Essential Pumpkin Pie Spice

My homemade pumpkin pie spice blend is my go-to for pies, cookies, cakes, and all things fall. Plus, you likely have everything you need already in your pantry!

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

You can buy pumpkin pie spice, but since you probably already have everything you need to make it, there’s no need! My essential blend is perfect for pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin pancakes, and more!

I use this blend whenever a recipe calls for pumpkin pie spice or as a substitute for cinnamon. It’s perfect for muffins, cakes, cookies, and many of your favorite fall recipes and holiday recipes!

Key Ingredients

The first three spices below create a wonderful spice blend, but you can experiment with additional spices to make it even more interesting. I’ve included the recommended amounts of each spice in the pumpkin pie spice recipe below.

  • Cinnamon: I use ground cinnamon, and if I have it available, I prefer Vietnamese cinnamon (also known as Saigon cinnamon). It has a rich, warm, and spicy flavor, perfect for baked goods like cinnamon rolls, apple pie, and oatmeal cookies.
  • Ginger: I use dried ground ginger in this blend, which adds a warm and slightly spicy note.
  • Cloves: Ground cloves offer a potent flavor, so a little goes a long way. You’ll need less of this spice compared to the others. Cloves are a classic ingredient in pumpkin pie, gingerbread, and other fall-inspired treats.
  • Nutmeg (Optional): This spice adds a warm, slightly sweet, and nutty note that complements the other flavors.
  • Allspice (Optional): Allspice offers a unique blend of flavors reminiscent of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, making it a natural addition to this mix.
  • Black Pepper or Cayenne Pepper (Optional): If you enjoy a hint of heat, consider adding a small amount of black pepper or cayenne pepper. Remember, a little goes a long way, so start with a pinch and adjust to your taste.
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

Essential Pumpkin Pie Spice

  • PREP
  • TOTAL

Making homemade pumpkin pie spice is easy, and I bet you have everything you need to make it already sitting in your spice cabinet! Use this spice blend to add a warm, toasty flavor to muffins, quick breads, cakes, coffee drinks, savory dishes, and my favorite, pumpkin pie! Use this blend whenever a recipe calls for pumpkin pie spice or as a substitution for cinnamon.

We typically use the basic blend for our recipes, but for more complexity, try adding one or more of the optional spices listed below. See the article above for a brief explanation of each spice.

Makes 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces)

You Will Need

Basic Blend

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cloves

Optional Spices (use one or more)

3/4 teaspoon finely grated or ground nutmeg

3/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

    1Stir spices together, and then store in a spice jar or mason jar.

    2Ground spices typically last for 1 to 2 years.

Adam and Joanne's Tips

  • The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.
Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1 teaspoon / Calories 6 / Total Fat 0.1g / Saturated Fat 0g / Cholesterol 0mg / Sodium 0.9g / Carbohydrate 1.8g / Dietary Fiber 1.1g / Total Sugars 0.1g / Protein 0.1g
AUTHOR: Joanne Gallagher
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4 comments… Leave a Review
  • em August 22, 2024, 8:46 am

    too much ginger imo it gets over all the rest

    Reply
  • Nora November 5, 2022, 2:45 pm

    I’ll be straightforward. I made this tonight from scratch as in the recipe and it’s BLOODY DELICIOUS!! Thank YOU!!

    Reply
  • penny October 24, 2022, 1:22 pm

    this was perfect i loved this!!

    Reply
  • Hepzibah Becca Jael August 25, 2022, 5:49 am

    Thank you for the recipe

    Reply

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