This easy homemade pumpkin pie spice blend makes any beverage you want – coffee, tea, milk – into a pumpkin spiced dream! In under 10 seconds!
Have I ever mentioned that pumpkin is my favorite? Pumpkin donuts, pumpkin Lara bar bites, pumpkin swirl black bean brownies… I could go on and on!
While pumpkin in and of itself is AMAZING, I think it’s the pumpkin pie spice that I really love. The warm rich flavors just make it feel like fall.
And when I’m baking pumpkin bread or pumpkin cookies, fall is in the air!
Since pumpkin pie is my favorite fall spice, it makes sense to have it on hand for all of my baking. And instead of running out to buy an expensive little jar, I make my own!
Why make homemade pumpkin pie spice?
You can find store-bought spice blends like McCormick on the shelves at Walmart. But honestly, you don’t need to pay $5 for something you already have at home.
One of the first lessons of my course Grocery Budget Bootcamp is to substitute with what you already have on hand to help you save money.
What is in Pumpkin Pie Spice?
This recipe calls for 5 simple and common ingredients. If you don’t have one of the ingredients, you can always skip it this time around. But a true pumpkin spice substitute will include all of these ingredients.
- Ground Cinnamon. This is the base of your spice. It’s warm and delicious. Also a key player in my kids’ favorite snickerdoodle hummus.
- Ground Nutmeg. Like its name, nutmeg has a slightly nutty flavor that rounds out the sharpness of the other spices.
- Cloves. You only need a small number of cloves to go a long way. If you find fresh cloves and grind them yourself, use a small coffee grinder like this one to do the job!
- Ground Ginger.
- Cardamom (optional). I’m personally not a huge fan of cardamom, but it does add just the right flavor. Pick it up if you find it on sale!
If you look at the label of pumpkin pie spice at the store, you might actually see ground allspice as an ingredient. This is actually an equal mix of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg!
Instead of allspice, we are simply adding them in separately – and saving money by NOT buying another ingredient!
How to Make Pumpkin Pie Spice
Making your own spice blends is really one of the easiest things you can do in the kitchen. (And a huge money saver!)
- In a small bowl combine and mix spices well.
- Move to a repurposed jar (here’s how I remove labels).
- Add your own label. (Always, ALWAYs label your jars.)
- Store with your other spices.
Here are some of my other favorite spice mixes: Homemade Taco Seasoning // Dry Onion Soup Mix // Non-Dairy Ranch Seasoning // Homemade Poultry Seasoning.
How to Use Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
If you have homemade pumpkin pie spice in your pantry, you are set for making all things pumpkin!!
The classics are:
- Pumpkin Donuts
- Overnight Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
- Pumpkin Lara Bar Bites
- Homemade Pumpkin Bread
- Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Black Bean Brownies with Pumpkin Swirl
- Pumpkin Pie Hummus
Or add it to:
- Coffee Creamer: ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice + 1 Tbsp maple syrup + 2 Tbsp half & half
- Tea: ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice + 1 cup of chai tea (serve over ice to enjoy cold)
- Hot Chocolate: ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice + single serving of homemade instant hot cocoa
- Kid-Friendly “Latte”: ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice + 1 Tbsp maple syrup + 1 cup warmed apple juice/cider + 1 Tbsp half & half (serve over ice to enjoy cold)
- Yogurt: ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice + 1 cup regular or Greek yogurt
- Smoothie: use in your favorite smoothie recipe, or make a high protein option found in my ebook High Protein No Powder.
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
This easy homemade pumpkin pie spice blend makes any beverage you want – coffee, tea, milk – into a pumpkin spiced dream! In under 10 seconds!
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 2 teaspoons 1x
- Category: Sauces/Condiments
- Method: Combine
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 tsp freshly ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground dried ginger
- pinch cardamom (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small glass jar and shake to mix well. Use within 6 months. Makes approximately 2 teaspoons.
Keywords: Pumpkin spice blend
With the amount I go through, I will most likely have to get some premade, just a few servings per batch isn’t enough. Even if I times everything by 3.
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Allspice is and actual spice in and of itself. The combination you suggest is a good substitute, but not exactly what allspice is!
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I appreciate the insight, MaryBeth!
Marybeth you are correct!
“Allspice is the dried, unripened berry of the myrtle pepper tree, or pimento, which is native to Jamaica and much of Central America. The berries are briefly fermented, then sun-dried until brown. Often mistaken for a blend of spices, allspice is a single-ingredient seasoning with loads of unique flavor.”