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!
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.
Essential Pumpkin Pie Spice
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
