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Make Your Own Pumpkin Pie Spice - Super easy and it will save you a chunk of change! You probably have everything you need right in your spice cabinet.
Every year it's the same. The first cool, crisp evening, a little patch of gold-tinged leaves, a glimpse of pumpkins piled high at the market or a noisy flock of Canadian geese, honking their way south - all these things put me in an autumn-state-of-mind, and send me into a tailspin of new culinary ideas. And many of them include pumpkin pie spice.
I have a dry-erase board on the inside of one of my kitchen cabinets. It's usually filled with a bunch of scribbling that might make you scratch your head. It's my recipe inspiration board. You see, I'm forever thinking up new ideas for both savory and sweet dishes I want to create, and I've found if I don't jot them down, they often disappear, never to resurface again. Right now my little whiteboard is loaded with a plethora of new fall inspirations.
It seems like autumn and pumpkins are quite synonymous here at the Café. If you look through any of the September or October Café archives, you'll see exactly what I mean; everything from soups, cakes, donuts, cupcakes and curries to ... caramel corn and granola bars.
A few favorite pumpkin recipes...
Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Ginger Cream
What is pumpkin pie spice?
You may have noticed that many pumpkin recipes call for a unique blend of spices called Pumpkin Pie Spice. What is Pumpkin Pie Spice? It's a combination of warm fall spices that are traditionally found in classic pumpkin pies. Although recipes vary in ingredient proportions, Pumpkin Pie Spice traditionally consists of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and sometimes cloves.
Wanna know something else about Pumpkin Pie Spice? It's expensive!! I checked out a few local markets and found that it sells for anywhere between $3.99 - $6.95 for 1.5 to 3 ounces - which are quite small jars. Yikes!
If you haven't "fallen into fall" yet, this is a great place to start. You probably have everything you need to make a batch of Pumpkin Pie Spice in your spice cabinet. If you can measure and stir, you've got it made (literally), and you'll be saving yourself a chunk of change. Go ahead, whip some up this weekend; maybe you can even make it into a math measuring project with your kids! It will take just a few minutes, and you'll be so happy you did. That way, you'll be all prepared for some of the yummy fall recipes that will be "falling" off my whiteboard and into your inbox. Like...
...these wonderful Pumpkin Crumb Muffins - coming your way next week!
Make your own pumpkin pie spice. It's easy and will save you a ton of money!
- 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 4 teaspoons ground ginger
- 3 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 3 teaspoons ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
-
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Store in air tight container.
jennifer says
Thank you for some lovely recipes.
Could I ask where you got the spice jar pictured please
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Jennifer, I believe I picked that jar up at HomeGoods.
Rose says
Chris. We have to stop meeting like this! I’ve spent the morning with you, well, your blog actually. First made your pumpkin praline muffins, then your pumpkin maple vinaigrette, and now your pumpkin pie spice mix. This mix is the bomb - love it! And I makes lots - Some of which will be used for another batch of your muffins which I intend to make later this week. (Honestly? THE BEST pumpkin muffins I’ve ever had!) Please. Don’t ever leave me. Let’s stay in this relationship forever. Thank you!!!
Andrea G Martinez says
I did the Starbucks pumpkin bread and it was a great hit w/ my children. That loaf was gone in less than 1 day. I also did a zucchini bread and the loafs were all gone. Nobody had ever eaten any zucchini bread and they were amazed that it was DELICIOUS!
Chris Scheuer says
Yay! That's so awesome, Andrea. So happy you enjoyed both of them!
Wendy says
My son is allergic to cinnamon and he loves pumpkin pie what can I use in replacement checked out all spice and it also has cinnamon I do not want m son to die because of a spice and he really want a piece of pumpkin pie I need a recipe I can use been searching all over the internet and everyone keeps telling me allspice but the need to read the ingredents it has cinnamon in it.
