Ready to amp up your fall flavor game? Look no further! Our comprehensive guide on "Pumpkin Pie Spice Uses and Recipe" will not only give you the perfect DIY blend but also inspire you to use it in your daily cooking. We're talking savory dishes, baked goods, and even smoothies. So, roll up those sleeves and prepare to embrace autumn like never before—with each pinch, you're adding a burst of cozy, seasonal magic to your culinary creations!
This is the best homemade pumpkin pie spice recipe that will take your home-baked goodies from ordinary to extraordinary.
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🤔 What is in Pumpkin Pie Spice?
Pumpkin pie spices are a blend of different spices, including ground ginger, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg, which are the most common ingredients in many recipes for pumpkin pie spice, but there can be some variations. Depending on which seasonings they have on hand, some people may also add allspice into their spices mix and ground cloves.
We are making a 4 ingredient spice mix, using cinnamon and ginger as the predominant flavors, followed by nutmeg and cloves.
🥧 History of Pumpkin Pie Spice
The first pumpkin pie spice recipe was published in American cookbooks around 1900. The mixture likely evolved from earlier recipes for pumpkin pie that called for a long list of spices to flavor the dish, including things like ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.
Although it was essentially a shortcut to improve the flavor of pumpkin pies, it soon became a popular spice blend in its own right.
Thanks to its popularity and simplicity, it is easy to find this famous mix in the grocery store. However, there are many reasons why you might want to try making your pumpkin pie spice from scratch!
For example, freshly made spice blends have a more potent flavor than store-bought. In fact, making your own pumpkin pie spice blend can be cheaper than buying a small jar at the local grocery store. Many people love to give homemade food items as Christmas gifts, especially if they are easy to make in large batches.
Also, the prep time is minimal, as you only need to put the right proportion of ingredients together and store them in an airtight container.
Curious about cooking with pumpkin? It is super easy!
🧾 Ingredients
You need only common spices. The only ingredient that might be more difficult to get is allspice, which we exclude as we don't think is required, and pumpkin spice blends usually consist of only these ingredients.
- Ground Cinnamon: The backbone of the mix, cinnamon provides a warm, earthy base that's essential for that fall comfort vibe. Plus, its natural sweetness makes it a go-to for both sweet and savory dishes.
- Ground Ginger: Here to add some zesty kick, ginger brings a spicy touch that complements cinnamon's sweetness. It adds depth and complexity to your pumpkin spice blend.
- Ground Nutmeg: Nutmeg lends a subtly sweet and nutty aroma, amplifying the richness of your blend. It's like the bass guitarist in a rock band—often underestimated but super important.
- Ground Cloves: Think of cloves as the finishing touch, providing a bold, aromatic spiciness. Just a pinch packs a punch and rounds out your pumpkin spice mix.
Other spices: Optionally, you can add a pinch of ground allspice and/or cardamon.
*all the spices should be ground spices. If you don't have a spice grinder use a coffee grinder or a blender. You can use this for all kinds of baked goods. Happy Holiday baking!
Hint: we don't recommend grinding cloves, as they have a resin that will irreversibly stain your grinder machine's plastic or acrylic.
🧐 How to Make Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe
The following homemade spice recipe makes about 8 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice, enough for several pies.
Pumpkin pie spice yield: our vegan pumpkin pie recipe calls for around 3 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice. So, if you follow the quantities, you will have enough to make 2 pies.
If you want to stock it (as we normally do), multiply the amounts by how much pumpkin pie spice you want. There is a multiplier function below in the recipe card.
Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl to create your own pumpkin pie spice mix. Store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh for as long as it lasts.
🫙 Storing
To keep the spices fresh between uses, store them in a sealed container away from direct sunlight and heat. If you plan on using pumpkin pie spice regularly, consider making large batches of the whole or part of the pumpkin pies spice recipe to save time.
Now that you know how to make this easy recipe (and more about spices) go ahead and make this for your next pumpkin pie!
📚 16 ways to use Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix
The obvious recipe for using your homemade pumpkin pie spice is the Vegan Pumpkin Pie bake. Still, there are lattes, pumpkin overnight oatmeal, spinach smoothies, and warm dishes like a Sweet Potato Crunch casserole.
Make delicious spongy cakes with this delicious mix: we use it on our sweet potato cake and pumpkin loaf cake.
We use pumpkin pie spice often during the fall and holiday seasons, so we prefer making a big batch of the best pumpkin pie spice to save time while making recipes that call for the same individual spices, which is very common. We love using it as a replacement for cinnamon on our unsweetened applesauce to give it a more exciting twist.
Make a fabulous pumpkin pie smoothie, pumpkin granola, pumpkin spice porridge, or healthy vegan pumpkin pancakes to keep your breakfast and morning snack seasonal during Autumn.
