like it!

  3. 10.22.15

    Wow! So creative! When Sara reached out to me to join this amazing pumpkin party I first started thinking of all the sweet recipes I could do ,then all the savory recipes I could do, and I never once thought of cocktails and certainly not rimming sugar! I love the direction you took. So creative. And this recipe is so approachable. The only problem is I would probably end up eating all the rimming sugar like a pixy stick and have none left for my drinks :-)

    • 10.23.15
      joanna said:

      so glad you’re into it!

  4. 10.21.15

    Yay for all-things-pumpkin in cocktails! So easy and – you’re right – such a thoughtful gift and so adorably packaged! I made a rim of toasted pepitas, sea salt, sugar, and chili powder for my pumpkin spice cocktail. I’ll have to give this recipe a go! Happy pumpkin partying! ;-)

    • 10.21.15
      joanna said:

      yummm that sounds delicious!

  5. 10.21.15

    Yes! Pumpkin in all of the things! Also I love the idea of zesting a pumpkin–can you believe I’ve never done it? ;) Happy virtual pumpkin party day! xoxo