Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

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This homemade pumpkin pie spice is warm, balanced, easy to mix, and useful for a lot more than pumpkin pie.

I tested this blend side-by-side against McCormick Pumpkin Pie Spice, and two blind taste testers unanimously preferred the homemade version. One difference we noticed right away is that McCormick’s blend does not include cloves, while this version does. The cloves add a little more depth without taking over the rest of the spices.

And even though I’m not personally a pumpkin fan, I still like keeping this blend around in the fall because it works in everything from whipped cream and oatmeal to pancakes, French toast, and pumpkin spice drinks.

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Why Make Your Own Pumpkin Pie Spice?

Pumpkin pie spice is one of those pantry blends that is incredibly simple to make at home.

You only need five spices:

• Cinnamon
• Ginger
• Nutmeg
• Allspice
• Cloves

Once they are mixed together, you have one jar ready for all of your fall baking and drinks.

Making it yourself also gives you control over the balance. This version is cinnamon-forward, but the ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves keep it from tasting flat or one-dimensional.

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¾ teaspoon ground allspice
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions

1. Add all of the spices to a small bowl or jar.
2. Whisk or stir thoroughly until the spices are evenly combined.
3. Transfer to an airtight spice jar and store in a cool, dry pantry.
4. Shake or stir before using if the spices settle during storage.

How This Recipe Was Tested

Before calling this blend finished, I compared it directly against McCormick Pumpkin Pie Spice.

We first compared the dry blends, then tested them in a lightly sweetened warm milk mixture so the spices could be tasted without pumpkin, coffee, or baked goods covering up the differences.

Two blind taste testers unanimously chose the homemade version.

The homemade blend had a little more warmth and depth, which I believe comes in part from the addition of cloves.

At that point, I stopped adjusting it. If a recipe wins the blind taste test, there is no reason to keep tweaking it just for the sake of tweaking.

What Does Pumpkin Pie Spice Taste Like?

This blend is warm and cinnamon-forward with a little bite from the ginger, nuttiness from the nutmeg, and deeper spice notes from the allspice and cloves.

The cloves are intentionally kept fairly low. They should round out the blend rather than become the first thing you taste.

How to Use Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin pie spice is useful for a lot more than pumpkin pie.

Here are some good starting amounts:

• Pumpkin pie: 2 to 2½ teaspoons per 9-inch pie
• Pumpkin bread or muffins: about 2 teaspoons per standard batch
• Pumpkin spice latte: ¼ teaspoon per drink
• Coffee: a pinch to ⅛ teaspoon per cup
• Oatmeal: ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon per bowl
• Pancakes or waffles: about 1 teaspoon per batch
• French toast: ½ to 1 teaspoon per batch
• Homemade whipped cream: about ¼ teaspoon per cup of cream
• Apple crisp or apple pie: 1 to 2 teaspoons per recipe
• Roasted sweet potatoes: ½ to 1 teaspoon per pound

These are starting points. Because homemade spice blends can taste stronger than older store-bought spices, adjust to taste.

Easy Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte Without Pumpkin

You do not actually need pumpkin puree to make a pumpkin-spice drink.

For one drink, combine:

• 8 ounces hot coffee
• 4 ounces whole milk
• 1½ tablespoons maple syrup
• ¼ teaspoon homemade pumpkin pie spice
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Ice
• Fresh whipped cream, for topping
• Extra pumpkin pie spice, for garnish

1. Stir the hot coffee with the maple syrup, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice, then chill.
2. Fill a glass with ice, pour in the chilled coffee, then add the milk.
3. Top with fresh homemade whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.

If you prefer a traditional pumpkin spice latte, you can also whisk in 1 to 2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Without Pumpkin

Despite the name, pumpkin pie spice does not contain pumpkin.

It is simply a blend of warm spices traditionally used to season pumpkin desserts.

That means you can use it anywhere you want those familiar fall flavors, even if you do not like pumpkin at all.

That is exactly how I tend to use it.

Pumpkin Pie Spice vs. Apple Pie Spice

The two blends are similar, but they are not always interchangeable.

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

Apple pie spice is often a little simpler and may rely more heavily on cinnamon and nutmeg.

You can use pumpkin pie spice in apple desserts if you enjoy the extra ginger and clove flavor.

Can I Leave Out the Cloves?

Yes, but the flavor will change.

The cloves are one of the things that gave this homemade blend more depth compared with the store-bought version we tested.

If you strongly dislike cloves, reduce them rather than eliminating them completely. Even a small amount helps round out the blend.

Can I Double or Triple This Recipe?

Absolutely.

This recipe scales very easily.

For a larger batch, simply multiply every ingredient by the same amount.

If you use pumpkin pie spice frequently throughout October and November, making a double batch can save time.

How to Store Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

Store the blend in an airtight spice jar in a cool, dark pantry.

For the strongest flavor, use relatively fresh spices when making the blend.

Ground spices do not spoil quickly, but their flavor and aroma gradually fade over time.

For best quality, I prefer making smaller batches that will actually get used rather than filling a giant jar that sits in the pantry for years.

Tips for the Best Pumpkin Pie Spice

• Use fresh spices. If your cinnamon or nutmeg barely smells like anything when you open the jar, the finished blend will not have much flavor either.
• Mix thoroughly. Some of the spices are finer than others, so whisk well before transferring the blend to a jar.
• Do not overdo the cloves. Cloves are strong. The goal is warmth and depth, not a blend that tastes primarily like cloves.
• Taste before adding more. Homemade blends can taste stronger than store-bought blends that have been sitting open for months. Start with the recommended amount and add more if needed.

A Few Things I Use

• Glass spice jars – for storing the finished pumpkin pie spice.
• Stainless steel whisk – for blending the spices evenly.
• Magnetic measuring spoons – for measuring each spice.
• Canning funnel – for getting the blend into the jar without spilling.

More Homemade Pantry Staples

If you enjoy replacing store-bought mixes with simple homemade versions, try these next:

• Homemade Apple Pie Spice
• Homemade Whipped Cream
• Homemade Italian Seasoning
• Homemade Italian Dressing Mix
• Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
• Homemade Poultry Seasoning
• Homemade Seasoned Salt
• Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
• Homemade Taco Seasoning
• Homemade Fajita Seasoning
• Homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning
• Homemade Chili Seasoning
• Homemade Burger Seasoning
• 5 Homemade Seasoning Mixes to Make Instead of Buying