This homemade pumpkin spice mix is warm, fragrant and ready in just a few minutes with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom and allspice.
I make mine a little more aromatic than the typical pumpkin pie spice blend, with plenty of nutmeg and a touch of cardamom. Keep a jar in the kitchen for pumpkin pie, baked goods, coffee, oatmeal and all your favorite fall recipes.
Subscribe to
the Newsletter
Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for exclusive weekly recipes, hosting tips and thoughts from my kitchen.
A Little Story About This Pumpkin Spice Mix
Pumpkin spice is one of those ingredients I used to buy without really thinking about what was inside the jar. Then one fall I realized I already had every individual spice sitting in my kitchen.
Making my own means I can create exactly the flavor I want—and for me, that means a little more nutmeg and cardamom. The cardamom isn’t overpowering, but it gives the blend this lovely aromatic quality that makes even something as simple as coffee or oatmeal feel a little more special.
It’s a tiny kitchen shortcut, but one I reach for all season.
Why I Love This Pumpkin Spice Recipe
- It takes about 5 minutes.
- You only need six ground spices.
- Making it at home lets you control the flavour.
- Nutmeg and cardamom give this blend a particularly warm, aromatic finish.
- One jar can be used for pumpkin pie, muffins, cakes, coffee and more.
- It’s easy to double or triple for holiday baking.
Ingredients You’ll Need
1½ tablespoons ground cinnamon
Cinnamon gives pumpkin pie spice its familiar warm and sweet foundation. Use fresh, fragrant cinnamon. If you open the jar and can barely smell it, your finished spice blend won’t have much flavour either.
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
My pumpkin spice mix is intentionally more nutmeg-forward than many traditional blends. Nutmeg has a warm, slightly sweet and woodsy flavour that I especially love with pumpkin, apples, coffee and creamy desserts.
1 teaspoon ground ginger
Ginger gives the blend a little warmth and lift. It keeps the richer cinnamon and nutmeg from tasting too heavy.
½ teaspoon ground cloves
Cloves are powerful, so a little goes a long way. They provide that unmistakable deep holiday-spice flavour.
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
This is one of my favourite additions. Cardamom gives the pumpkin spice a fragrant, slightly floral quality and makes the blend taste a little more interesting than a basic combination of cinnamon and nutmeg.
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
Despite the name, allspice is one spice—not a mixture of several spices. It has flavours reminiscent of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, making it a natural addition to pumpkin pie seasoning.
Substitutions and Variations
Make It More Cinnamon-Forward
If you prefer a more traditional store-bought flavour, increase the cinnamon and reduce the nutmeg slightly.
Leave Out the Cardamom
You can omit the cardamom for a more classic pumpkin pie spice recipe.
Make It Without Allspice
Simply leave it out. You can add a tiny extra pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves if you’d like to replace some of its warmth.
Make It Less Clove-Forward
Reduce the cloves to ¼ teaspoon if you’re sensitive to their stronger flavour.
Add Black Pepper
Add a tiny pinch of finely ground black pepper for subtle warmth and complexity.
Make a Larger Batch
Double or triple everything and store the mixture in a clean spice jar. I prefer making enough for one season rather than keeping an enormous batch for years because freshly fragrant spices simply taste better.
How to Make Pumpkin Spice Mix
1. Check Your Spices
Before mixing anything, smell each ground spice.Fresh spices should smell immediately fragrant when you open the container. If they’re dusty and faint, replace them before making your blend.
2. Measure
Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom and allspice to a small bowl.
3. Whisk Together
Whisk together thoroughly until the spices are evenly distributed and you don’t see any little clumps. Ginger and nutmeg can sometimes clump, so I make sure to break those up well.
4. Store
Transfer the spice mix to a clean, dry airtight jar. Label it and keep it in a cool, dark cupboard away from heat and direct sunlight.
Recipe Tips
Start with fresh ground spices! The finished blend can only be as flavorful as what goes into it.
Whisk very well so one spoonful isn’t mostly cinnamon and another mostly cloves.
Store spices away from the stove, where heat can shorten their flavorful life.
Taste and customize. Homemade spice blends don’t have to follow one universal ratio.
Use measuring spoons rather than weighing tiny amounts; small quantities of ground spices can be difficult for kitchen scales to measure accurately.
Give the jar a little shake before using if it has been sitting for a while.
Ways to Use Pumpkin Spice Mix
This spice mix isn’t only for pumpkin pie.
I love adding it to:
- pumpkin bread, muffins and cakes
- pancakes and waffles
- oatmeal and overnight oats
- coffee and lattes
- French toast
- apple crisps and baked apples
- cookies
- granola
- smoothies
- sweet potatoes or winter squash
- whipped cream
- cream cheese frosting
- cinnamon sugar
If a recipe calls for pumpkin pie spice, you can generally use this homemade blend in the same measured amount. For coffee or oatmeal, I start with a small pinch and add more to taste.
