How to Make Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin pie spice comes in very handy during fall baking. Mix up a large batch and add it to cakes, pies, or cookies for a tasty fall flavor. Pumpkin pie spice generally contains cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves and nutmeg in various quantities. The most commonly used variation of pumpkin pie spice is:

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1/8 allspice or cloves

1/8 nutmeg

How to Use and Store Pumpkin Pie Spice

This makes enough spice for 1 pumpkin pie or custard. The pumpkin pie spice recipe can be doubled or tripled and prepared ahead of time. Simply, measure 1 teaspoon of the spice for each use. Store the pumpkin pie spice in a cool, dry area in a well-sealed container. It should be used within one year if stored properly.

Using the spice with Pureed Pumpkin

Most commercial prepared and canned pumpkin comes with spice already added. This recipe for pumpkin pie spice is most commonly used when preparing pumpkin pie at home from scratch. This spice is added to freshly baked and pureed pumpkin to give it that special pumpkin pie flavor. When substituting freshly pureed pumpkin in recipes calling for canned pumpkin add this spice mixture to the recipe as well to prevent a bland and boring result.

Purchasing Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pre-mixed pumpkin pie spice can be purchased at most grocery stores, or prepared at home. In addition to using the mixture to flavor pumpkin pies and custards, it can be used to flavor pumpkin cookies, added to whipped cream, or blended into cookies, cakes or ice creams. This mixture can be used in any recipe that calls for pumpkin pie spice. 

Grinding Your Own Pumpkin Pie Spice from Dried Herbs

As with all herbs and spices, this pumpkin pie spice mix tastes better when it is freshly ground and mixed at home. Try preparing your own spice mix using dried cinnamon sticks, dried ginger, cloves, and nutmeg using a spice mill or coffee grinder.