Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe
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Learn how to make pumpkin pie spice to use in everything from pumpkin pie recipes to pumpkin spice lattes, your favorite fall baking, and more. All you need is a few spices and 5 minutes!
Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: This pumpkin spice recipe is everything we love about fall. Add this homemade spice blend to beverages, desserts, baked goods, snacks and more.
How long it takes: 5 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: measuring spoon, small jar
Servings: makes about 1/4 cup
- 1 Recipe Overview
- 2 Cozy Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 3 Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Spice Recipe
- 4 What Is Pumpkin Pie Spice Made Of?
- 5 Handy Tool
- 6 How to Make Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 7 Tips and Variation Ideas
- 8 FAQs
- 9 Ways To Use Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 10 How to Store
- 11 More Seasoning Mixes
- 12 Get the Recipe: Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
Cozy Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
Rows of gleaming orange pumpkins, crisp autumn afternoons, brilliantly colorful leaves, and an azure blue sky. Don’t you just love this season?
And of course, there’s the food: mulled cider, cinnamon sugar-dusted apple cider doughnuts, and pumpkin everything. That’s where this homemade pumpkin pie spice blend enters the picture. With warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and more, you’ll find yourself adding this spice blend to beverages, baked goods, breakfast foods, and more. It just tastes like fall!
Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Spice Recipe
- Better quality spice. Making your own seasoning mixes is budget-friendly and tastes way better than store-bought. This homemade pumpkin pie spice is easy to customize to your tastes, and it’s free of any additives or preservatives.
- Easy ingredients. Will you need to buy a bunch of spices to make your own pumpkin spice? Nope! Chances are, you already have what you need in your pantry. 5 simple spices and 5 minutes is all it takes.
- Perfect for fall. When the days turn cool and crisp, use pumpkin pie spice in all your favorite fall recipes. This homemade spice features in everything from my healthy pumpkin bread to pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, homemade pumpkin pie, and more. Keep reading for easy ways to use pumpkin spice!
What Is Pumpkin Pie Spice Made Of?
I’ve included some quick notes on the short list of spices you’ll need to make your own pumpkin spice. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below the post with the full ingredient amounts and recipe details.
- Cinnamon: Sweet and warm, ground cinnamon is the foundation of the blend.
- Nutmeg: Store-bought ground nutmeg works fine. But, I promise, once you try freshly grated nutmeg, you’ll never go back! The flavor of pre-ground just can’t compare. Buy whole nutmegs (they look like a hard, round nut in the dry goods section) and use a fine zester or grater to scrape off the amount you need.
- Ginger: Another warming spice, ground ginger packs a zesty punch reminiscent of gingersnaps.
- Allspice: Despite the name, allspice is just one spice. It’s a dried berry, also called Jamaica pepper, found with the other spices in the spice aisle.
- Cloves: You may be more used to whole cloves, but you’ll need ground cloves for this pumpkin spice blend. This dark brown spice has a powerful flavor, so use it sparingly. Take a sniff and if you’re not sure about it, start with a half teaspoon and add more to taste.
How to Make Pumpkin Pie Spice
Making pumpkin pie spice is almost embarrassingly easy. Use a measuring spoon to measure out each ground spice into a jar or container, put the lid on, and shake it. You can also stir the spices together in a bowl before transferring the mixed spice to a storage container.
Tips and Variation Ideas
This simple pumpkin spice recipe is so straightforward, it’s destined to become a pantry staple. Here are some final tips for making your own spice blend:
- Use fresh spices. There’s no need to buy a bunch of brand-new spices for this recipe, just as long as yours haven’t been sitting in the cupboard for 10 years. If they have, my advice to you is to start fresh. You won’t be sorry!
- Store your pumpkin spice airtight. I like to recycle old spice jars to put my homemade spices in. I write up a quick label, draw a pumpkin on it because I’m a dork (and a terrible artist), and date it before stashing it in the pantry. See below for detailed storage instructions.
- Double or triple the recipe to make more pumpkin pie spice mix. Just keep the ratio the same.
- If you’re not fond of a particular ingredient, simply omit it. You can also substitute extra cinnamon, or another warm sweet spice, such as cardamom.
FAQs
No. Allspice is its own spice, and not a combination of “all spices” (not to be confused with mixed spice, see below). Pumpkin pie spice is a blend of spices that sometimes includes allspice.
Yes, because they’re the same thing! Mixed spice is another name for pumpkin pie spice and they’re interchangeable in recipes.
In a pinch, cinnamon is a good substitute for pumpkin pie spice. Another option is apple pie spice, which contains similar spices. Compare the ingredients in the recipe to what you have on hand.
Ways To Use Pumpkin Pie Spice
I’m sure you’ll find loads of ways to use pumpkin pie spice in all your favorite recipes! Here are a few of my own ideas to get you started. Pumpkin spice adds the perfect taste of fall to anything you make.
- Pumpkin Pie. Of course! Your homemade pumpkin pies just got a whole lot more homemade, right down to the pumpkin spice throughout.
- Fall baking. There are so many fall desserts and baked goods that call for pumpkin spice! Try pumpkin poke cake or these healthy pumpkin bran muffins.
