How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin pie spice is one of the easiest seasoning blends to make at home. With a few familiar spices and an empty jar, you can create a fragrant blend for pumpkin pie, fall drinks, muffins, oatmeal, roasted vegetables, and much more.

Making your own also allows you to adjust the flavor. Add extra cinnamon for a sweeter blend, more ginger for warmth, or a little more clove for a bolder traditional spice.

What Is in Pumpkin Pie Spice?

Most pumpkin pie spice blends contain:

• Cinnamon

• Ginger

• Nutmeg

• Cloves

• Allspice

Despite the name, pumpkin pie spice does not usually contain pumpkin. It is a mixture of spices commonly used to flavor pumpkin pie and other fall recipes.

Different brands and family recipes use slightly different proportions. Some leave out allspice, while others include mace, cardamom, or black pepper.

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe

Makes: Approximately ¼ cup
Preparation time: Less than five minutes

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

• 2 teaspoons ground ginger

• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1 teaspoon ground allspice

Directions

1. Add all the spices to a small bowl.

2. Whisk until evenly combined and no clumps remain.

3. Transfer the mixture to a clean, dry spice jar.

4. Label the jar with the name and preparation date.

5. Store it tightly covered in a cool, dark, dry location.

Shake or stir the blend before using it if the finer spices settle during storage.

How Much Pumpkin Pie Spice Should You Use?

The amount depends on the recipe and how strongly spiced you want it to taste.

Use these quantities as a starting point:

Begin with the smaller amount when you are unsure. You can add more, but you cannot easily remove an overpowering spice.

How to Adjust the Blend

One advantage of making pumpkin pie spice at home is that you can change the proportions.

For a Sweeter, Cinnamon-Forward Blend

Increase the cinnamon by one tablespoon. This creates a gentle blend that works well in drinks, whipped cream, and cinnamon sugar.

For More Warmth

Add another teaspoon of ginger. This version works well in cookies, quick breads, and chai-inspired drinks.

For a Bolder Traditional Flavor

Increase the cloves or allspice slightly. Add only a small amount at a time because both spices can quickly dominate the blend.

For a Chai-Inspired Blend

Add:

• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom

• ¼ teaspoon finely ground black pepper

This version is especially good in tea lattes, oatmeal, cookies, and pumpkin bread.

For a Nutmeg-Forward Blend

Add an extra teaspoon of nutmeg. This creates a rich, bakery-style aroma that pairs well with custards and creamy drinks.

Pumpkin Pie Spice vs. Apple Pie Spice

The two blends are similar but not always identical.

Pumpkin pie spice usually contains cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice.

Apple pie spice is often more cinnamon-forward and may omit ginger or cloves. Some versions include cardamom.

In most casual home recipes, one blend can be substituted for the other. The finished flavor may be slightly different, so begin with a modest amount and adjust to taste.

Pumpkin Pie Spice vs. Chai Spice

Pumpkin spice and chai share several ingredients, but chai is generally more complex.

Chai may include:

• Cinnamon

• Ginger

• Cardamom

• Cloves

• Black pepper

• Star anise

• Fennel

• Nutmeg

Pumpkin pie spice usually emphasizes cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice.

Adding cardamom and black pepper to homemade pumpkin spice creates an easy chai-inspired variation.

15 Ways to Use Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin pie is only the beginning. Try adding your homemade blend to:

1. Pumpkin spice tea lattes

2. Chai lattes

3. Hot chocolate

4. Mulled apple cider

5. Coffee

6. Oatmeal

7. French toast

8. Pancakes and waffles

9. Muffins

10. Quick bread

11. Sugar cookies

12. Roasted sweet potatoes

13. Roasted winter squash

14. Whipped cream

15. Homemade granola

You can also combine it with sugar for an easy fall topping.

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Sugar

Combine:

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

Stir until evenly blended and store it in a clean, dry, airtight container.

Sprinkle pumpkin spice sugar over:

• Buttered toast

• Muffins

• Doughnuts

• Whipped cream

• Hot chocolate

• Tea lattes

• Baked apples

• Roasted nuts

• Pie crust

• Sugar cookies

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Maple Syrup

Stir approximately ¼ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice into ½ cup of pure maple syrup.

Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes and stir again before serving.

Use it on pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, French toast, baked sweet potatoes, or vanilla ice cream.

Store the flavored syrup in the refrigerator.

Does Pumpkin Pie Spice Expire?

Ground spices do not usually spoil in the same way as fresh food, but they gradually lose their aroma and flavor.

Your blend will be best when made with relatively fresh spices and stored away from heat, moisture, light, and air.

If the mixture has very little aroma when rubbed between your fingers, it is probably time to replace it.

For the best flavor, make an amount you can reasonably use within six months to one year.

How to Store Homemade Spice Blends

Store pumpkin pie spice in:

• A clean glass spice jar

• A small canning jar

• A food-safe metal spice tin

• Another dry, airtight container

Keep it away from the stove, dishwasher, sink, and direct sunlight. Heat and moisture can cause spices to lose flavor or clump.

Always use a clean, dry measuring spoon. Do not shake the jar directly over a steaming pot, as moisture can enter the container.

Can You Use Freshly Grated Nutmeg?

Yes. Freshly grated nutmeg has a particularly fragrant flavor.

You can grate it directly into an individual recipe or use it in a small batch of pumpkin pie spice. Because its aroma is strong, begin with slightly less than you would use of pre-ground nutmeg and adjust to taste.

Can You Make a Large Batch?

Yes. Double or triple the recipe if you use pumpkin pie spice frequently.

A larger batch can also be divided into small jars for simple fall gifts. Add a handwritten label and include a few suggested uses, such as pumpkin lattes, hot chocolate, oatmeal, muffins, and roasted squash.

A Simple Blend for the Entire Fall Season

Homemade pumpkin pie spice takes only a few minutes to prepare, but it can be used throughout the season.

Keep a jar near your tea and baking supplies so it is ready for lattes, cider, quick breads, oatmeal, desserts, and savory fall dishes. Once you know which spices you enjoy most, adjust the mixture and create a signature blend of your own.

Visit Calhoun Farmstead to explore our culinary herbs, warming spices, loose-leaf teas, mulling spices, and other seasonal favorites.

Cool mornings, earlier sunsets, colorful leaves, cozy blankets, and the return of all those wonderful apple, pumpkin, cinnamon, chai, and spice flavors make autumn the perfect season to explore tea. Here are some FALL TEA links you might enjoy!

Cozy Fall Teas & Herbs

• Cassia Cinnamon Chips

• Rooibos Chai Tea

• Turmeric Spice Tea

• Blazing Cider Blend

• Mulling Cider Blend

• Mushroom Coffees
  

Fall Tea Recipes

• Homemade Chai Tea Latte

• Apple Cinnamon Tea

• Maple Tea Latte

• Pumpkin Spice Tea Latte

• Vanilla Chai

• Honey Cinnamon Tea

• Spiced Black Tea

• Fall Tea Punch

• Slow Cooker Tea for Fall Gatherings

Fall Tea Resources

• Best Teas for Fall

• Cozy Teas for Chilly Fall Evenings

• Fall Tea Flavors to Try This Season

• Best Spices for a Warming Cup of Tea

• How to Create the Perfect Fall Tea Collection

• Black Teas for Sweater Weather

• Herbal Teas for Cozy Fall Nights

Products to make your tea time just a little more cozy!

• Fall Long Handle Tea Spoons

• Knit Pumpkin Coasters

• Maple Leaf Tea Spoon Dish

• Maple Leaf Tea Infuser

• Pumpkin Iced Coffee Cup

• Fall tea towels