Pumpkin Pie Spice

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Pumpkin pie spice is a staple for fall baking. Learn how to make it at home with a handful of pantry ingredients and save money!

I keep a ton of spices in my pantry because I never know which way my cravings will go. Not all of them are in heavy rotation, but one jar I need to restock frequently is pumpkin pie spice.

Thankfully, I always have the ingredients on hand, so it takes just a couple of minutes to make a new batch!

Just like Italian seasoning or taco seasoning, pumpkin pie spice is one of those blends that will save you a lot of money if you make it yourself versus buying it at the store. Plus, it’s so easy to customize to your tastes, adding more or less of each spice as you like.

If pumpkin is one of your favorite ingredients for fall, you’ve got to make your own pumpkin pie spice blend!

Ingredients for pumpkin pie spice

Full list of ingredients with quantities is located in the recipe card.

You’ll need:

• Ground cinnamon
• Ground ginger
• Ground nutmeg
• Ground allspice
• Ground cloves
• Ground black pepper
• Ground cardamom – This is optional, but I like to add it for the floral notes that balance out the warmth of the other ingredients.

For your cinnamon, it’s most likely that you’ll be using Korintje or Saigon varieties, as they’re what major brands use for their ground cinnamon. 

If you have a specialty spice store near you, you might be able to get Ceylon cinnamon, which has a milder but more complex flavor. However, I do think the other varieties are better for using in blends like pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice, where cinnamon is meant to be a dominant flavor.

How to make this recipe

Honestly, it always feels a bit silly to write instructions for making a spice mix, because it couldn’t be easier!

Grab a bowl and add all of the spices. You can also mix it right in the jar you plan to store the mix in—it just needs to be big enough for you to get a spoon into.

Stir the spices well to distribute everything evenly. Make sure to mix up from the bottom of the bowl or jar!

Transfer to a spice jar or mason jar if you didn’t use one for mixing, and place your lid. Make sure to label it!

Storage tips

Ground spices and blends like this one keep best in glass jars stored away from light, moisture, and heat. A cabinet or pantry without windows is the perfect place to store it.

I don’t recommend keeping your spices right next to your stove due to the heat. This can make the flavor and quality degrade faster, so only store them here if you have nowhere else, or plan to use up your spices very quickly!

This mix will taste the best used within 1 year. It can last longer if properly stored, but may lose potency. Before using, smell your spices, and if they are no longer fragrant, you’ll need a new batch.

Using pumpkin pie spice

As we’ve seen by now, the possibilities for pumpkin pie spice are near endless! You don’t need to stick to pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread!

Use it in your favorite apple muffins, sprinkle on sweet potatoes, or use it to make your very own pumpkin spice syrup.

If you want to dive into pumpkin recipes, make pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin baked oatmeal, or pumpkin coffee cake.

Or, simply swap in pumpkin spice in any recipe that calls for cinnamon, especially baked goods. You’ll find lots of ways to use this spice mix!