- Snacking. Pumpkin spice candied walnuts are the perfect cozy snack with your pumpkin spice latte! Or, make this easy pumpkin dip.
- Breakfast. Add a dash of this spice blend to your bowl of oatmeal. A teaspoon or so mixed in with your pancake or waffle mix will taste like fall.
- Hot drinks. Skip the lineup at the local coffee house and make your own homemade pumpkin spice lattes, hot apple cider, and more.
- Ice cream. Mix pumpkin pie spice into vanilla ice cream or use it to flavor homemade whipped cream.
- Savory. Add a sprinkle of warm spice to roasted sweet potatoes and other winter vegetables, like butternut squash.
How to Store
It’s important to store spices and dried herbs airtight in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight, like inside a pantry or cupboard. Also, make sure to keep spices away from heat, like the stove.
This pumpkin pie spice will keep fresh for two to three years, if stored properly.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (see note)
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Mix together all ingredients in a small jar or airtight container. Makes a little less than a quarter cup.
Notes
- A note about nutmeg: use store-bought ground nutmeg if you need to but I promise once you try freshly grated, you’re never going back!
- Store at room temperature in pantry or cupboard. Keeps for two to three years if stored properly.
- Can be used for pumpkin pie, of course, but check out the post above for lots more ideas and recipes.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Kristy @ Sweet Treats and More says
Ooooh love this idea of making your own pumpkin pie spice! I found you over at Taste and Tell!
Rachel says
Thank you! It is so tasty.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
Love the picture of the spices!
And saw you on Deborah’s site today :)
Rachel says
Thanks Averie! I still can’t believe she wanted to feature me! So fun!
claire @ the realistic nutritionist says
Being that I practically DRINK pumpkin pie spice ,I love this recipe!! I find myself using it in almost every single recipe I have!
Rachel says
It is good stuff, isn’t it? Now that I have this homemade mix, I want to use it even more often.
The Elegant Eggplant says
What a great idea!! And I love your cute little label!!!
Rachel says
Oh boy. I’m such a bad “artist.” Thanks though!
Cookin' Canuck says
This is so much better than the store-bought version, particularly with that freshly ground nutmeg. You’re so right about never going back to the pre-ground version once you’ve ground your own nutmeg.
Rachel says
Yup, there is no comparison. Fresh ground is SO much better.
Baker Street says
Stirred into your oats sounds perfect! I should get up and toss this right away!
Rachel says
I think I’m going to have it on oatmeal tomorrow!
Tracey says
Your little homemade wrapper for the jar is the cutest :) Next time I’m out of pumpkin pie spice I’m definitely making it from scratch.
Rachel says
Thanks :) Let me know how you like it! I saw some recipes with cardamom too.
Mal @ The Chic Geek says
Perfect! Much nicer to make your own, and you can adjust for personal tastes too.
Rachel says
Exactly! I saw some with cardamom in them too, but I didn’t have any.
Bev Weidner says
What about snorting the spice? Is that accepted among human beings? No? Yes?
looks. awesome.
Rachel says
Let me know how that works out for you, Bev! ;)
Kitchen Belleicious says
what a wonderful idea. I wish I would have thought of it. I love pumpkin spice and you want to know a secret- i use it even when its the middle of summer. I just can’t get away from it! great post!
Rachel says
Summer use is perfectly acceptable, in fact, now I’m trying to figure out why I don’t use use it year-round!
Lesa @Edesia's Notebook says
Great post, Rachel. I like to put pumpkin pie spice on applesauce. Penzey’s sells empty spice jars for situations like this, and they’re like less than $2. I use them for taco seasoning and BBQ rub, and yeah, labels are important because my husband put taco seasoning on something we were going to barbecue this summer!
Rachel says
Haha, whoops! I’m thinking that might be kind of good though! What were you grilling?
Lesa @Edesia's Notebook says
Country-style pork strips. We did the only logical thing: grilled them, then cut them up and put them in tacos!
Christina @ This Woman Cooks! says
Ooo yay I should do this. I’m very intrigued by what you have coming Friday…and for the pictures of the inside of your fridge!
Rachel says
The photos will be on Taste and Tell around two. I’ll throw up a link when her post goes lives :)
Miriam @ Overtime Cook says
I love making my own spice mixtures! Thanks for posting this one- I was hesitant to buy pumpkin pie spice, but I have all these ingredients!
-Miriam
Rachel says
Yeah–It’s great in a pinch, but I don’t think I’ll ever go back now!
Katherine Martinelli says
Awesome! I usually make my own impromptu pumpkin pie spice blend whenever a recipe calls for one, so it’s good to have an actual recipe to follow! :-) Also I just shared your taco seasoning recipe with a friend who was fretting about not being able to find taco seasoning in Israel :-)
Rachel says
Awesome, thanks!
Amy @ A Stool at the Counter says
Awesome! Thanks for sharing the inside of your trash can! lol…no seriously…I too am all about homemade seasoning blends. I always make my own taco seasonings too. :)
Rachel says
You’re welcome! See, I knew people were dying for a trash can shot ;)