Whip up this easy pumpkin spice mix for all of your autumn baking – it’s a great way to add warm and cozy fall flavor without affecting your macros!
Have I ever mentioned that I love pumpkin? Pumpkin Donuts, Pumpkin Larabar 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 spice taste that I really love. The warm, rich flavors just make it feel like fall.
Since pumpkin spice is my favorite fall flavor, it makes sense to have the spice mix on hand for all my fall baking. And instead of running out to buy an expensive little container at the grocery store, I make pumpkin pie spice on my own!
What are the spices in pumpkin spice?
Pumpkin spice includes warm and cozy spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Ginger and cardamom round out the seasoning with a sharp, pungent flavor.
WHY MAKE PUMPKIN SPICE
So why make pumpkin pie spice yourself?
- It’s way cheaper! You can find store-bought pumpkin spice blends like McCormick on the shelves at Walmart. But honestly, you don’t need to pay $5 for something you can make with individual spices you already have at home.
- Convenient. Instead of running out to the store for just one thing (which usually turns into more than one thing), you can start making pumpkin pie spice at home.
- Versatile. Add the cardamom or skip it or throw in extra cloves if you like them. You control the flavor!
- Giftable. If you know a pumpkin spice lover, mix up a jar and add a cute label, and you have an inexpensive gift!
- Easy to make a big batch! If you’re like me and you love fall baking, make a triple batch (or larger!) and have enough pumpkin pie spice for the whole season. See the recipe notes to make a larger batch.
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WHAT IS IN PUMPKIN PIE SPICE MIX?
This homemade pumpkin pie spice 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 ground spices. While spices tend to have long lasting expiration dates, fresher spices will yield the best flavor.
- Ground Cinnamon. This is the base of your pumpkin spice mix. It’s warm and delicious. Cinnamon is also a key player in my kids’ favorite Snickerdoodle Hummus.
- Ground Nutmeg. Like its name, nutmeg has a slightly nutty, earthy 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 want to grind them yourself, use a small coffee grinder to do the job! You can also use dried ground cloves.
- Ground Ginger. This adds a sweet and spicy flavor to the mix. I always have ground ginger on hand for sweet treats like Gingersnaps and main dishes like Egg Roll in a Bowl.
- Cardamom (optional). I’m personally not a huge fan of cardamom, but it does add an aromatic, sweet and peppery flavor to the pumpkin pie spice without the need to add black pepper. Pick it up if you find it on sale!
If you look at the label of pumpkin pie spice at the store, you might also see ground allspice as an ingredient. This ground-up berry tastes like a mix of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
Since those flavors are already in this pumpkin pie spice recipe, I’m skipping the allspice – and saving money by NOT buying another ingredient! If you already have it, you can add ¼ teaspoon to your pumpkin pie spice along with the other ingredients.
HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN PIE SPICE
Making your own spice blends is really one of the easiest things you can do in the kitchen!
Step 1. Combine all ingredients in a small glass jar or small bowl. Shake or stir well to mix.
Store in an airtight container with your other spices in a dry place like your spice cabinet or drawer. I like to use a repurposed jar (here’s how I remove labels).
Use within 6 months. Makes approximately 2 teaspoons.
What about a larger batch of the pumpkin spice recipe?
For a larger batch of pumpkin spice, you need the following ratio: 1 part nutmeg, 1 part cloves, 2 parts ginger, 4 parts cinnamon, and ¼ part cardamom. For example, you could do 1 Tbsp of nutmeg, 1 Tbsp of cloves, 2 Tbsp of ginger, 4 Tbsp of cinnamon, and ¼ Tbsp (¾ tsp) of cardamom, and you’d end up with just over ½ cup of seasoning.
MAKE PUMPKIN PIE WITH PUMPKIN PIE SPICE
Having this homemade spice mix in your pantry means you can make Pumpkin Pie with pumpkin pie spice or other yummy pumpkin recipes.
MORE YUMMY PUMPKIN PIE SPICED TREATS
Try even more pumpkin pie spiced goodies with these beverages and snacks!
- Coffee Creamer: ¼ tsp pumpkin spice + 1 Tbsp maple syrup + 2 Tbsp half & half
- Pumpkin Spice Tea: ¼ tsp pumpkin spice + 1 cup of chai tea (serve over ice to enjoy cold)
- Hot Chocolate: ½ tsp pumpkin spice + single serving of Homemade Instant Hot Cocoa
- Kid-Friendly “Pumpkin Spice Latte”: ¼ tsp pumpkin 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 spice + 1 cup regular or Greek yogurt
- Smoothie: use pumpkin spice mix in your favorite smoothie recipe, or make a high protein option found in my ebook High Protein No Powder.
- Pumpkin Spice Toast. Spread butter on a slice of toasted Sourdough Bread and sprinkle with pumpkin spice. Yum!
You can also use a homemade pumpkin spice blend in any recipe that calls for ground cinnamon and one or more of the other spices in the mixture. Just substitute an equal amount.
MACRO-FRIENDLY PUMPKIN SPICE BLEND
One of the best parts about using a seasoning blend is that it doesn’t drastically change your macros. But you can use it to really bump up the flavor!
Looking for a protein-filled fall snack? Try Greek yogurt with pumpkin spice mixed in, or make High Protein Pumpkin Overnight Oats.
Have room in your macros for healthy fats? How about Pumpkin Spice Creamer in your coffee?
And if you want to add it to carbs, Roasted Butternut Squash with a sprinkle of pumpkin spice mix is a sweet and savory side, or make a pumpkin version of your morning bowl of oatmeal.
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PUMPKIN PIE SPICE RECIPE FAQS
What can I use if I don’t have pumpkin pie spice?
As I’ve just demonstrated here, you can whip up your own pumpkin pie spice mix quickly! If you don’t have one of the 5 spices listed, but you do have cinnamon and at least 1-2 of the others, you’re good to go!
What is the difference between allspice and pumpkin pie spice?
Allspice is a ground-up berry that tastes like a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, but it’s just one spice. Pumpkin pie spice is a mixture of 5 different spices, with a larger portion of cinnamon flavor.
How do you make 1 Tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice?
This recipe makes 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice, and there are 3 teaspoons in 1 Tablespoon. So, making a 1.5x batch will give you about a Tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice.
MORE HOMEMADE SEASONING MIXES
Here are some of my other favorite homemade spice mixes:
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Pumpkin Pie Spice
Whip up this easy pumpkin spice mix for all of your autumn baking – it’s a great way to add warm and cozy fall flavor without affecting your macros!
Ingredients
- 1 tsp freshly ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp freshly ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp freshly ground cloves
- ½ tsp freshly ground dried ginger
- pinch cardamom optional
Notes
For a larger batch of pumpkin spice, use this ratio: 1 part nutmeg, 1 part cloves, 2 parts ginger, 4 parts cinnamon, and ¼ part cardamom.
For example, you could do 1 Tbsp of nutmeg, 1 Tbsp of cloves, 2 Tbsp of ginger, 4 Tbsp of cinnamon, and ¼ Tbsp (¾ tsp) of cardamom, and you’d end up with just over ½ cup of seasoning.
Nutrition
Serving: 1tspCalories: 6kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.03gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 14mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 0.05mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 0.2mg
