Pumpkin Pie Spice Substitute

Alternative to Pumpkin Pie Spice

Have you ever wondered what to use if you don’t have pumpkin spice and a recipe calls for it? Learn which single ingredients work best if you need a quick substitute and learn how to make a big batch! I’ve used this combination in pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin pie (and so many other fall recipes). Cinnamon is the star, but I especially love using allspice in the blend because that warm flavor just smells and tastes like the holidays.

You can mix just enough pumpkin spice for one recipe (ever get to that point in a recipe where it calls for 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice and you only have the individual spices?) or you can make a larger batch to keep in your pantry. Once you know the basic proportions, it’s an easy baking shortcut that saves you from buying another spice blend when you might have everything you already need.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Substitute Ingredients

• Ground Cinnamon is the largest ratio in the ingredients; it’s the star of the show.
• Ground Ginger is usually the second most in the ratio. It’s almost the color of mustard powder and is great in sweet and savory dishes.
• Ground Nutmeg: buy it already ground for ease, although you could ground whole nutmeg if that’s all you have.
• Ground Allspice or cloves: Sometimes you’ll see ground cloves instead of allspice but I absolutely love allspice in pumpkin (and gingerbread) treats. Allspice smells like fall and the holidays to me, so it wouldn’t be a pumpkin pie or dessert without it. If you don’t have allspice, cloves can be a good substitute.