Chris Scheuer says
Allspice might be your best bet. Allspice, despite the fact that it sounds like a combination of ingredients is actually a spice on it's own. You can purchase whole allspice. It's not the same as cinnamon but has a really nice warm spice flavor.
Lynn says
I'm ready for fall and pumpkin stuff, but I had to drop a note to say that your recipe for Southwestern cheese ball was a real hit at a family/friends board game day! I spent a lot of time working on the main course and sides and dessert, but at the end of the day, the make ahead of time cheese ball was the biggest hit. At least eight people mentioned how good it was! I will make it again, but want to expand into new and different cheese balls. LOL, I'm a "senior" but this was the first cheese ball I've ever made.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. You made me smile but I know all the rest of your dinner was really good too 🙂
Kim says
This spice mix will be perfect fpr my next batch of granola!
Sophia @ NY Foodgasm says
What an excellent idea for a post- LOOOOVE this! YUM!
Stephanie says
I just have to say I Looooooove (big L) the last picture. wow!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
We don't have such a thing as pumpkin pie spice in Australia because I suppose mostly Americans eat that stuff. Thank you for this recipe because I'm going into the kitchen right now and make this. 🙂
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Fall is definitely in the air here in New England. I had to put on a sweatshirt yesterday as the highs were only in the 50's. Love all your pumpkin inspiration.
Kim - Liv Life says
I started making my own a few years ago... now my pantry is never without it. We did a Pumpkin Pie Spice Pancake Breakfast the other day... Love! But what I'd love more is one of your donuts...
Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon says
It is over 90° here, but the geese are flying so I guess I need to rethink fall. I love your inspiration board. I have been doing that too, but on paper, then I lost my paper. Now I have a big-o-calendar that give me space to write my ideas on the side. Low tech, but it works.
Chris Scheuer says
Yes Madonna, it seems that this whiteboard works well for me. Like you said, not super high tech but it helps keep me more organized. My mind is such a sieve sometimes 🙂
Liz says
I always have to hunt down a recipe for the mix when a recipe calls for pumpkin pie spice! Now I'll just come to your blog 🙂
sue/the view from great island says
Are you trying to kill me with pumpkin temptation? I could barely get past those doughnuts! I love the idea of prepping pumpkin spices this way, I am forever mixing 1/4 teaspoons of this and that. Pinning!
Sandra says
I'm falling slowly as are our temperatures. I bought a jar of pumpkin pie spice mix last year and it was way too expensive. The desserts pictured here are drool worthy for sure.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I just made some winter baking spice mix too. Homemade is so much better! Look forward to your muffin recipe.
Ginny Hartzler says
Oh my gosh! This last picture is awesome!!! Your husband is really a brilliant photographer! I can get some pretty bottles and ribbon and this will make great presents!
Chris Scheuer says
This would make a great gift for any foodie friends. Wonderful idea Ginny!
Maria says
LOVE that last pic with the powdered sugar falling on the muffin. Very lovely and magical and delectable looking! Can't wait for the recipe.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Maria, we really had fun doing that last shot 🙂
cheri says
Hi Chris, it's amazing how expensive some spices are, love this; perfect for this time of year as it goes by so fast. Can't wait for the pumpkin crumb muffins.
Happier Than A Pig In Mud says
$4.59 for the small jar even at Walmart!!! I personally blame Starbucks:@) I'm right there with you Chris, it's homemade this year! Love-love-love that last pic Scott, so fun:@)
Monique says
Were your blog ears burning today?
I made our favorite Italian meat sauce (lots..we freeze it..)..and added your meatballs..I doubled the recipe..and we will have our first meal of them a little later on...
Thank you! And some of the basil was from the grocery store basil idea you shared..
I bought PPS in Florida last year..
But am going to make some too..
Funny I just pinned a couple of recipes and here you are..
All the recipes look good..But tell Scott..I love that last shot!
Tellement beau!
Chris Scheuer says
Thank you Monique! I really appreciate that coming from a wonderful cook like you!