Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

Step one:  clean the refrigerator.  Wow… truly a strong place to start.  

(We’re mentally starting our lists for Thanksgiving, right?  I’m in the business of making brain-space, fridge-space, counter-space, belly-space, and entertaining-space for this holiday and it all starts in the mind and in the fridge.)  

Again.  Step one:  clean the refrigerator.  

Step two, order the turkey or order the protein or figure out which giant gourd you’re going to roast and enjoy in place of a bird.  Step three is something else important.  Step four involves cleaning the guest bathroom and finding a nice candle for that space.  Step five might be name cards.  Step six might be assigning mac and cheese to the right person.  Step seven (though it should be step two) is assigning pie duty to the right pie-knowing people.  

The one thing, make it’s number eleven or twelve down the list, is to root through your spice cabinet and take out all of the warming holiday spices that might make up a Pumpkin Pie Spice.  There’s no need to buy a jar of the labeled stuff from the store – I surely bet you have what you need to make it.  

Let’s see about it!  

Pumpkin Pie spice is a mixture of lots of autumnal warming spices.  Things like ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg.  

Cinnamon is the base.  Cinnamon is the root spice.  

Nutmeg is another important factor in pumpkin pie spice.  

I sing the praises of freshly grated nutmeg seed.  The seed and a microplane are all you need to unravel the most delicate fragrant spice.  Don’t settle for the pre-ground stuff.  

I also add a dash of mace to pumpkin pie spice.  Spicy and warm – mace comes from the seed covering of the nutmeg.  

Ginger is important for a bit of back-throat spiciness.  A dash of clove – not too much but just enough to keep everything warm.  Allspice for base balance.  Cardamom for brightness.  

Here’s a few fine things you might consider whipping up with your newly made spice.  

Tis the season! For pumpkin spice and extreme list making.  Really and truly.  

Jon’s Pumpkin Chocolate Slab Pie – such a chill, unique way to pie. 

Creamy Pumpkin Pie Bars – somewhere between cheese cake and pumpkin pie with a crumble top! 

Pumpkin Bread with walnuts or pecan – a staple.  

Pumpkin Pecan Scones with brown butter glaze – I love these cakey scones they’re absolutely like having pumpkin cake for breakfast!