Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice is a quick and easy blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves you can make in just 5 minutes with pantry staples you probably already have.
Don't have pumpkin pie spice on hand? Make your own and use it to add warm, cozy fall flavor to pumpkin bread, muffins, pies, lattes, and all your favorite fall recipes.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- 🥄 Makes: About 4 tablespoons
- 🎃 Main Ingredients: Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves
- 🍂 Best For: Pumpkin bread, muffins, pies, fall desserts, coffee, and lattes
- ⭐ Why It Works: A simple cinnamon-forward blend made with pantry staples
- ⚠️ What to Watch For: Use fresh, fragrant ground spices for the best flavor
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 5 minutes
I love having a jar of this homemade pumpkin pie spice ready once fall baking begins. I use it anywhere I want those warm cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove flavors without having to pull four different spice jars out of the pantry every time.
Put it to good use in Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel Topping, Old Fashioned Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Butter, and Pumpkin Squares. It's also delicious stirred into coffee, oatmeal, pancakes, and other cozy fall favorites.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe 💛
- Made with pantry staples. All you need are cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Ready in 5 minutes. Just measure, mix, and store.
- Easy substitute for store-bought. Use this homemade pumpkin pie spice 1:1 whenever a recipe calls for pumpkin pie spice.
- Great for more than pumpkin pie. Use it in breads, muffins, pancakes, oatmeal, coffee, lattes, and all kinds of fall recipes.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Ground cinnamon - The base of the blend and the spice you'll taste most. It gives pumpkin pie spice its familiar warm, sweet flavor.
- Ground ginger - Adds warmth and a little bite that balances the cinnamon.
- Ground nutmeg - Adds the rich, warm flavor that's so familiar in fall baking.
- Ground cloves - Cloves are strong, so a small amount adds plenty of deep, warm spice.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions
Store-bought pumpkin pie spice: Use this homemade blend anywhere you would use store-bought pumpkin pie spice. Substitute it 1:1. If a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, use 1 teaspoon of this homemade blend.
Variations
- Add allspice. Some pumpkin pie spice blends include allspice and others don't. Add a small amount of ground allspice if you like that flavor in your fall baking.
- Adjust the cloves. Cloves have a strong flavor. For a milder blend, reduce them slightly.
- Make a double batch. If you do a lot of fall and holiday baking, double the recipe and keep it ready in an airtight spice jar.
How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
This homemade pumpkin pie spice couldn't be easier to make.
1. Measure the spices. Add the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves to a small bowl or airtight jar.
2. Mix well. Whisk #ad the spices together until evenly combined. If you're mixing them directly in a jar, put on the lid and give it a good shake.
3. Store. Transfer the pumpkin pie spice to an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dry pantry away from heat and direct sunlight.
Watch How to Make It
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Expert Tips
- Use fresh spices. Your pumpkin pie spice will only be as flavorful as the individual spices you start with. If you can barely smell a spice when you open the container, it's probably time to replace it.
- Break up any lumps. Whisk the mixture well so the spices are evenly distributed.
- Label the jar. Add the name and date so you know what's in it and when you made it.
- Shake before using. Give the jar a quick shake before measuring so the spices stay evenly distributed.
- Use it 1:1. If a recipe calls for 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, use 2 teaspoons of this homemade blend.
Troubleshooting
The pumpkin spice tastes weak. Ground spices gradually lose their aroma and flavor. If the finished blend doesn't smell strongly fragrant, one or more of your spices may be past their prime.
The cloves taste too strong. Cloves have a strong flavor. Reduce them slightly the next time you make the blend to suit your taste.
The mixture has small clumps. Break them apart with a whisk or fork and mix again before transferring the spice blend to your jar.
Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
Make-Ahead: Make a batch before fall baking season so it's ready whenever a recipe calls for pumpkin pie spice.
Store: Keep homemade pumpkin pie spice in an airtight container in a cool, dry pantry away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight.
Keep Fresh: For the best flavor, use fresh spices to make your blend. If it no longer smells fragrant when you open the jar, it's time to make a fresh batch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but the flavor may be slightly different because every recipe uses its own ratio of spices. For the most predictable results, use the individual spices when a recipe specifically lists them. Pumpkin pie spice works well as a shortcut when you don't have all of the individual spices on hand.
Yes. Use this homemade pumpkin pie spice as a 1:1 substitute for store-bought pumpkin pie spice. If a recipe calls for 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, use 2 teaspoons of the homemade blend.
No. Pumpkin pie spice recipes vary. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves are common ingredients, while some blends also include allspice.
Open the jar and smell it. Pumpkin pie spice should have a strong, warm aroma. If the scent is faint or your finished recipes taste flat, it's time to make a fresh batch.
more Fall Favorites
Put your homemade pumpkin pie spice to good use in Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel Topping, Old Fashioned Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Butter, and Pumpkin Squares.
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📖 Recipe
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
Equipment
- airtight container
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Combine Spices. Add the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves to a small bowl. Whisk together until the spices are evenly combined and there are no lumps.3 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger, ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- Store. Transfer the pumpkin pie spice to an airtight spice jar or container. Store in a cool, dry pantry away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight.
Video
Notes
- Use as a 1:1 substitute: Use this homemade pumpkin pie spice anywhere a recipe calls for store-bought pumpkin pie spice. If a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, use 1 teaspoon of this blend.
- Use fresh spices: Ground spices lose flavor over time. For the best pumpkin pie spice, start with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves that smell strongly fragrant when you open the containers.
- Keep it fresh: Store the blend in an airtight spice jar or container in a cool, dry pantry. If the pumpkin pie spice no longer smells fragrant when you open the jar, it's time to make a fresh batch.
- Make more: Double or triple the recipe as needed, keeping the ingredient proportions the same.
Russ B says
Love this in our lattes!
Seanna Borrows says
Just like Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte's but at home. 😊