Joy the Baker

Pumpkin Pie Spice

by 217 Comments

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You’re probably going to be loading up your cart at the grocery store with all kinds of Thanksgiving things this weekend.

Can you do me a big favor?  Don’t buy that stupid little jar labeled Pumpkin Pie Spice.  It’s annoying.  It’ll only get lost in the back of your spice cabinet until three years from now when you move and have to clean out your kitchen and find seven stupid little jars labeled Pumpkin Pie Spice.

I think you should make your own dang spice.  You probably already have every spice you need in your cabinet… in front of the forgotten little jars of Pumpkin Pie Spice.

Wanna do it?  Sweeeet.

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Pumpkin Pie Spice is a combination of every yummy autumn spice in your cabinet:  cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice and nutmeg.

I can make the spice.  Can someone please turn this into a shampoo for me?  K…. Thanks.

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Pumpkin Pie Spice

makes about 2 tablespoons

Print this Recipe!

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

big pinch of cardamom (or you can substitute mace)

Blend all spices together, working out any lumps that might occur.  Store in an old spice jar.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carrie

    This pumpkin pie spice is the best! I have made my own blend with fresh spices for the last three years using this recipe and it has taken my pumpkin pies to the next level! Thank you Joy!

    Reply

  2. Charlotte

    This makes me so happy – and is how I found your site years ago in the first place! I refuse to use recipes that call for ‘pumpkin pie spice’ (yes, it makes me judge the person who wrote it. I’m a snob) and you offered a drool-worthy recipes that actually called for real spices by name!
    That was just the beginning, and I have loved trying your recipes and reading your little life blurbs ever since. Thank you for all that you do – and especially for your pickiness towards great taste!

    Reply

  4. Angelica

    SHAMPOO? Ask and you shall receive. This brand Philosophy makes shampoo and shower gels in yummy food scents, including Pumpkin Spice!!!

    Reply

  7. dw

    This is a winner for sheer virtue of the fact that you add cardamom, which I believe should always go hand in hand with anything that requires cinnamon and or nutmeg :). Thank you.

    Reply

  8. monica

    thanks so much for this…..I just calculated a larger recipe:

    6Tbsps cinnamon, 4Tbsps ginger, 1Tbsp cloves, 1Tbsp allspice, 1Tbsp nutmeg….yields about 13 Tbsps, or just over 3/4 cup.

    Reply

  10. Cassandra

    I was so excited to find this recipe this morning! I live in Spain, where things like chocolate chips and pumpkin pie spice are not readily available. Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply

  14. Glory

    You’re so smart and thrifty, Joy! And, guess what? You can absolutely use this for a pumpkin spice margarita or mulled wine. I really think you should, too! Cheers!!

    Reply

  17. Elizabeth

    I didn’t grow up with pumpkin pie spice. The first time I saw it was in college. I was freaked out. What if you want a particularly cinnamon-y pie (like my family)?

    That being said, I tried to buy 2 whole nutmegs (bulk) from Whole Foods today for my pumpkin pie, and the register rang it up as $8… The lady acted like she didn’t understand when I told her that 2 nutmegs were NOT a quarter pound… the scale was off.

    Reply

  18. Nicole

    I came across this same spice mix recipe about 7 years ago and always make my own pumpkin pie spice mix. I use it for all kinds of things, though, not just pumpkin pie, such as, coffee sprinkle, muffin mix, stir fry, etc. It’s so good!

    Reply

  19. Jenny

    What does “allspice” consist of? I live in Norway and love pumpkin pie, but pumpkin spice does not exist here. So I would love to try this recipe.

    Reply

  20. Valvicus

    The “HELLO my name is * pleasure to meet you” label [i]is[/i] really funny! I happen to like more cinnamon, more allspice, and a little less ginger in my mixture. However, mace doesn’t really substitute for cardamom; it’s the ground outer husk of nutmeg, and has a milder, somewhat sweeter flavor than nutmeg itself. Thanks, Joy — Cheers!

    Reply

  22. Lis

    This may sound silly… Not only do I desperately want to do this next time instead of buying it, but I really want to relabel my spices with “Hello, My Name Is…” stickers. Hands down, that’s awesome.
    <3

    Reply

  24. madale

    Hmm. I never dreamed of buying pumpkin pie spice – or mixing it up. I just use the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger – whatever I’m going to use in whatever recipe I need them for. If you’ve got the basics…..

