Apple Pie Spice Substitute (2024)

In need of anapple pie spice substituteto take your sweet treat to the next level? Look no further than your pantry! Believe it or not, many essential kitchen spices deliver the samewarmandcozy fall-like tasteas apple pie spice. In this guide, I share several standalone spices and spice blends that make the perfect replacements. Keep reading for a delicious and easy homemade apple pie spice recipe that you can whip up in no time!

What is Apple Pie Spice?

Apple pie spice is an aromatic, delicious blend of fall-like spices that typically contain a base of cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. While most store-bought apple pie spice ingredients (eg. McCormick Apple Pie Spice) include just the three base spices, some brands may add cardamom and cloves and / or ginger.

So, what are some apple pie spice uses? As you probably expected, this delicious blend is a popular ingredient in freshly baked apple pie. However, it is the ideal complement to any apple-flavored dessert, recipe, or dish, such as muffins, oatmeal, french toast, mulled cider, or sweet potatoes!

What does Apple Pie Spice taste like?

If autumn had a taste to describe it, apple pie spice would be it! Apple pie spice can bring a variety of different flavors depending on the mix of spices in the blend. However, its overall flavor profile is warm and sweet with hints of citrus and spice. Although delicate, it is bursting with flavor and intense aroma.

What flavor is Apple Pie Spice similar to?

Because apple pie spice is a blend of spices, there is no one flavor that it is similar to. Instead, it is often described as a mix of cinnamon and nutmeg. Cinnamon and nutmeg are the two most prominent ingredients in the spice, and their flavors tend to shine through the most. The combination of flavors complements the tartness of apples.

What is the best Apple Pie Spice substitute?

Apple pie spice is composed of various spices that add different flavors and aromas. When choosing a substitute, it is important to consider the flavor that you desire and whether that substitute will provide that outcome. Below are 14 spices and spice blends you might consider as an apple pie spice substitute in your recipe:

1. Ground Cinnamon
2. Ground Nutmeg
3. Allspice
4. Five-Spice Powder
5. Pumpkin Pie Spice
6. Mixed Spice
7. Chai Spice
8. Mulling Spice
9. Cinnamon + Nutmeg
10. Cinnamon + Allspice
11. Cinnamon + Five-Spice Powder
12. Cinnamon + Ginger
13. Cinnamon + Cardamom
14. DIY Apple Pie Spice

1. Cinnamon

Cinnamonis a potent and aromatic spice that often adds warmth, sweetness, and spiciness to various recipes. It is a popular ingredient in baked goods, desserts, beverages, and savory dishes and one that many already have in their pantries. It is also the primary component of the apple pie spice blend, making it an ideal single-spice substitute.

Start by substituting ground cinnamon for apple pie spice in a ½:1 ratio. So, use ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon for each teaspoon of apple pie spice called for. You can slowly add more to taste for a stronger flavor.

2. Nutmeg

Nutmegis another warm, sweet, and nutty spice often used in fall and holiday baked goods, desserts, and savory dishes. As another of the primary components of apple pie spice, it is an acceptable substitute if it is the only spice you have available. However, ground nutmeg is quite potent, so you must use fewer teaspoons ground nutmeg than apple pie spice to avoid overpowering the recipe.

Substitute nutmeg for apple pie spice in a ⅓:1 ratio.

3. Allspice

Contrary to its name, allspice is a standalone spice from the berry of thePimenta dioicaplant. It is a potent spice that combines the flavor of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger with a touch of pepper, and, like cinnamon and nutmeg, it is one of the base spices found in apple pie spice.

Its warm, fruity, and slightly bitter flavor makes it an excellent apple pie spice substitute in baked goods such as apple and cinnamon pie or sweet bread. Allspice also appears in savory dishes such as soups, stews, sauces, meats, and vegetables.

Substitute allspice for nutmeg in a ⅓:1 ratio. If you prefer a softer flavor, use ¼ teaspoon for each teaspoon of apple pie spice called for.

4. Five-Spice Powder

Also known as Chinese Five Spice, five-spice powder is traditionally a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, star anise, and pepper. However, some blends include cloves and fennel versus nutmeg and allspice. The traditional spice blend comprises the three base spices in apple pie spice, making it an acceptable substitute.

Because of the additional spicy ingredients, five-spice powder adds more kick than apple pie spice. However, it may even improve the flavor of warm desserts such as myspiced apple cake!

Substitute five-spice powder for apple pie spice in a ½:1 ratio.

5. Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin pie spice(also known as pumpkin spice) is very similar to apple pie spice in that it includes the three base ingredients: cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. The difference is that it also contains cloves, ginger, and in some blends,cardamom.

However, the decision to use pumpkin spice as an apple pie spice substitute or not lies in the cloves. Cloves have a very warm and unique flavor that can slightly change the taste of your recipe. For most apple-flavored desserts, it will still pair very well.

