Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin pie spice is the golden ingredient of fall drinks, baked goods, and even some savory dishes. After all, as the leaves turn and the air begins to chill, pumpkin, in all its iterations, takes center stage. There are pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin pie ice cream, pumpkin spice donuts, and a bevy of other pumpkin recipes, including the iconic pumpkin pie. The base of these sought-after creations is a simple three-ingredient recipe you can make at home to add fall flavor to your favorite dishes.

Learn how to make homemade pumpkin pie spice so you can mix up your own seasoning and have it on hand all season.

What Is in Pumpkin Pie Spice?

Pumpkin pie spice blends the holy trinity of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. You could also throw in some ground ginger, allspice, cardamom, or mace if you wanted to add a little more spice to the blend.

How To Make Pumpkin Pie Spice

You could buy pumpkin pie spice, but then you'd have a big jar that may go stale before use— especially if you only break out the pumpkin spice in the autumn. Making it from scratch gives you the opportunity to grate your own nutmeg, add in other flavors you might want to experiment with, and craft smaller batches so you use it up before it loses flavor. It's also more economical to create a blend from spices you already have in your cabinet than to purchase a new bottle.

Here's how homemade pumpkin pie spice is made:

• Step 1: Gather your ingredients: Pumpkin pie spice, in its most basic form, is the combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Measure each ingredient and add them to a mixing bowl.
• Step 2: Mix it up: Use a small whisk or fork to gently mix the spices. At this point, your pumpkin pie spice is ready to use in pumpkin bars, as a topping for a yogurt parfait, or in any number of creative ways you can think to add a touch of autumn to your menu.

Ratio of Spices in Pumpkin Pie Spice

This recipe makes enough for a few drinks or a single recipe, but you can blend spices in bulk to have a larger quantity on hands. Just follow this simple ratio for quick mixing:

• 1 part ground cinnamon
• 1/2 part ground nutmeg
• 1/4 part ground cloves
• And 1/4 part any other spices you're considering trying

Variations

If you want to experiment with even more flavor:

• Mix in your favorite warm spices like ginger or cardamom, or even cumin for a savory touch.
• Mix in cocoa powder to bring chocolate desserts to life with all the smells of the season.
• Add brown sugar for a spice brown sugar mixture you can use in cookie, on buttered toast, or atop baked sweet potatoes.
• Stir in some black pepper with other spices (nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and allspice) for a flavor reminiscent of gingerbread.

Start with just 1/4 teaspoon of any additional spices so you don't overpower the base ingredients.

How To Store Pumpkin Pie Spice

Look for a container that's airtight, and store in a cool, dark space like your spice cabinet. Properly stored, your DIY pumpkin pie spice can last for three years, as long as the base spices were fresh.

Ways To Use Pumpkin Pie Spice

Once you've mixed up your homemade blend, try your hand at these favorites that call for the spice mix:

• Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever
• Pumpkin Spice Muffins
• Pumpkin Dip
• Candied Pumpkin Spice Pecans
• Pumpkin Whoopie Pies