    Reply

  25. Cheri K.

    YOU ARE A LIFE SAVER!!!!!!! Its the day after Thanksgiving and trying to make pumpkin doughnuts for the fam and ?!?!?! out of pumpkin pie spice?!?!? I will never buy the mix again. Doughnuts here I come

    Reply

  27. Gina

    I never buy things like pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice, but have always just tossed in the seasonings my grandmother used, or whatever I feel like at the moment. Which, I might add, has never included cardamom. I made your pumpkin pie spice mixture yesterday (since I was making several pumpkin dishes with my daughter and she isn’t comfortable winging it…yet) in a couple of recipes I was making yesterday and everyone just loves it. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  29. Traci Tenkely

    Can I tell you that you are the smartest person alive? Cause you are. I used to think it was my mom. And now its you. Who knew they could make their own brown sugar? I didn’t. Who knew they could make their own vanilla extract? I didn’t. Who knew they could make their own buttermilk? I didn’t. And I even skipped over recipes that called for buttermilk because I could never remember to buy it. Just saying. Keep doing you. It always amazes me ;)

    Reply

  31. Sarah

    I love your blog…but I also hate it…haha I’m living in Thailand right now and looking at all of these recipes just reminds me of all the things I can’t get here!! No turkey or pumpkin pie or muffins or bread this year! tragic! I guess I’ll just keep lusting over your photos and dreaming of the day I can bake again!

    Reply

  36. Catherine

    Mmm….I am so considering doing this(: aha, but i dont even have half of these spices :P this is a problem…i shall go to the store later ;)

    anyway, i agree with a lot of the people ^^, I think you should DEFINITELY make a blog about all your supplies and where you get them because they are adorable and I envy you for them!

    Reply

  37. AnAmericanGirlinQuebec

    And see, for years I’ve adored store-bought pumpkin pie spice. I used it everything from pumpkin pies to carrot cake to oatmeal. My all time favorite version is still the Trader Joe’s brand I used to buy in Boston. I actually ran out of it right at the start of autumn, and the only version I found here in Quebec is way too clove heavy for my tastes (I could do without ever using cloves, to be quite honest). I started just doing my own combo of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, but I’m glad to have found your post. Now I know a good recipe to implement when I want to make my old recipes that call specifically for pumpkin pie spice!

    Reply

  39. Beth

    I love the idea for making your own! Will do next year. Another suggestion – sprinkle some over your coffee grounds… it makes for a delicious pot of coffee! Thanks Joy!

    Reply

  42. Lies

    Where can I find the recipe for pumpkin pie? And how do you eat it, in combination with what? (I’m not American, and so I never celebrated Thanksgiving, am I forgiven? :-) )

    Reply

  43. Meg H.

    Those spices are the ones we add to our pumpkin pie. Yummy! (And a few years ago, I found a pumpkin spice shampoo – but don’t know where it went! I loooooved washing my hair and smelling like Thanksgiving.)

    Reply

  44. Ne-Ne

    Kinda off topic, but have you ever made your own heavy whipping cream? I ask because i need some to make whipped topping but it’s the week of Thanksgiving and I am kinda boycotting the grocery stores and their long swirly lines.

    Reply

  50. Summer

    I love it! I am so excited you did this because it always annoys me to no end when a recipe reads “1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice.” Seriously?? I don’t want to go buy a whole jar of overpriced, premixed spices when I already have them all at home. Can’t you just tell me which ones I need?
    Same with ‘apple pie spice’. It’s like buying soup from a can.. it will never be as good, or as cost-efficient, as making it yourself.

    Reply

  51. Emily

    I just want to say your blog makes me happy…very very happy and the best break one could imagine in the middle of the treacherous road to a PhD. I think when I graduate…I’ll name you as my #1 support system as I live vicariously through your delicious adventures. Thank you for pure fabulous-ness.

    Reply

  55. Rebecca H

    I just made this… and then promptly put a large spoonful into my sweet potato “breakfast” pie (because making pie for breakfast is totally legitimate….). My kitchen smells amazing now… thank you for the recipe!

    Reply

  58. Courtney

    Hehe…when I first read the last sentence I thought you were suggesting I store my pumpkin pie spice in an Old Spice jar (as in my husband’s old deodorant…gross!) But the spice sounds yummy in a clean old spice jar!

