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.
Deena @ stay at home FOODIE says
Love the idea of making your own spice blends. Eh would make great holiday gifts with a recipe attached.
Maris says
I just did this too but yours is so much prettier!
Ali says
What a great idea!! Perfect for holiday gifts;). I actually just posted a recipe using some of these spices, but I think the whole combo would work perfectly!
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
what gorgeous photos!!!
The Cilantropist says
I LOVE this idea!!! I saw something similar on another site, but your little labeled bottle just drew me in, so cute. :) Great photos, can’t wait to try this out.
shannon says
so easy, it’s a crime not to pull some together for my baking this weekend :)
Rachel says
Yup, I’m sending the spice police after you if you don’t bake with it this weekend. ;)
Brooke @ Veggie Table says
This is such a great idea! I’m like you – I don’t use spices that much so they sit in my pantry and get old and clumpy!
Geni says
I think this is ingenious. Love your ideas for uses as well. Oatmeal?! How terrific! Latte?! Even better! :) This definitely is going to make it into an empty spice jar. But my spice jar won’t look nearly as cute as yours. You drew a pumpkin I see. I am an anti-artist. No,I am not against artists (my husband and daughter are both artists) but I am the worst artist imaginable. Have a great Thursday!
Rachel says
Haha, I’m just glad that you can tell it is a pumpkin, Geni! ;) My sister got the artist skills in our family, I’m more the math/science girl.
Leslie Means @ Her View From Home says
Hi Rachel! I just found your blog from Eat, Live Run. I also am a young mom with TWO little girls – and have stopped working full-time to focus more on my family and my true passion – writing! (I write children’s books!) Anyway, I’m excited I found you! I am always trying to find quick simple recipes for my family too. Thanks for the tips!
Rachel says
Thank you Leslie! How cool that your write children’s books! Our daughter LOVES to “read.” Of course, we’ve been encouraging it since the very beginning. ;) I like your blog a lot too!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
LOVE making homemade spice blends. I can nearly smell this!
Rachel says
The smell is fabulous, especially with freshly ground nutmeg!
mjskit says
I love making my own spice mixtures as well! However, I’ve never made pumpkin spice. This sounds like a keeper! Beautiful pics!
Rachel says
Thanks MJ!
Vicki Bensinger says
Well this is definitely a handy recipe to keep on hand. Thanks for sharing it and saving all of us a few bucks at the grocery store.
Rachel says
Absolutely! You could also scale back the recipe if you don’t want quite as much.
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
This is wonderful. I haven’t been able to find pumpkin pie mix in Australia so this will be great. Now to make my own pumpkin puree…
Rachel says
I could be wrong, but if you can find pumpkins, I think you can probably just peel, seed, boil/steam and puree?
Bianca @ South Bay Rants n Raves says
Of course I saw this recipe AFTER buying an albeit small jar of pumpkin pie spice! I’ll use it up & keep your recipe on my file cuz I’m all about saving money. Also I can’t believe ppl asked to see your trash can!
Rachel says
Hehe, it was a joke. No one really wanted to see my trash can :)
Madi @ Sit Down and Eat Your Peas! says
Can I just say I randomly found your blog and I loove that you made your own pumpkin pie spice? And you made the spices look like little pieces of art. Fantastic! I’m definitely a follower ;)
Rachel says
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Glad to be following you as well on Twitter :)