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How to Make Your Own Apple & Pumpkin Pie Spice Mixes

Apple and Pumpkin Pie Spices

Two of the most common spice mixes are apple pie spice and pumpkin pie spice. The combination of spices that make up each blend is so commonly used (because they are complimentary) when baking with apples and pumpkin that the blends are packaged and sold alongside “regular” spices in the baking aisle of the supermarket. They are frequently called for in recipes without much explaination of what each mix actually is, so when you encounter them on a list of ingredients you have two choices: use the mix or make your own.

Apple pie spice typically consists of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, with cinnamon making up the bulk of the mixture. Pumpkin pie spice usually includes cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves, again with cinnamon making up most of the mix. The beauty of mixing your own is that you can tweak the ratios to ensure that you get the precise flavor you want every time. As cardamom becomes more popular, it is appearing in small amounts in some of these spice mixes (Trader Joe’s pumpkin pie spice uses it this year, for instance) as well. I like a bit in my pumpkin pie spice and am a fan of including a bit of ginger in my apple pie mix.

Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/4 cup ground cinnamon
2 tbsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground nutmeg*
1/2 tsp ground cardamom (optional)

Apple Pie Spice
1/4 cup ground cinnamon
1 tbsp ground allspice
2 tsp ground nutmeg*
2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cardamom (optional)

Combine all ingredients for desired mix and blend well. Store in a small, airtight container. Feel free to experiment with amounts to get a blend that works for you.

*If using freshy ground nutmeg, you might want to cut back a little bit because the flavor can be quite strong. Since you’re going to be storing the mix anyway, it is not crucial to use freshly ground here. I personally find it to be a bit overwhelming if there is a ton of nutmeg in something.

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44 Comments
  • Aimee
    October 18, 2007

    YUM, cardamom! I think that is a fabulous way to update the traditional pumpkin pie.

  • Alicia
    October 22, 2007

    This makes so much more sense than buying yet another spice! Thanks for the this, I’ll certainly use it.

  • Laura
    October 23, 2007

    Aha, brilliant! I just took care of pureeing a rather large pumpkin, and I was looking for a ‘recipe’ for the pumpkin pie spice mixture. Thanks!

  • Elizabeth
    August 1, 2008

    Trader Joe’s also includes microscopic bits of lemon peel. I would love to know their ratios! I use it in my coffee!

  • Sue
    October 1, 2008

    Thanks for the spice recipes. I teach preschool and love to spice up my play dough recipe.

  • mrsblocko
    October 8, 2009

    This is an awesome spice blend. I will use it over and over again!

  • kaye
    November 11, 2009

    I am contemplating making fairly large quantities of these two spice mixtures and filling decorative spice jars to give for Christmas gifts.

  • Shawnda
    November 23, 2009

    Thank u, thank u, thank u. I was just about to make one of my many new creations and will base it on the flavors of apple pie. This will be perfect and with the nearest store being 30 minutes away, u can’t beat it!!!

  • CMonday
    December 21, 2009

    I am so printing this out, then taping it to the inside of my spice cabinet. Thank You!!

  • J
    December 25, 2009

    Thank you. Because of the expense of spices and herbs, I like to make my own mixes. And next year, I am planning to do a 12 Days of Christmas theme, starting on December 25. Depending upon the # of mixes I can find, spice mix will be one of the days.

  • lucia
    February 5, 2010

    Thnkyou soooo much!! I live in Central America (Guatemala) and I can´t buy any of these spices because no one imports them!!! Thankyou!!

  • Kids boxing gloves
    March 2, 2010

    hanks for the this, I’ll certainly use it.

  • Banigo
    May 14, 2010

    Thanks a million. You just saved me the trouble of buying both spices-thats if I can actually find them here in Nigeria. Thanks again.

  • Jo Ellen
    May 28, 2010

    This was so easy to find, I googled apple pie spice and there it was. Now I don’t need to buy ready made, since I keep a well stocked pantry already.

  • Perfect! I love mixing my own spices.

  • Rose
    September 30, 2010

    Thanks so much! I was looking for this earlier this week

  • Melissa
    November 7, 2010

    Thank you so much for this. I found a cookie recipe I want to try and it called for one or the other. I really didn’t want to go out and buy a jar, just to find out we didn’t like the cookie 🙂

  • Jamie
    September 27, 2011

    When a recipe calls for separate spices and you decide to use your homemade apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice mix what amounts are used to replace the seperate ingreidents per ratio? Thanks!

  • Nicole
    September 28, 2011

    Jamie – I’ll use the same amount of my spice mix to replace the total amount of spice in a recipe (e.g. 1 tsp cinnamon + 1/2 tsp ginger becomes 1 1/2 tsp apple pie spice). Sometimes I’ll use a little more or a little less, depending on how spicy I want my finished product to be.

  • sandra
    November 19, 2011

    how much of pumkin pie spice do you use for a pie and how much apple pie spice do you use for a pie if you make those seasonings at home

  • diana
    September 16, 2012

    Thanks! I love using these mixes in my oatmeal instead of sugar.

  • living in Africa
    October 21, 2013

    Thank you so much for this. I just moved to Africa and was so sad when I couldn’t find pumpkin or apple pie spice. This is going to make our year!!

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