    Reply

  60. Teresa

    I don’t know about pumpkin shampoo, but AVON has a yummy Pumpkin Spice bubble bath! It smells sooooo good! I love it!

    Thanks for the Pumpkin Spice tip. We have a little running joke in our family about all of those unused Pumpkin Spice jars you spoke of. You called it!

    Reply

  63. Alison

    Thank you!! I know a few people who go off about what foodies they are, but when they talk about how pumpkin pie spice is one of their favourites…well, I just have to stop and look at them strangely. I’m glad that you’re spreading the word that it is a wholly unnecessary item in the grocery store!

    Reply

  64. Tara

    We don’t really do pumpkin pie that often in Australia (we’re a meat pie people), so I’ve always been intrigued about what one would put in it. Mystery solved!

    On an unrelated note, since I’ve already commented over there, I just wanted to say thanks for the link to Tigress on your November Give-away page. I’ve just spent a lovely half-hour browsing her site and I do believe I’ve got another blog to add to my list to read.

    Reply

  65. Alex S

    I have never purchased pumpkin pie spice… I always season my own. This way I can omit cloves for the people who don’t like cloves and add more ginger in anything for myself.

    love it Joy.

    Reply

  69. Roberta

    Now that I have my own jar of pumpkin pie spice, what is the measurement I will use? 1 tablespoon, 2 tablespoons? I have to confess that I have never made my own pumpkin pie–I have always bought one from the bakery.

    Reply

  70. kristin

    I always make enough pumpkin pie spice just for what I’m making at the time. I don’t use it enough to warrant buying it! But that’s not why I’m commenting! I love your spice jar label! I’ve been trying to come up with a cool looking labelling system and that is so cute! Stealing it!

    Reply

    • Sheila

      That is great! Apparently, men are attracted to the smell of roast meat or pumpkin pie… I am not sure I am willing to try a meat-scented shampoo but this one may work! : )

      Reply

  77. Dar

    I found a lotion and soap that almost had the same smell! The brand name was Jason – Gingerbread spice. But I haven’t found it in stores for years now. :(

    Reply

  78. anne

    the proportions you use for your pumpkin pie spice are a little bit different than the ones i use for mine… guess i’ll have to make some test pies to see which one i like best :P

    Reply

  82. homegrown countrygirl

    I do this too ~ and I also add cardamom.

    Cardamom is my favorite spice in the whole wide world. When I first found you it happened to be when you posted about Cardamom Rose Water Milkshakes. I got a crush on your blog right then!

    Reply

  85. Melanie

    Thanks for the great tip on pumpkin spice but my burning question has to be where did you get those totally adorable prep dishes? :)

    Reply

  93. Catherine

    Super cute idea for a label, and I completely agree with you about buying specific ingredents for one recipe then totally forgetting about it after using it only once.. anywayss great idea!! :) Can’t wait to try it out!

    Reply

  96. Whitney

    It’s kinda eery how every time I think I need to buy something or make something, you have it posted. In THIS case I’ve been reading a bunch of recipes that call for the said spice and (I must confess) I almost went out to buy it. Thanks for saving me some beans Joy!

    Reply

  98. Nikki @ The Tolerant Vegan

    I am putting this at the top of my “to do” list. Last week I had to make my own chili powder after a panicked google search during chili making and I couldn’t believe how easy it was. I can’t wait to try pumpkin pie spice! I bet it will make my entire apartment smell like sweaters and snuggles.

    Reply

  99. Marianne G

    Definitely nice to have this recipe just in case, but Pumpkin Pie spice can be used all year long in many other recipes. It also saves on buying 5-6 different spices to make it with.

    Reply

  101. Ama

    Can I just say that your handwriting is fabulous!
    You should make a Joy-the-baker font. Yep!
    Unless it’s possible to have you write all of my future handwritten things: cards, thank you notes, etc… : )

    Reply

  103. Pat

    I always buy spices bulk in small amounts and make my own blends. Where though did you come up with those small prep dishes. Would love to have some of them. Thanks to you for all you do for all of us. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply

  105. Rebecca R.

    I am SO GLAD you posted this! I went to the store earlier and luckily I forgot to get pumpkin pie spice. I have all the ingredients in my cabinet so I’m good to go now!