We love adding it to our morning brown sugar oatmeal and candied walnuts as well.
The list is never-ending, as the flavors present in pumpkin spices are very common on several Fall and Holiday dishes, even on savory dishes like our maple-glazed marinated tofu, and have gone even further using it on our pumpkin hummus and eggplant curry with great success.
We like eating our Holiday Season pumpkin pie with some coconut whipped cream and sprinkle pumpkin pie spice on top.
It's a popular ingredient for fall wintersweet treats, including pumpkin pie, and works great in other dishes.
There are many tasty options: baked goods like coffee cakes, scones, or apple cookies.
❓ FAQ
Nutmeg is a spice that can last for quite some time, although the timeframe depends on how you store it. If stored correctly, nutmeg should be good for up to five years from the date of purchase.
In terms of open storage in your kitchen pantry or cupboard, whole nutmegs should last anywhere from six months to one year before their flavor decreases significantly. Ground nutmegs are more vulnerable and will only stay potent for about three months - after that point, their aroma and taste will begin to fade more quickly.
To help extend shelf life, make sure your ground nutmeg is closed tightly after every use; this will also help preserve its potency as well as keep away any unwanted moisture or pests!
It is easy to make your spice mix at home; instead of buying pre-made pumpkin mixes, you can store them for months and use them in many dishes, from breakfast and beverages to the most decadent and festive holiday desserts.
⭐ If you try this recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!
📋 Recipe
Pumpkin Pie Spice Uses and Recipe
Ingredients
Optional
- ⅛ allspice ground
Directions
- Measure all the ingredients.
- Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl to create your own pumpkin pie spice mix.
- Use or Store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh for as long as possible.
Nutrition Facts
Nutritional Disclaimer
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.
Affiliate Disclaimer
Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.
As the lead content writer and recipe developer at Our Plant-Based World, he combines his passion for health and sustainability with a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification to create accessible, delicious vegan recipes. His expertise in plant-based cooking supports the blog's mission of fostering a healthier, environmentally conscious lifestyle through simple and seasonal dishes. His commitment to making vegan cooking enjoyable and inclusive for everyone shines in each recipe and article.
Joshua
Perfect blend! I love pumpkin spice and am glad to be able to make it myself at home.
Aimee Mars
I am absolutely going to bookmark this recipe! I use pumpkin pie spice so much this time of year in both sweet and savory dishes that I need tons of it. I'd love to make a big jar of it to have on hand instead of always running to the store to get some. Now I don't need to search the internet for the best recipe, I can just go straight to your recipe!
Gus
Aimee, thank you so much for your feedback! We're happy to hear that our recipe will be able to help you in the kitchen this holiday season.
We love hearing about how we can make life easier for people and are glad that we were able to do so with our pumpkin pie spice recipe. If there's anything else you need from us, please don't hesitate to let us know!
Beth
I have always wanted to make this fresh. Now I can. Thanks for all the information on the benefits to the spices.
Helen
Love this! I love to blend spices myself - so easy and delicious. They make great gifts, too.
Gus
Thank you Helen! We're so glad to hear that you enjoy our blends and that they make great gifts for your friends. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us, we really appreciate it.
Chrissaysnature
I was searching for this recipe for ages and I finally found the best one!! Cannot wait to try this pumpkin spice when baking! Thank you!
Gus
Hi Chris, thanks for the review! I'm so glad you found this recipe and are excited to try it out. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Kayla DiMaggio
Yum! I love a good pumpkin pie spice! This went great in some pumpkin bread I made this week!
Gus
Hi Kayla, thank you for your review and for taking the time to let us know how you used our recipe. We're so glad it worked well in your recipe!
Anaiah
Yesss, I love this pumpkin pie spice recipe. I use it in so many pastries and drinks. My fave combo!
Gus
Hi Anaiah, I'm so glad you love the recipe! It's such a simple and delicious combination of spices.
I really appreciate your feedback--especially as someone who has used it in so many recipes.
Jess
OMG YESSSSSS! I make this and put it in almost everything during the Fall. It is so much better than buying it at the store!
Gus
Thank you for your review, Jess! I'm so glad to hear that this recipe has become a staple in your Fall cooking.
Natalie
Pumpkin spice is one of my favorite mixes. I use it throughout the whole year. I will give your recipe a try. Thanks for sharing!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
Just tried this recipe and my family loved it. Thank you so much!
Mahy
I love this season so much! And this pumpkin pie spice recipe is a must, that's for sure!
Angela
Making pumpkin spice homemade was so fun. Not to mention it smells simply amazing mixing this all together. Fall is in the air!
Taly
Amo el pie de calabaza, así que muchas gracias por esta receta!!
Muy útil para hacer en cantidad y tener mi propia reserva de este mix de especias!!!