Making a recipe that calls for allspice and don’t have it? Don’t worry, there are few options that are perfectly suited as a substitution. Allspice might sound like it’s a mix of spices, a blend like pumpkin spice or chai spices. But it’s actually a berry! The allspice berry is berry that grows on evergreen trees in Jamaica, Mexico and other tropical climates. Its flavor tastes like a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Allspice is an important ingredient in Caribbean cuisine and is used in Jamaican jerk seasoning, among others.
Best substitute for allspice
1. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
The best substitute for allspice? You can actually make a mixture of spices that tastes very close to allspice. Substitute the following for every 1 teaspoon allspice:
½ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon cloves
If you don’t have one or the other, use ¾ teaspoon cinnamon plus ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, or ¾ teaspoon cinnamon plus ¼ teaspoon cloves.
2. Cinnamon
Don’t have nutmeg or cloves? No problem. The next best substitute for allspice is cinnamon by itself. It doesn’t have nearly the complexity of allspice, but it can work.
3. Mace
Mace makes a great substitute for allspice. Mace is the outer layer of the seed of nutmeg; it tastes a bit like nutmeg, but also has warm and spicy notes like cinnamon with a hint of black pepper. Use it as a 1:1 substitute for allspice.
4. Pumpkin Pie Spice
If you have it on hand, pumpkin pie spice also works as an allspice substitute. It often even contains allspice itself! Use it as a 1:1 substitute for allspice.
What about whole allspice?
If your recipe calls for whole allspice, you may use ground allspice if you have it on hand. Whether it’s a good idea depends on the recipe! A rule of thumb is to use ½ teaspoon ground allspice to replace 6 whole allspice berries.
Related recipes
Here are some recipes where you could use this substitute for allspice:
Hot Buttered Rum Mulled Cider Banana Baked Oatmeal Baked Apple Oatmeal Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe Best Ginger Molasses Cookies Seafood Seasoning
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