To begin, substitute ¾ amount of pumpkin pie spice for apple pie spice. If you desire more flavor, slowly increase as needed to taste.

6. Mixed Spice

Ground mixed spice usually contains a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cloves, coriander, and mace. Its ingredients give it a warm, sweet, and spicy taste similar to apple pie spice, making it a great alternative. Mixed spice is an ideal alternative for apple pie spice in baked goods such as cakes, pies, cookies, and bread. It is also an excellent addition to French toast and oatmeal.

Start with less ground mixed spice than the recipe calls for apple pie spice and increase as needed.

7. Chai Spice

Chai spice is traditionally a warm blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, and coriander. Since it has all of the key flavors of allspice, one of the base ingredients of apple pie spice, it is also a suitable replacement. However, it is only best as a substitute in recipes whose flavor won't be affected by adding cloves, peppercorn, or coriander.

Because chai spice has such a complex flavor, it is best to start with less than what is required of the apple pie spice and slowly increase it as needed.

8. Mulling Spice

If you have prepackaged mulling spice in your pantry, it could make an excellent substitute for apple pie spice. Mulling spice is usually composed of a blend of spices designed to make apple cider or mulled wine. The most common ingredients are cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Some combinations may also include cardamom, star anise, or peppercorn.

What sets mulling spice apart from other spice blends is that it includes dried citrus peels and some whole spices versus ground spices. If you will use it as a replacement, it is best to do so in recipes where you can easily remove the whole spices, such as hot beverages.

Because the spices in mulling spice can vary, it is best to start with less than you would apple pie spice and slowly increase as needed.

Spice Combinations

Cinnamon is the most prominent of the three base spices in apple pie spice. Combined with the other traditional spices in the apple pie blend, it creates an excellent pairing that closely mimics apple pie spice's flavor and aroma profile. Below are a few different cinnamon combinations to try in your next recipe:

9. Cinnamon + Nutmeg

Cinnamon and nutmeg are two-thirds of the blend for apple pie spice and, therefore, would give you the closest flavor. Since nutmeg tends to be a very potent spice on its own, it pairs perfectly with cinnamon. However, since nutmeg can be overpowering, you will need to use less:

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon + ¼ ground nutmeg = 1 teaspoon of apple pie spice

10. Cinnamon + Allspice

You can also combine cinnamon with allspice to create a combination made with two-thirds of the blend for apple pie spice. Like nutmeg, you will want to combine them in a 2:1 ratio.

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon + ¼ allspice = 1 teaspoon of apple pie spice

11. Cinnamon + Five-Spice Powder

Combining cinnamon and five-spice powder creates a delicious fall-like flavor similar to apple pie spice. The cinnamon helps mellow out the star anise and peppercorn in the five-spice. To use as an apple pie spice substitute, combine the two in equal parts:

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon + ¼ teaspoon five-spice powder = 1 teaspoon apple pie spice

12. Cinnamon + Ginger

Combining cinnamon with ground ginger will do the trick for a warm, sweet, and fragrant apple pie spice replacement. Both spices are incredibly versatile and do wonders when transforming sweet and savory dishes. To use as an apple pie spice substitute, combine the two in a 2:1 ratio:

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon + ¼ teaspoon ground ginger = 1 teaspoon apple pie spice

13. Cinnamon + Cardamom

Cardamom is the last of the traditional ingredients in the apple pie spice blend and will provide an effective solution for an apple pie spice replacement. As with the other spice combinations, combine the two in a 2:1 ratio:

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon + ¼ cardamom = 1 teaspoon of apple pie spice

14. DIY Apple Pie Spice

Lastly, if you have all the base ingredients in your pantry, you can make your own apple pie spice mix at home! Typically you will want to use 2x as much cinnamon as nutmeg and 4x more cinnamon vs allspice, but feel free to adjust the ratios of the mixture to your liking:

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon + 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg + ½ tablespoon allspice. Some recipes also recommend using a small amount of cloves and ginger however that would make the mixture more similar to pumpkin pie spice. Having said that, cardamom makes everything better so it does not hurt if you try including it in small amount!

So, which is the best Apple Pie Spice substitute?

Because the components of apple pie spice can vary by brand, finding an exact match in terms of taste can be challenging. The best substitute for your recipe depends on its flavor profile and whether the mentioned spice substitutes will work with those flavors.

A homemade spice blend is your best bet if you have cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice in your pantry. The three are the base spices used in all brands (and the only three inMcCormick's Apple Pie Spice). To make this blend at home, combine two tablespoons of cinnamon with one tablespoon each of nutmeg and allspice.

Otherwise, cinnamon is typically the best single-spice replacement, as it is the primary ingredient in apple pie spice.

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