How To Make Your Own Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend So You’ll Always Have Some on Hand

Lori Lange
·4-min read

Most home cooks don’t think twice about grabbing spice mixes from the store, including Mexican blends for making tacos, herbs de Provence to rub on lamb or chicken and curry powder for soups and sauces. And to this group of kitchen workhorses, you can add everyone’s favorite fall flavor: pumpkin pie spice. But we’re here to say that a DIY pumpkin pie spice blend is truly worth your time, in part because it’s super easy to put together, consisting of just five key spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and allspice. Once you learn how to make pumpkin pie spice, you’ll never go back to the store-bought variety—and you just might find dozens of new ways to highlight this mix in sweet and savory recipes all year long.

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Pumpkin pie spice recipes

In the early 2000s, Starbucks began selling its world-famous pumpkin spice latte, which is one of the pumpkin spice recipes that’s credited with much of the hype surrounding this seasoning blend. But there's a reason why it's so good: rich in antioxidants, fiber and b vitamins, ingredients including cinnamon and nutmeg not only have cell protecting benefits but also add warmth on cold fall days. Copying Starbucks’ pumpkin spice drink recipe is a good place to begin with your DIY pumpkin pie spice mix. Other pumpkin spice delights include pecan pumpkin pie bars (the perfect mashup of two popular Thanksgiving desserts) and maple pumpkin pie, a stunner that tastes like autumn on a plate. And if you follow the keto diet plan, make your own pumpkin pie spice so you can use it in these yummy keto pumpkin desserts all throughout fall and winter.

Ways to Use Pumpkin Spice

A few additional ideas for your homemade spice blend include:

Related: 55 Pumpkin Puns That’ll Leave You Reeling

Why Homemade Spice Mixes are Better

Wondering how to make pumpkin pie spice at home? It’s as easy as a trip to your spice rack. And DIY pumpkin pie spice is infinitely better than commercial versions for the following reasons:

  • You’ll save money. For the several dollars you’ll plunk down on a premade pumpkin pie spice, you can make a bunch of batches of the same blend by mixing your own. And since you probably already have the ingredients on hand (cinnamon, nutmeg and ground ginger are very common spices in most pantries), you can make it any time you like.

  • DIY is fresher. When you make your own pumpkin pie spice, you can mix much less than in commercial jars, which means you’ll use it faster and it’ll smell and taste extra fresh.

  • You can customize it. Don’t love the cloves in pumpkin pie spice? Dial it back when you craft your own blend or nix it and add more of what you do love (cinnamon!).

Related: 100 Great Pumpkin Carving Ideas

Use Pumpkin Pie Spice All Over—And A a Gift

You don’t need to save your DIY pumpkin pie seasoning for your favorite pumpkin pie recipe, to top your homemade latte or to use in Thanksgiving sweets. Instead, think outside the box with this fragrant blend and use some in muffin and scone mixes, stir it into waffle batter or sprinkle it on roasted nuts. Pumpkin pie spice is also excellent in squash soups; on sheet pan dinners like chicken, sweet potatoes and carrots; or mixed into your morning bowl of oatmeal. But the best way to use pumpkin pie spice is to make a double or triple batch and pour it into a decorative jar or two to give away. Tie a ribbon around it and add a pretty tag and then offer your homemade goodness to a new neighbor or your best friend.

Want some more pumpkin love at your house? Check out these 26 pumpkin-themed painting and decorating ideas.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp ground cinnamon

  • 1 Tbsp ground ginger

  • 2 tsp ground nutmeg

  • ½ tsp allspice

  • ½ tsp ground cloves

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together all spices.

  2. Transfer to a container with a tight lid, and measure as needed.

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