Pumpkin Pie Spice

Last updated on October 26th, 2024

Pumpkin Pie Spice is a blend of warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg and a signature spice found in fall baked goods. Use this homemade spice blend to bake up a batch of my pumpkin spice muffins, classic pumpkin pie, or pumpkin bars. Making your own homemade blend allows you to easily adjust the amounts of the ingredients based on your individual tastes.

A Bite of History: McCormick’s created their original Pumpkin Spice Blend in 1934 with the original purpose to flavor pumpkin pie. Look around on shelves in early August and you’ll start to see everything “pumpkin spice” flavored foods ranging from baked goods to savory dips and cheese all the way to household items like body wash and candles. Of course the craze really took off around 2003 when Starbucks introduced the Pumpkin Spice Latte.

How to make Pumpkin Pie Spice

INGREDIENTS

I prefer to purchase spices pre-ground in bulk. My favorite bulk spices are Frontier brand which you can order direct from them or find in bulk at natural food stores. They are typically more potent than the average spices on conventional grocery store shelves. When making Pumpkin Pie Spice, I start with a base of good quality cinnamon and then add in a bold blend of other traditional spices like ginger, nutmeg, clove and allspice.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is the made from dried tree bark from the tropical Asian cinnamon tree. There are two types Cassia and Ceylon. Cassia cinnamon yields a mild, sweet flavor and is commonly found and as it is cheaper to produce. Ceylon cinnamon is known as “true cinnamon” and it is more expensive to produce and has a spicer bite. Cinnamon can be found in savory dishes and baked goods and is available in whole form as sticks or ground.

Ginger

Ginger is a root from a plant grown in Southeast Asia. Ginger can be found in a variety of ways such as the dried or fresh root, ground, or crystallized (candied) pieces.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg originates from nutmeg trees in the Spice Islands. Nutmeg is used by chefs and bakers alike and is available as a whole nutmeg shell and ground fresh or purchased in ground form.

Clove

Cloves are dried flower buds from a clove trees grown in the Spice Islands. Whole cloves are typically used in culinary dishes where ground cloves are found in baked goods.

Allspice

Allspice is made from dried berries from a plant that grows in a tropical climates found in Mexico and Central America. Allspice berries are found in dried, whole form or ground.

EQUIPMENT

• Bowl
• Whisk
• Measuring spoons
• Small Funnel
• Mason Jar or Sealed Container

STORAGE

Keep your mix in a small mason jar and store for up to one year.

Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @vintagebakedmodern on Instagram and hashtag it #vintagebakedmodern