Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

Learn how to make homemade pumpkin pie spice with a simple blend of everyday spices. It’s quick, easy, customizable, and smells absolutely divine. Keep some on hand for baking all your favorite fall recipes, or gift small jars to neighbors and friends.

The Best Pumpkin Pie Spice is Your Own

When pumpkin season hits America, it hits big time. For those who are into all things pumpkin, it’s exceedingly easy to get the fix: the flavor quickly pops up in coffee, pasta, cereal, and of course, all the baked goods your heart could desire. Undeniably, fall=pumpkin and pumpkin=fall.

In truth, what we actually crave so often isn’t just pumpkin, the vegetable, but pumpkin pie spice. A classic, warm, cozy blend of everyday spices that evokes autumn, falling leaves, and warm sweaters by the very scent alone.

Of course you can purchase pumpkin pie spice in virtually any grocery store, but if you’re up for a very fun, very quick project, try making your own this season! It’s insanely easy, inexpensive if you already have all of the spices, and most of all, fun. Plus, you can customize the blend to your own preferences, if you like.

We love that this homemade pumpkin pie spice is:

• A 5 minute project. Measure, whisk, done.
• A fun way to prep for fall baking.
• Excellent for gifting to neighbors and friends. Share a little jar with a cute handwritten label with your bestie!

Of course you can use this blend in your pumpkin pies, but the possibilities go way beyond that. Pumpkin bread, cookies, pancakes, pumpkin muffins, and maple pumpkin granola are just some of my favorites.

Ingredients in Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin pie spice is commonly made up of 4–5 different ground spices, each a pantry staple frequently used to add a flavor of warmth in cooking and baking. Full amounts are noted in the printer-friendly recipe card below.

1. Cinnamon
2. Ginger
3. Nutmeg
4. Cloves
5. Allspice

When you make your own blend, you’re in control of the make-up. If you really enjoy a certain spice, you can add more, or if you don’t like one, you can use less or even omit it entirely.

Want to add extra pep to your pumpkin pie spice? Add 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of ground cardamom or ground black pepper.

Cardamom is an idea popularized by the Silver Palate. I personally first saw the idea of pairing ground black pepper with pumpkin in a New York Times pie recipe, but it is a common trick among baking bloggers today.

How To Make It

Literally just measure the spices into a small bowl, whisk to blend well, and store in an airtight container. That’s all there is to it!

As written, the recipe yields five Tablespoons, which is enough for quite a few pumpkin treats. It’s extremely easy to halve. Or double or triple! Only you know how much pumpkin pie spice you need in your life. You measure that with your heart. 🙂

How To Store Pumpkin Pie Spice–and For How Long

Where: Once you’ve made your spice blend, package it into a small jar or bottle with a tightly-fitting lid, then place that container in a kitchen cabinet, drawer, or other area away from direct sunlight. Spices deteriorate when exposed to heat, moisture, and light, so by keeping them away from those elements you will prolong their ideal freshness and flavor.

For How Long: If made with fresh spices and properly stored, this blend should easily last for six months, i.e., through a full fall and winter.

My Favorite Spice Jars and Labels

• 8 oz Regular Mouth Mason Jars – I like these for homemade spice blends as well as small amounts of sauces and salad dressings.
• 5 oz Quattro Stagioni Jars – the adorable rounded ones shown here. Love these best for gifting!
• 5 oz Spice Jars with Wooden Lids – I love the way these lids fit and look, and the slightly larger size for storing blends
• 4 oz Spice Jars with Metal Lids – this is what I use and love for everything in my everyday spice drawer.
• Set of 184 Minimalist Spice Jar Labels – these are the labels I have on the 4 oz jars linked above.

Recipes Using Pumpkin Pie Spice

Obviously you can use homemade pumpkin pie spice to flavor your favorite pie, but don’t let the fun stop there! You can use it in all sorts of ways all season long. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Maple Pumpkin Granola
• Pumpkin Pecan Streusel Muffins
• Healthier Pumpkin Muffins
• Bourbon and Molasses-Spiked Pumpkin Pie
• Pumpkin Pancakes
• Pumpkin Bread
• Sprinkle some onto buttered toast or over oatmeal
• Mix a pinch into your morning coffee or tea

Fall, we are so ready for you!

If you try this Homemade Pumpkin Spice, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. I love hearing how recipes turn out in your kitchen, and it helps other readers, too.

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This post was originally published in September 2019 and has been updated with more helpful information on storage, variations, and usage ideas.