For the past couple seasons, I’ve been on the hunt for pumpkin pie spice mix. And I’ve been slowly going crazy not being able to locate it in any local grocery stores. Don’t they know how many they would sell from me alone?! I longed for the day I would cross paths with it, making a mental note to buy 10 if I ever did. Only that day never came and I went about my life smiling on the outside, but secretly feeling like a piece of me was missing. Until that beloved day when a recipe just fell into my lap!
I feel like fellow bloggers and cookbook authors, Nicole Axworthy and Lisa Pitman, get me. They know that vegan staples aren’t always offered in grocery stores (yes, I just called pumpkin spice mix a “vegan staple”…let’s go with it), and sometimes we want or need to make things in our own kitchen. In their new book, DIY Vegan, you’ll find more than 100 vegan recipes showing home cooks just how easy it is to create knock-offs of common store-bought staples, only without the sometimes scary ingredient lists. For the most part, I try to limit the amount of prepared foods that I purchase due to the unpronounceable ingredients many contain. And really, these foods don’t always leave me feeling my best. Yes, more and more brands are coming out with simple, whole-foods ingredient lists (hooray), but sometimes these brands aren’t accessible or they’re just plain old expensive. So, I enjoy making my own staples when time allows; especially if I can make a huge batch and store it for several months, like with this pumpkin pie spice mix. Major kitchen win!
As Nicole and Lisa say, "Seriously, are you going to pay extra for someone else to stir your spices? We didn’t think so. Make your own in seconds, make some for your friends, start a business selling your own spice-stirring services. And then eat pie."
In DIY Vegan, you’ll find vegan recipes like Buttermilk, Cashew Coffee Creamer, Simple Sour Cream, Coconut Yogurt, Cultured Nut Cheese, Whole-Grain and Seed bread, Cheesy Crackers, Taco Seasoning, Spelt Pizza Dough, and many more. I went straight for the Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix of course, and after falling in love I made a triple batch to keep on hand. It’s just so easy and flavourful, and now I never have to go without. If you noticed that super cute jar at the top of this post, you’ll see that it also makes a fun gift for the pumpkin pie spice mix lover in your life. Just place the spices into a tiny jar (you can layer it for fun), add some baker’s twine, and loop on a homemade tag. Wouldn’t this be a cute idea for a housewarming gift or a party favour? Or maybe I’m just weird. Rest assured, if you ever brought me this I would light up like a Christmas tree.
Coming up soon, I’ll be sharing a baked good that I created using this very pumpkin pie spice mix. You don’t want to miss this one, folks. It’s the seasonal baked good I promise you’ll want to whip up all season long. So go on and make this spice mix then meet me back here for Part 2! Deal?
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Yield
2 1/2 tablespoons
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
Use this pumpkin pie spice mix in cakes, cookies, bars, oatmeal, smoothies, lattes, chia seed pudding, and more! I like to keep a large batch of it on hand and I find myself using it in just about everything. This recipe is reprinted with permission from DIY Vegan. Copyright © 2015 Nicole Axworthy and Lisa Pitman. Published by St. Martin's Griffin.
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (I pack it in the teaspoon)
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Directions
- Combine all the ingredients in an airtight container or jar. Attach lid and shake to combine. Store at room temperature for up to 6 months. Shake jar before each use.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
Photography credit: Ashley McLaughlin Photography
A big congrats to Nicole and Lisa on this beautiful cookbook, and for allowing me to share this recipe with you today! DIY Vegan is hot off the press this Tuesday, October 27th so be sure to check it out online and in bookstores!
This is so useful; pumpkin pie spice is always so expensive at the store!
I was thinking the exact same thing! I paid 7 bucks for the tiniest bottle of pumpkin pie spice and was so frustrated! I feel like, I love trying new recipes, but spend so much on “extra” ingredients that I don’t have have on hand ~ that I don’t end up actually saving $$ by cooking at home. This is SO useful. Thanks Angela. (and easy!!!)
I can’t believe how easy this pumpkin pie spice is to make! & cheap!! Can’t wait to make this and use it, oh well, everything :) Thank you so much for sharing, Angela!
Why have I never thought to make my own mix?! Gah! Looking forward to the recipe!
No cardamom on the list? It’s heavenly in pumpkin pie.
Feel free to tweak it as you see fit! This is Lisa and Nicole’s fav version, but by all means create your own.
I like the way you think!
Hi can you please give a recommendation for how much cardamon to use? I don’t know how strong this is and don’t want it to overpower the other spices.
I like cardamom and also want to know how much to add to the pumpkin pie spice recipe. My mom had mace in pumpkin pie and I really liked that.
Will try this also. Thank you for the amounts. I was just guessing- like grandma a little of this and that
This is what I need, in England I can’t find pumpkin pie spice mix in any shop, thank you for this !
Outside of U.S. this is often called ‘mixed spice’, since it doesn’t have the strong association to a particular dish.
I can’t wait to give this a try!
Can I use ground nutmeg instead of fresh? If so, would I have to use less than a tsp?
That’s what I used… You’d still use a tsp!
Glad that worked out Sonya!
