Pumpkin Pie Spice

This Pumpkin Pie Spice fills the kitchen with the warm smell of fall baking and comes together in minutes with a handful of spices you probably already have in your pantry. It’s the perfect substitute for store-bought blends, but with a lot more flavor.

Use this homemade pumpkin pie spice recipe in pumpkin desserts, sweet potato recipes, muffins, coffee, oatmeal, and holiday baking. I love using it in Pumpkin Pie with Sweetened Condensed Milk and Pumpkin Pie with Graham Cracker Crust because one scoop adds balanced fall flavor without measuring several spices each time.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ready in minutes: Measure the spices into a jar, mix them well, and the blend is ready to use.
• Warm without tasting harsh: Cinnamon makes up most of the mixture, while the stronger spices are used in smaller amounts.
• Useful throughout the season: One batch can flavor pumpkin desserts, sweet potato recipes, drinks, breakfast recipes, and holiday baking.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Ingredients

Here are some notes about what is in pumpkin pie spice. Find the exact amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Ground cinnamon: This makes up most of the blend and gives it its warm, lightly sweet base.
• Ground ginger: Adds a little sharpness and keeps the cinnamon from tasting flat.
• Ground nutmeg: Brings a warm, slightly nutty flavor. Freshly grated nutmeg also works, but grate it finely so it mixes evenly.
• Ground allspice: Adds a warm flavor similar to cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
• Ground cloves: Cloves are strong, so this recipe uses a smaller amount to keep them from taking over the blend.

Fresh spices make a noticeable difference. Open each jar and smell it before mixing. If the aroma is very faint, the spice may not add much flavor to the finished blend.

How to Make Pumpkin Pie Spice

Add the Spices

Measure the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves into a small jar or airtight container.

Mix Until Even

Stir or shake the spices until no dark clumps or streaks remain. Make sure the cloves and nutmeg are spread evenly throughout the cinnamon.

How Much Pumpkin Pie Spice to Use

Use this blend as an equal replacement for store-bought pumpkin pie spice. If a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, use 1 teaspoon of this homemade mixture.

I typically use 1½ to 2 teaspoons in recipes, depending on how noticeable I want the spice flavor to be.

You can also use the blend when a recipe lists the spices separately. Add up the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice, then replace them with about the same amount of pumpkin pie spice.

For example, if a recipe calls for:

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ginger
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Use about 1¾ teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice in their place.

Start with slightly less if you prefer a milder flavor. You can always add more after tasting.

Ways to Use Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin pie spice works anywhere you want warm fall flavor. It is not limited to pumpkin recipes. You can also use it with sweet potatoes, apples, coffee, oatmeal, and other seasonal dishes.

Pumpkin Pies

Use the blend in Pumpkin Pie with Sweetened Condensed Milk or Pumpkin Pie with Graham Cracker Crust. It saves you from measuring several individual spices every time you make a pie. You can also use pumpkin pie spice in my Graham Cracker Pie Crust in place of cinnamon. It gives the crust a warmer flavor that works especially well with a pumpkin pie filling.

Sweet Potato Pies, Desserts, and Sides

Pumpkin pie spice works well in Sweet Potato Pie and Sweet Potato Pie with Graham Cracker Crust because the warm spices bring out the natural sweetness of the potatoes. This would also work well in Southern Candied Yams and Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows. Both recipes already include cinnamon and nutmeg, but pumpkin pie spice adds another layer of flavor from the ginger, allspice, and cloves.

Fall Drinks

Stir pumpkin pie spice into a Sugar-Free Pumpkin Spice Latte or Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew. I also like adding a small amount to my White Hot Chocolate or Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate. The cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves balance the sweetness and make both drinks feel more seasonal. Both recipes are sugar-free, but you can use your preferred regular sweetener too. You can also add pumpkin pie spice to Butter Coffee, chai, regular coffee, or steamed milk. Start with a small pinch, then add more to taste.

Muffins and Breakfast Recipes

Use it in my Pumpkin Spice Muffins, oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, French toast, or yogurt. Start with a small amount when seasoning one serving, then add more to taste.

Easy Pumpkin Desserts

Add it to Pumpkin Chia Pudding, Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse, or Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bars. These recipes already have creamy or lightly sweet bases, so the spice blend adds fall flavor without requiring several separate jars.

Browse my Pumpkin Recipes for more desserts, drinks, and breakfast ideas. You can also find more pies, sweet potato dishes, and seasonal sides in my Thanksgiving Recipes.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Substitutes and Adjustments

• Without allspice: Leave it out and add a small extra pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Without cloves: Omit them for a slightly milder blend.
• Without nutmeg: Replace it with a little more allspice or a small amount of mace.
• More ginger flavor: Add extra ginger if you prefer a sharper blend.
• Milder blend: Reduce the cloves and ginger while keeping cinnamon as the base.
• Stronger blend: Add small amounts of ginger, nutmeg, or cloves rather than increasing all three at once.

Make adjustments a little at a time if you wish (as listed in the recipe card works perfectly for me and my family). Cloves, nutmeg, and ginger can quickly become stronger than the cinnamon.

Tips for the Best Homemade Spice Blend

• Use fresh spices: Fresh, fragrant spices give the blend more flavor than jars that have been sitting open for years.
• Break up clumps: Press any hard pieces against the side of the jar before mixing.
• Mix thoroughly: Uneven mixing can leave one spoonful with much more clove or nutmeg than another.
• Use a wide-mouth jar: A wider opening makes it easier to stir and measure the spice.
• Shake before using: Ground spices can settle over time, so give the jar a quick shake before measuring.
• Label the jar: Add the name and date so you know what the blend is and when you made it. Labeling is especially helpful if your like me and have many jars of Homemade Spice Mixes and Blends.

Storage

• Store: Keep pumpkin pie spice in an airtight jar in a cool, dry cabinet away from the stove and direct sunlight.
• Best flavor: Use the blend within about 6 months for the freshest taste.
• Check freshness: Smell the mixture before using it. If the aroma has faded, the blend will add less flavor.
• Freeze: Freezing is not needed and may introduce moisture that causes the spices to clump.

FAQs