How to Store Pumpkin Spice Mix
Transfer the spice blend to a tightly sealed container and store it in a cool, dry and dark place. I prefer using homemade pumpkin spice within about 6–12 months for the strongest flavor.
The blend may remain usable beyond that, but ground spices gradually lose their aroma and potency. The easiest test is simply to smell it.
If you open the jar and get that warm cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom aroma immediately, it’s still doing its job.
How to Make Pumpkin Spice Ahead
This is almost entirely a make-ahead recipe. Mix a batch at the beginning of fall and keep it in the pantry for baking throughout the season.
You can also double or triple the recipe and divide it among small jars for simple homemade gifts.
Just make sure your spices are fresh before you begin—the storage life of the final blend depends largely on the freshness of the spices you started with.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pumpkin spice?
Pumpkin spice is a blend of warm ground spices traditionally associated with pumpkin pie. Despite the name, there is no pumpkin in pumpkin spice.
What is in pumpkin pie spice?
Most pumpkin pie spices contain some combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Allspice is also common, while cardamom, mace or even black pepper appear in some variations.
My recipe uses cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom and allspice.
Are pumpkin spice and pumpkin pie spice the same thing?
In everyday cooking, the terms pumpkin spice and pumpkin pie spice generally refer to the same type of warm spice blend.
Does pumpkin spice contain pumpkin?
No. Pumpkin spice refers to the spices traditionally used to flavor pumpkin pie, not pumpkin itself.
Can I use this pumpkin spice for pumpkin pie?
Absolutely. Use this pumpkin spice for pumpkin pie anywhere your recipe calls for pumpkin pie spice.
Can I substitute homemade pumpkin spice for store-bought?
Yes. If a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, use 1 teaspoon of this homemade blend.
Why does your recipe contain cardamom?
I love the aromatic quality cardamom gives the mixture. It works particularly well with cinnamon and nutmeg and makes this blend a little different from a basic pumpkin spice recipe.
What can I use instead of cardamom?
You can simply leave it out. If you want to replace it, add a little extra cinnamon or ginger according to your taste.
What can I use instead of allspice?
Leave it out or replace it with a small additional pinch of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
How much pumpkin spice should I put in coffee?
Start with about ⅛ teaspoon per cup and adjust to taste. Ground spices won’t fully dissolve in coffee, so I especially like adding the spice to coffee grounds before brewing or mixing it into a latte.
Can I mix pumpkin spice with sugar?
Yes. Mix pumpkin spice with granulated or brown sugar and sprinkle it over toast, muffins, coffee foam or baked goods.
How long does homemade pumpkin pie spice last?
For the best aroma and flavor, I like using it within about 6–12 months. Keep it tightly covered and away from heat, moisture and light.
Can I double the recipe?
Definitely. The proportions can be doubled or tripled easily, which is useful if you do a lot of fall baking.
Final Thoughts
Making your own pumpkin spice mix is one of those tiny kitchen projects that takes almost no time but makes fall baking much easier. I love having one jar ready instead of measuring six different spices every time I make pumpkin bread, muffins or a morning coffee.
This version is warm, nutmeg-forward and slightly aromatic from the cardamom, which gives familiar pumpkin pie spice just a little something extra.
Mix it, adjust it to suit your taste and keep it close by—you’ll find plenty of reasons to use it long after the pumpkin pie is gone.
Connect With Me
Follow me on Instagram for more delicious recipes and food tips. And, join me over on Facebook where I share recipes daily!
CRAVING MORE? Sign up to my newsletter here for exclusive recipes and hosting tips!
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Mix
This homemade pumpkin spice mix is warm, fragrant, and slightly more aromatic than a traditional pumpkin pie spice thanks to nutmeg and cardamom. It takes just a few minutes to make and is perfect for pumpkin pie, baked goods, oatmeal, coffee, lattes, and all your favorite fall recipes.
Ingredients
- 1½ tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
Instructions
- Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom, and allspice to a small bowl.
- Whisk together until the spices are evenly combined and any small clumps have been broken up.
- Transfer the pumpkin spice mix to a clean, dry airtight jar or spice container.
- Store in a cool, dry, dark place until ready to use.
Notes
Christopher is a food and lifestyle expert, recipe developer and the content creator behind May Eighty Five. With over 6 years of creating recipes for your favourite food brands, he also shares tips, tricks and how to’s that he has learnt over the years. Every week, he shares quick, simple and mostly healthy recipes along with some home and entertaining tips. You will find flavorful cocktails, delicious appetizers, tasty mains and some indulgent desserts.