I tend to think that ground nutmeg is a bit stronger (and more compact) than freshly grated stuff. I would probably start with half the amount and then taste and adjust from there!
Can’t wait to make my own spice mix! Also, I think I heard allspice is a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves; is that true?
I think that’s “mixed spice”.
Allspice is not a mixture, it’s from a pimenta berry.
I’m actually on the fence about making my own chai spice. My husband is Indian so I’ve had some great chai when his family gets together. No tea seems to measure up and his cousin has a homemade chai masala that she adds in her black tea and it is PERFECT. I bought some at an Indian store and it’s not the same and definitely not as fresh so now I think I may have to whip up some of my own. Maybe this is a sign…. :)
Creeper me just read your blog post and actually thought of you while reading this one! LOL! Definitely post the recipe for the chai masala if you get it right!
The inner child in me had so much fun styling the first jar shot for this post. I was definitely a sucker for sand art growing up. Also, this pumpkin pie spice is totally on point! Love that I have a big jar of it ready to go now! :)
Yes! I love seasonal spices…especially right now, when the weather is cooling…I go through so much cinnamon, whole nutmegs, cloves, ginger….everything! I may have to whip up a batch of this to try it, as I am usually a believer in blending my spices to my tastes on the particular day. Thanks for the great idea :)
Is it super sad and naive of me to wish that there were more to this mix? Some bit of magic mixed in that cannot be created with simple spices??
Bailey |One Thousand Joys
pepper for a little black magic, perhaps? lol
Hey! I am about to order the cookbook and I am wondering if the quantities are also indicated for international ? Thanks!!
Hi Julia, I’m sorry it doesn’t!
Thanks so much for this post it’s just what I need to be encouraged to make my own spice mix and also take control of my spice drawer, which is chaotic at the moment! :)
This looks and sounds absolutely delicious. Great photos too, you definitely know how to make people hungry!
Charlotte xx
http://www.smudgeness.co.uk
This is such a cute idea and perfect for a present. I am definitely going to give this a go.
Beth x
www.hellobeth.co.uk
I’d love to make these for family and friends! Where did you get the spice jars to fill up?
I think they are from Crate and Barrel :)
Strange that you weren’t able to find pumpkin pie spice mix! But yes, it’s a very easy thing to mix up. I love to grind up my own cloves. They smell so delicious! Grinding coffee beans in the grinder after cloves is always a good idea :)
Ok, you’ve just added yet another cookbook to my Christmas wish list this year!! :) I totally hear you on the frustration of not being able to find pumpkin pie spice mix.. and when I do, it costs SO much for the tiniest little jar! I’m all for DIY and saving $$ so I’ll be making Lisa and Nicole’s version in a large batch for sure!
Mace is a necessary ingredient to be happiest – it adds something special. It’s actually the whole reason I keep Mace around my kitchen. (It’s part of the same plant as nutmeg – not anything like the concept of “mace the weapon”)
Ah yes, I have been meaning to try that! Will pick some up :)
This is great and I will definitely be making some. I already make my own taco seasoning. Just an idea but if you substitute “part” for teaspoons in the recipe you can extend the recipe as much as you want. So if you’re using a 1/4 cup measure you can make a large batch and share it. (Eg. 2x 1/4 cup or 1/2 X 1/4 cup) I then write the amounts (2 parts cinnamon…) on a label and keep it on the jar in my cupboard so it is at my finger tips when I need to replace it. You can then substitute whichever measure gives you the desired amount of seasoning. If you are going to sell it at a market use a cup, if you only want enough for a pie (!?) use a teaspoon.
I love making my own pumpkin pie spice! So much cheaper than what I’ve ever been able to find in the store!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
This would be a great gift for all my pumpkin spice loving friends! I will have to try it. ♡♡
xoxoBella | http://xoxobella.com
This recipe is right up my alley! I love making my own spice mixes instead of buying pre-mixed. Thanks for sharing! – Charlie, www.lemonbutterlove.com
I never even thought about making my own pumpkin pie spice mix! I have all spices on hand so I will give it a try!
Haha it’s good to know that I am not the only one obsessively looking for a pumpkin spice mix in EVERY. SINGLE. MARKET I go to lol. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I can finally do it myself!!! Woohooo
Please tell me part two is a scone!!!! *Waiting in anticipation*
I can’t wait to make this! I see pancakes in my future! ;) And what a brilliant idea to gift them.
Thank you for this! I can’t believe I’ve never thought to make my own pumpkin pie spice. I absolutely never have it on hand as it is so expensive in stores, but now I’ll be able to have my own homemade spice! Thanks!
@ Matea: No, allspice is not a blend of spices. It is actually a spice of its own, originally known as “Jamaica pepper”. The Latin name is Pimenta dioica (living as I do in S. Europe I find the Latin names of herbs and spices useful, to make sure what they sell me is what I want.) You can substitute a combination of equal parts of nutmeg, cinnamon and clove but the flavour will of course be slightly different.
Is pumpkin pie spice mix the same as pumpkin spice mix?? (I’m not from the US/Canada so this is new to me!)
