Did you know Pumpkin Spice has NO pumpkin in the ingredients! It’s the spice that is used to make pumpkin pie, warm, spicy and delicious! So no wonder many of us go a little wild for pumpkin spice, especially when the days shorten and the leaves begin to turn those brilliant oranges, reds and yellows.
Pumpkin Spice is a blend of several spices and very easy to make in your own kitchen, no matter what tools or budget you might be working with.
A word on cinnamon
One thing to note, there are many different types of cinnamon and they each taste and smell differently! Some are very sharp and pungent, while others are fruity and mild and still others fit somewhere in between. My mom and I once set up a taste test where we decided to make our family famous apple pies with different types of cinnamon, tasting each one to see how the cinnamon changed the taste of each. Not only was it a rough job but in the end I found my favorite cinnamon. It was and still is Vietnamese cinnamon. For me it has the right balance of pungency, sweetness, earthiness and fruitiness. I just love it!
Find the individual spices at your local grocer or local natural food market. Buying in bulk is the way to go. It is cheaper and often, I find, fresher.
Use this mix anywhere a recipe calls for pumpkin spice!
Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons Cinnamon
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Cloves (ground)
- 3 Teaspoons Ground Nutmeg (I really like grating my own fresh nutmeg. It is like comparing a store tomato to a fresh, warm garden tomato!)
- 1 t. ground Allspice
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Ground Ginger (I leave the ground ginger out and add fresh ginger when I make a recipe calling for pumpkin spice. The ground ginger tends to leave a bitter taste to me. Experiment and let me know what you think!)
Mix all ingredients together and shake or stir until the mix is blended. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Notes:
Great for Gifts!!
The fresher the spices, the better the mix.
Cinnamon is not cinnamon… try different types from different regions of the world to find the one or ones you like best. Ceylon? Indonesian? Vietnamese? You can find different types from spice vendors online or as I do, in my local natural grocery store.
Other Pumpkin Spice Recipes:
Blender Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Muffins