    Reply

  109. Stephanie

    Making pumpkin pie spice yourself is such a great idea, and makes loads of sense also! As for shampooing with it….. CrunchyBetty (dot com) has recipes for a Moisturizing Pumpkin Facial Mask and a Revitalizing Pumpkin Hair Mask (also a recipe for Cinnamon Spice Dusting Powder)… I’m not affiliated in any way, It’s just one of my favorite blogs (yummy recipes to put ON your face)!

    Reply

  112. Charlene Austin

    Love the label….it’s adorable!

    Look for “Sexy Hair” brand. They make a pumpkin shampoo & Cond, not to mention body butter, that is to.die.for! I am in Canada but I know that I picked up a couple jars when I was in the US on a shopping trip. Pretty sure it was at TJ Maxx and it was a killer deal compared to what I pay here.

    Reply

  113. Elizabeth

    Wow I’m glad I didn’t buy it, then… and now I have all the ingredients I’ll need to make my own :]
    That would make it easier to prepare Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate now, too!

    Reply

  116. wendy

    DANG! I just got back from the grocery store, where I stood in front of the pumpkin pie spice thinking to myself “It is so silly to buy this, it is just a mix of stuff I already have… but I don’t know the proportions, and….. oh well” and tossed it in my cart. Thanks for the formula… I will be taping it in my recipe book so I never do THAT again :)

    Reply

  117. Stephanie

    Yes!!! I hate (okay maybe that is a strong word, let’s sub in really really dislike) grocery store pumpkin pie spice. It’s never what I want things to taste like. I usually blend up cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground ginger and am good to go!

    Reply

  118. Melissa

    Hi, love the site and they have made it into a shampoo/body wash… try philosophy pumpkin spice muffin 3in1 shower gel… cinnamon buns 3n1 and gingerbread men hot salt scrub rocks… Love, love, love it…

    Reply

  119. Jessica @ bake me away!

    I mixed together something like this a few weeks ago (minus nutmeg and allspice) and rolled snickerdoodles in it instead of just cinnamon/sugar. It was a good idea. And can you imagine it with Vietnamese cinnamon? bow chicka wow wow.

    That label is a winner.

    Reply

  120. Elle

    Why is the nutmeg freshly grated while the other spices are ground? This is truly a question and not a snarky remark. (I hate snarky remarks). If I could find the cinnamon and the ginger fresh and cheap would it be worth my while to get them and grate or is the ground flavor very similar? Thanks! Lovely post, as usual.

    Reply

    • joythebaker

      fresh ground spices are always the best. it you have access to whole spices and a spice grinder (i use a coffee grinder only for spices) then you should totally grind everything. i’ve never ground my own cinnamon though… hm.
      i used store bought ground spices because i want this recipe to be accessible for everyone.
      nutmeg is easy to buy whole and grate on a microplane aaaannnndd, i happen to think that fresh grated nutmeg is about 77 times better than the preground stuff.

      does this help?

      Reply

  121. Katie

    De-lish. With you on the shampoo. Bath and Body Works did a pumpkin spice bodywash last year. I had to remind myself not to eat it everyday.

    Reply

  128. Robbie

    Thanks, Joy! I shall store it in the very old container of Pumpkin Pie Spice that I found in the back of my spice drawer… For once my laziness of not throwing it out right away paid off!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. […] And now my friends, it’s time to visit the sweeter side of this savory vegetable. We’re talking, thumbprint cookies with dollops of sweet and spicy butternut squash caramel.  Adapted from one of my favorite food bloggers  we make our own home made caramel, mix it with the traditional cream and butter then spike it with some roasted butternut squash puree and pumpkin pie spice. […]

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  53. […] ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Mix in candied ginger. I love the “Hello my name is” tags. I got the idea from Joy the Baker. […]

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  59. […] So it had to be pumpkin pie. pao had been asking me if I’d make pumpkin pie. Well, I’ve never ever made one before and I knew I liked it as an American colleague had brought in some she’d made and that started a whole new love affair with canned pumpkin which is often very expensive and difficult to get here. I did a bit of googling to try and work out how to prepare the pumpkin and came up with the Joy of Baking recipe but decided that I would prepare the pumpkin according to the recipe I had found on the BBC using the spices that Joy the Baker recommended on her blog. […]

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