Finding it a teensy bit hard to believe you’ve been searching high and low for pumpkin spice mix for ages, to no avail; that a quick recipe search on Google couldn’t solve this problem for you in 5 seconds; that all hope was lost, your sanity was waning, woe was you, etc., until you came across this miraculous recipe! That, by my estimate anyway, will end up costing more than a store-bought bottle of pumpkin spice mix (all those individual ingredients? They’re just as expensive to buy new, and if you’re the sort of person who already has them all on hand, then you probably know how to mix your own pumpkin spice already). Or that a couple of weeks ago you created and posted a recipe for a “Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte With Salted Pumpkin Spice Syrup” – containing many of the same ingredients and actually suggests pumpkin pie spice mix as a garnish – but couldn’t figure out where or how to get your hands on a spice mix that, yes, has always been vegan and, this time of year, is. Literally. Everywhere.
I really like your blog and your book, and I’m looking forward to OSG#2. But the desperate and dramatic bit? It comes off a bit dumb, and you’re better than that.
Wow. You took this post a bit seriously didn’t you!
So… we shouldn’t take you seriously?
Oh, yum! This looks perfect and so easy to make :)
Best,
https://www.theliterarycove.wordpress.com
nice!! looks amazing can’t wait to try :D
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
The store bought mix has sulphites, so this is a way better option.
Wow I wouldn’t have thought that…good to know!
This is exactly what I need! I’ve found many recipes online and they all needed pumpkin spice. We don’t have it anywhere in Dutch supermarkets and ordering it from the USA is a bit too expensive. Thank you for this one!
I’m not really a fan of pumpkin spice, do you know any yummy desserts we can where we can use it?
I’m almost out of Pumpkin Pie Spice! I’ll have to give this a try :) By the way, your pictures are amazing!!
Trader Joe’s. Two bucks. No sulfites. cinnamon, ginger, lemon peel, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom. For the time challenged. ;)
This goes perfect for October/November when we are obsessed with pumpkins.
Great recipe.. I only had whole allspice, so used it and mixed the ingredients in my coffee grinder. Thanks for the recipe.
Hey Angela,
On my trip to the USA last year, I fell in love with all things pumpkin there! Lucky, that I decided to be there around fall! Although I brought back how much ever I could of the pumpkin spice flavoured stuff, I have been missing those ever since. Thank you for this amazing recipe and I can’t wait to try it out!
But only one lil problem – I don’t get all spice in India and the substitute mix recipe I found online are already included in your mix. So what to do? It’ll be great if you could help :)
Love,
Niru
It is “allspice”, not “all spice”. I know with that name, it may sound like a mixture, but it is a single spice. (Also called “pimenta” (don’t confuse it with pimento, a kind of pepper) “Jamaica pimenta”, or “myrtle pepper”, it comes from from the dried unripe fruit of Pimenta dioica berries [Thanks, Wikipedia.]) Maybe it’s near you with another name?
I hope you have already found some allspice –it’s been 2 years– or, if not, maybe this could help.
I’m not really a fan of pumpkin spice. Can you tell me the health benefits we can get from it?
When I am substituting the pumpkin pie spice instead of the ingredients individually how much pumpkin pie spice do I use???
Just made these muffins using whole wheat pastry flour (which I always use instead of white). Also used a tsp of ground ginger, a tsp of cinnamon, a pinch nutmeg and pinch allspice. I used less sweetener (molasses and brown sugar).They are really good and I’ll probably have to restrain myself from eating too many right out of the oven.
This is good idea. I’ve been making my own for each recipe fresh.
One time, a long long time ago – I ate a piece of sweet potato pie that had the traditional flavor, but the combination and ratio of spices were the best flavor I had ever had, I mean EVER. Many times the pies too brown with spices, this one was not. And many times I find the flavor overwhelming to the filling. But mostly the clove flavor predominates. Getting that perfect and amazing combination of spices is my goal. Just sayin….. That particular sweet potato pie haunts my taste buds, calling me back to it.
I couldnt helped bt try your pumpkin spice mix immediately and best of all I had all the ingredients on hand. Im hooked! I refuse to have my apple bannana green smoothie without it. Thanks a million
This looks delicious. If you are ever out and looking to buy some again, bulk barn sells it (IN BULK- so you can buy as much as you want!)
Thanks for the post
So good to,have the spice explained! It seems to be taken for granted in America but in Ireland….it is a case of looking this up and then we get to enjoy world foods too. I love to eat me us from different countries and often play the music to match too!
The ad I saw you on said there was a slimming drink but when you clicked on it it had all these recipes but nothing about the slimming drink. Was that a trick just for folks to see your website? I won’t sign up for it until I can get the information on the slimming drink.
This Pumpkin Pie Spice mix looks amazing. I have got to try it!! I love your blog, so many excellent, healthy recipes !!
Aw, you’re too sweet Colleen, thank you! It’s wonderful to hear how much you enjoy my blog. If you try the spice mix, I hope you love it!
I love this! I got addicted to Pumpkin Spice whilst working in the states then couldn’t find it over here! Now its going in everything…