Making a recipe that calls for pumpkin pie spices and don’t have it? Don’t worry, there are lots of options that work as a substitution! Pumpkin pie spices are a blend of spices used in the American traditional dessert, pumpkin pie. The mixture usually includes cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, and often allspice. There are many different variations on this spice, and you can usually find it in the spice aisle at your grocery. Are you all out, or is your grocery out of stock? (This has happened to us often during pumpkin season!) Don’t worry: there are lots of good substitutes.
Best substitute for pumpkin pie spice
1. Homemade pumpkin pie spice
The best substitute for pumpkin pie spice? The homemade version! You can make your own pumpkin pie spice and store it in a sealed jar for up to 6 months. Here’s how to make ¼ cup of pumpkin pie spice:
2 tablespoons cinnamon2 teaspoons ground ginger2 teaspoons ground allspice1 teaspoon ground cloves1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2. Cinnamon + any of the other spices
Don’t have all of the above spices? You can approximate a substitute. Here are some various combinations. For 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, substitute:
¾ teaspoon cinnamon + ¼ teaspoon ginger, allspice, cloves, or nutmeg (whatever you have!) ½ teaspoon cinnamon + ¼ teaspoon each of any of the two above
3. Cinnamon
Pumpkin pie spice has a large percentage of cinnamon. In a pinch, you can use a 1:1 ratio of cinnamon as a substitute. It won’t have nearly the complexity of the other spices, but it works.
4. Half the quantity ginger or allspice
Don’t have cinnamon? (Gasp!) If not, you can also substitute the pumpkin pie spice in the recipe with half the quantity of ginger or allspice. These spices are stronger than cinnamon, which is why you’ll need less.
Related recipes
Here are some recipes where you could use this substitution:
Pumpkin SmoothieCozy Pumpkin Muffins or Pumpkin Spice MuffinsVegan Pumpkin BreadPumpkin Spice Iced Coffee
5 from 1 review
