Learn how to make your own Pumpkin Pie Spice blend with this quick and easy recipe. Once made, this fragrant blend can be used in a variety of fall recipes, including cookies, cakes, and pies. It also makes a great gift for the holidays and can be used year-round.
It's that time of year when recipes call for a combination of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, among other things. I love all these spices and if you check my spice rack or spice drawer (yes I have both) you’re likely to find three types of cinnamon, two types of ginger, and multiple containers of garam masala.
I decided to make this spice blend after I realized that during the fall I use a lot of the same spices over and over again in different recipes. Yes, you can buy pumpkin pie spice in the grocery store, but if you have these spices it's easy to make your own blend. As a matter of fact, it's probably the easiest thing you'll make this year. The combination will bump up the flavor of any baked good. Depending on what you’re making you can use all these spices in savory dishes or sweet bakes like Pumpkin Bread or Coffee Cake.
Ingredients for This Recipe
Pumpkin pie spice is a delicious blend of common spices. When making this spice blend, or any kind of spice blend it’s important that the individual spices are still good. Smell and taste each of the spices. If they don’t have much of a smell or have a weird taste, buy a fresh jar of that spice.
Here is what you’ll need for this homemade spice blend:
- Ground Cinnamon: Saigon cinnamon has a strong cinnamon flavor, while Ceylon cinnamon has a more fruity, subtle aroma.
- Ground Ginger: If you want a slightly peppery taste I recommend Chinese Ginger.
- Ground Nutmeg: I like using fresh ground nutmeg which has a stronger flavor, but you can also use nutmeg that is already ground.
- Ground Cloves: Even though I like the flavor of cloves, be careful not to use too much as it can have a numbing effect on your tongue.
- Ground Allspice: Allspice is an
How to Make the Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend
Place the ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and ground allspice in a small bowl. Ground ginger tends to form small clumps so sift the ginger into the same small bowl using a fine-mesh strainer.
Use a small whisk to whisk the ground spices together and store the spice blend in an airtight container. It’s all done and ready to enjoy.
How Long Can I Store the Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend
Based on the expiration dates of the individual spices, the spice blend will last about 1-2 years in an airtight container (plastic container or small jar). Store the spice blend in a cool dry place away from heat or direct sunlight.
Pro Tips for Making This Recipe
- Check the freshness of your ground spices. If you’ve had them for a couple of years, or they don’t have much of a smell replace them with a fresh jar.
- After you’ve made the recipe once, feel free to adjust the ratio of spices to your taste. But don’t use too much clove as it can have a numbing effect on your tongue.
- I recommend using exact measurements the first time you make this spice blend, so that the next time you make it, you will know what to adjust depending on your own tastes.
Uses for Your Pumpkin Pie Spice
This spice blend tastes great on anything where you would typically use cinnamon, like your morning oatmeal or on cinnamon toast.
If a recipe calls for store-bought pumpkin spice you can use this pumpkin pie spice blend as a 1:1 substitution. For recipes that call for a combination of spices (cinnamon, ginger, cloves, etc.), add the total amount of spices by volume and use an equal amount of this spice mix instead. For example, my pumpkin muffins use about 3-1/2 teaspoons of spices, so you would use 3-1/2 teaspoons of this pumpkin pie spice instead.
Recipe - Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the spices in this spice are naturally gluten-free. The most important thing to watch out for is cross-contamination.
There is no difference between the two. They are the same thing with two different names.
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Pumpkin Pie Spice
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons (21 grams) ground cinnamon
- 4 teaspoons (10 grams) ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 gram) ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon (3 grams) ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon (2 grams) ground allspice
Instructions
- This recipe makes about 1/3 cup of spice blend.
- Whisk all of the ingredients, except the ground ginger together in a small bowl. Place the ground ginger in a fine mesh sieve and sift the ginger into to the same bowl. Whisk the ginger into the other spices.
- Spoon spice mixture into your desired jar that seals well. Using a wide mouth storage container makes this step easier.
- This homemade pumpkin pie spice mixture will last in a tightly sealed container until the individual spices’ expiration dates, which is typically 1–2 years. If you want to ensure equal freshness of the spices, by new spices for this recipe, especially if you're not sure how old your current spices are.
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