Pumpkin pie spice is a quintessential spice blend for all things autumnand especially thanksgiving dessert. In the fall, pumpkin spice is craved in pumpkin spice lattes and is also delicious in new recipes like this pumpkin pie ice cream. When you’re in the middle of a recipe and realize you’re all out, don’t worry, this signature fall flavor can be recreated using a few of the spices you have on your spice rack.
ADD PUMPKIN PIE SPICE TO CART
The Best Substitute: Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice
Some people prefer to make their own pumpkin pie spice so they can tweak the measurements and create a flavor that’s unique and perfectly crafted for a certain recipe. You can make your own pumpkin pie spice and store in a sealed jar for up to 6 months to use whenever you please. To make ¼ cup of pumpkin spice, use the following measurements.
Common Pumpkin Pie Spice Substitution Questions
What If I Don’t Have All of the Above Spices?
If you’re missing a couple of the spices above to create the most accurate version of pumpkin pie spice, don’t worry, you’re not out of luck yet. You can achieve similar results by using cinnamon and whichever of the other spices above you happen to have. To get 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, use ¾ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ginger, allspice, cloves or nutmeg, whatever you have! If you have two of the above spices, use ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of whichever two spices you do have.
Can I Just Use Cinnamon?
Since pumpkin pie spice is composed mostly of cinnamon, if that’s all you have, just use that! Although your recipe will be missing some of the spice and flavor complexity, you’ll still get a similar autumn feeling as you would with the complete spice blend.
What if I Don’t Have Cinnamon?
If you don’t have ground cinnamon, you can use ginger or allspice in place of pumpkin pie spice. Just use half of the amount called for since ginger and allspice have stronger flavors than cinnamon.
What’s the Difference Between Pumpkin Pie Spice and Apple Pie Spice?
Both of these spice blends have similar ingredients, but the most common difference is that apple pie spice contains ground cardamom that balances out the sweetness of apples. Pumpkin pie spice also usually contains cloves, which is not normally in apple pie spice. Despite these differences though, you can still use these spice blends interchangeably.
FAQs
To get 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, use ¾ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ginger, allspice, cloves or nutmeg, whatever you have! If you have two of the above spices, use ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of whichever two spices you do have.
What is the same as pumpkin spice? ›
Pumpkin Pie Spice Substitute
Homemade spice mix: A combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves can function as a suitable pumpkin spice substitute.
What spices does pumpkin pie spice contain? ›
Pumpkin pie spice is a blend of warm, sweet spices, including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and (sometimes) cloves. Many people are surprised to learn that this spice blend doesn't actually contain any pumpkin; instead it gets its name because it pairs so well with pumpkin.
Is allspice similar to pumpkin pie spice? ›
Allspice is a warm and cozy spice that tastes like a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, but pumpkin pie spice is a bit more robust and flavorful with all those spices plus ginger. Allspice alone, while delicious, won't give you that signature pumpkin spice flavor that you're looking for.
What does McCormick pumpkin pie spice have in it? ›
McCormick Culinary Pumpkin Pie Spice is a premium blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice delivering a warm brown-spice flavor. Delicious in pumpkin pie and so much more.
What is the best substitute for pumpkin? ›
Butternut Squash and Sweet Potatoes
Butternut squash and our favorite orange spuds (sweet potatoes) can save the day when needing a quick alternative to pumpkin. These ingredients, in these amounts, are interchangeable in most recipes to achieve the same texture and most similar flavor.
What is the actual flavor of pumpkin spice? ›
What Is Pumpkin Spice? Pumpkin spice, originally known as pumpkin pie spice, is typically made with a blend of ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and occasionally allspice. It doesn't actually have any pumpkin flavor in it — however, it is used to flavor a pumpkin pie, which is likely how it got its name.
What is the closest pumpkin spice to Starbucks? ›
Fontana Pumpkin Spice flavoring. It tastes pretty much like Starbucks flavoring.
Is pumpkin pie spice the same as nutmeg? ›
Since it contains nutmeg and other similar spices, you can easily replace nutmeg with pumpkin pie spice in equal quantities in most recipes. Pumpkin pie spice is a spice blend made with nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger. It has a similar taste to that of nutmeg and can be swapped in at a 1:1 ratio.
What main two chemicals gives pumpkin spice its flavor? ›
The major and common ingredient in pumpkin spice lattes include: cinnamic aldehydes for cinnamon, eugenol for clove or allspice, terpenes such as sabinene for nutmeg, and zingiberene for ginger. They may also contain vanillin and cyclotene for the burnt butter or maple notes to round off the flavor.
The spices in pumpkin spice have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help to reduce chronic inflammation. Boosts the immune system: Some of the spices in pumpkin spice, such as ginger and cloves, have immune-boosting properties. This means that they may help to protect your body from infection.
What spice is in Starbucks pumpkin spice? ›
They spent the next three months prototyping the beverage, settling on a recipe that used pumpkin spice sauce with cinnamon, clove and nutmeg – handcrafted with espresso and steamed milk – and finished with whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin pie topping.
What is the best substitute for pumpkin pie spice? ›
Cinnamon + any of the other spices
For 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, substitute: ¾ teaspoon cinnamon + ¼ teaspoon ginger, allspice, cloves, or nutmeg (whatever you have!) ½ teaspoon cinnamon + ¼ teaspoon each of any of the two above.
Is there a difference between pumpkin spice and pumpkin pie spice? ›
Spoiler alert: the terms are used interchangeably, and yep, they're the same delicious combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and all those spices that make our autumn treats taste oh-so-magical.
Can you use mixed spice instead of pumpkin spice? ›
They are both a mixture of spices and are interchangeable. So mixed spice is perfect for the cake recipe.
Is mixed spice the same as pumpkin pie spice? ›
Mixed spice, also called pudding spice, is a British blend of sweet spices, similar to the pumpkin pie spice used in the United States. Cinnamon is the dominant flavour, with nutmeg and allspice. It is often used in baking, or to complement fruits or other sweet foods.
Does pumpkin spice taste like pumpkin pie? ›
Pumpkin spice, originally known as pumpkin pie spice, is typically made with a blend of ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and occasionally allspice. It doesn't actually have any pumpkin flavor in it — however, it is used to flavor a pumpkin pie, which is likely how it got its name.
Is it better to use pumpkin pie spice or individual spices? ›
In short, no. Our pumpkin pie spice contains all of the same spices you would use including Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Allspice, and Cloves. One of the main benefits to using this is convenience.
