Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe - Live Well Bake Often (2024)

FAQs

What spice is in pumpkin spice often? ›

It is generally a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and sometimes allspice.

What's In Pumpkin Spice? Pumpkin spice (a.k.a. pumpkin pie spice) is an aromatic blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. Sometimes allspice is included. You can buy the spice blend at the store or use ingredients you already have on hand to make DIY pumpkin spice.

The major and common ingredient in pumpkin spice lattes include: cinnamic aldehydes for cinnamon, eugenol for clove or allspice, terpenes such as sabinene for nutmeg, and zingiberene for ginger. They may also contain vanillin and cyclotene for the burnt butter or maple notes to round off the flavor.

To get 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, use ¾ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ginger, allspice, cloves or nutmeg, whatever you have! If you have two of the above spices, use ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of whichever two spices you do have.

Spoiler alert: the terms are used interchangeably, and yep, they're the same delicious combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and all those spices that make our autumn treats taste oh-so-magical.

Since it contains nutmeg and other similar spices, you can easily replace nutmeg with pumpkin pie spice in equal quantities in most recipes. Pumpkin pie spice is a spice blend made with nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger. It has a similar taste to that of nutmeg and can be swapped in at a 1:1 ratio.

From its antioxidant-rich components to its anti-inflammatory properties, pumpkin spice can contribute to overall well-being. Whether sprinkled into oatmeal, blended into smoothies, or added to savory dishes, this aromatic blend of spices has the potential to enhance your health and elevate your culinary experiences.

To make the pumpkin powder: Spread cooked (either baked or steamed) and pureed pumpkin into a thin layer on a silicone mat. Place in the dehydrator, then set it to 130°F (55°C). Dehydrate for 10 hours. Check for doneness; it should be completely dry to the touch.

The spices in pumpkin spice have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help to reduce chronic inflammation. Boosts the immune system: Some of the spices in pumpkin spice, such as ginger and cloves, have immune-boosting properties. This means that they may help to protect your body from infection.

The latte became Starbucks' most popular seasonal beverage of all time. “Pumpkin spice” was a thing well before Starbucks. According to Chicagoist, spice companies like McCormick started bundling common spices used in pumpkin pie as “pumpkin pie spice” in the 1950s. Pumpkin pies predated the premade spice by centuries.

Why is it called pumpkin pie spice? ›

"Pumpkin spice" is actually a blend of spices commonly used in pumpkin pie recipes. It typically includes cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. While it doesn't contain actual pumpkin, it's named after the spices that are traditionally associated with pumpkin-flavored dishes.

Some think it relates way back to our colony days where pumpkins were one of the only crops the settlers could sustain and so, subconsciously, pumpkin reminds us of our roots. Others believe that the seasonal appeal of the pumpkin-flavor is what creates the allure. Either way, the pumpkin spice craze is here to stay.

American Cookery, America's oldest cookbook, mentions pumpkin spice as “pompkin” spice. The book was written by Amelia Simmons, published in 1796, with the 1798 edition containing two recipes for “pompkin” pie filling: one contains mace, nutmeg, and ginger while the other contains allspice and ginger.

Smell and Association

Those notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger trigger deeply rooted cozy memories of autumn. “Pumpkin spice aromas emerge in the fall in shops and cafes, coinciding with the arrival of colorful leaves, family gatherings, and back-to-school bustle.

Allspice is the dried, unripened berry of the myrtle pepper tree, or pimento, which is native to Jamaica and much of Central America. The berries are briefly fermented, then sun-dried until brown. Often mistaken for a blend of spices, allspice is a single-ingredient seasoning with loads of unique flavor.

According to her, the company's pumpkin spice drinks taste different for two reasons—the syrup now contains "real pumpkin ingredient" and the syrup bottles' pumps have changed. "Apparently it's not the same, like, full pumps, so you're getting technically less [syrup]," Maria said.

Cinnamon is the base of our pumpkin spice, so there's a slight sweetness and warm baking spice flavor. Spices like nutmeg and ginger have a slight spicy heat or peppery quality. Allspice and mace create a well-rounded spice flavor.