This homemade apple pie spice comes together in minutes with spices that you probably already have in your pantry. It means you're never stuck mid-recipe again. Once you make your own, you'll notice the flavor is more fresh and balanced than most pre-made blends. You can adjust the ratio of spices and make it your own - go ahead and add that extra ginger or cardamom.
My Favorite Ways to Use Apple Pie Spice
There's truly nothing better than fall in New England and it's my favorite time of year. I love coffee on a chilly morning followed by an afternoon full of sunshine and I really love apple picking. There is nothing more exciting than coming home with a big bag of apples ready for baking. A jar of this apple pie spice is always within reach in my kitchen once the leaves start to turn.
Here are my favorite ways to use it:
Apple pie and apple bread: This is where it all started. It's the blend that I mix up when I'm making apple pies for Thanksgiving or apple bread for a cozy fall breakfast.
Apple Butter Bread: A teaspoon or two is the easiest way to add fall spices to this loaf.
Apple Cider Donuts: This is the blend I use for this recipe.
Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake: Stir a little into the crumb topping for extra warm spice.
Oatmeal: Sprinkle a little over a warm bowl of oatmeal and apples for an easy fall breakfast.
Whipped cream: Add a teaspoon to your homemade whipped cream and use it to top pies, pancakes, or a slice of coffee cake.
Toast: Sprinkle some over buttered toast or a bagel with a little brown sugar.
Gifting: Putting together a hostess gift? Add a small spice jar of homemade apple pie spice!
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Quick Look: Homemade Apple Pie Spice
- Ready In: less than 5 minutes
- Makes: about 7 tablespoons
- Calories: 7 kcal per teaspoon
- Add to Your Shopping List: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cloves, and cardamom
- Dietary Info: vegan and gluten free
- Baker's Tip: Spices lose flavor over time, for the best tasting blend, use fresh spices that are less than a year old. If a spice has lost its smell, it won't add much flavor to your apple pie spice.
Summarize and Save This Content
What's in Apple Pie Spice?
Apple pie spice is a blend of warm baking spices that all pair well with apples. The main ingredient is cinnamon. Our homemade apple pie spice uses five spices, and each one adds something a little different.
Cinnamon: The backbone of the blend. It gives it that sweet, cozy flavor that you expect from an apple bake, so it makes up the biggest part of the mix.
Nutmeg: Adds a nutty warmth. Freshly grated is wonderful if you have a whole nutmeg, but ground nutmeg is perfect if you don't.
Allspice: Tastes like a little bit of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves all in one.
Ginger: Brings a bit of cozy heat and brightness to the blend so that it doesn't taste flat.
Cardamom: The ingredient that takes this blend a step above a blend that you buy at the store. It adds a slightly citrusy, floral flavor that is delicious with apples.
Cloves: Sweet, warm, and a little peppery, so a little goes a long way. They add the deep, cozy flavor you expect in an apple bake.
If you've ever wondered what is in apple pie spice at the store, most jars are very similar to this. Some blends skip the cardamom and some add cloves. Because you're making it yourself, you adjust it to your own taste or use what you have in the cabinet.
How to Make Apple Pie Spice
Measure the spices
Add 4 tablespoons cinnamon, 1 tablespoon nutmeg, 1 tablespoon allspice, 1½ teaspoons ginger, 1½ teaspoons cloves, and ¾ teaspoon cardamom to a small bowl.
Whisk until combined
Use a small whisk or a fork to mix the spices together.
Store in a small jar.
Spoon the spice blend into an airtight jar or spice container. Label and store in your spice cabinet for up to 6 months.
This recipe makes a little over ⅓ cup of apple pie spice, which is enough to fill a small jar and use for several batches of apple recipes. You can easily double or triple if you have lots of fall baking planned or want to fill a few small jars for gifting.
How much should I use in a recipe? You can use this blend 1:1 in any recipe that calls for apple pie spice. If a recipe calls for cinnamon alone, and you want a more complex flavor, you can swap in this blend for all or part of the cinnamon.
Apple Pie Spice Substitutions and Variations
Whether you're out of apple pie spice or missing one of the spices in this blend, you can always make something work with what's in your cabinet.
Apple pie spice substitute: The easiest swap is pumpkin pie spice, which you can use 1:1 in place of apple pie spice. It has a similar mix of warm spices, so you'll get almost the same flavor in your apple bake. If you'd like to make your own, check out my homemade pumpkin pie spice.
Missing a spice in the blend? You can still make it with what you have:
Cardamom: Leave it out. The blend will still taste delicious, just a little less complex. If you'd like something in its place, a small pinch of ground cloves adds a different kind of warmth.
Allspice: Add 2 more teaspoons of cinnamon and a pinch of ground cloves.
Nutmeg: You can use mace in place of the nutmeg or leave it out and add ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves.
Ginger: If you don't have ginger, you can just leave it out. The blend won't be exactly the same but will still be delicious.
Cloves: If you don't have them, leave them out or add and extra ½ teaspoon of allspice.
Apple Pie Spice FAQs
Apple pie spice is a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cloves, and cardamom. Cinnamon is the main ingredient, and the other spices add warmth, brightness, and a little bit of depth. Store bought blends vary a bit, so you'll sometimes see cloves in place of cardamom.
They're very similar, and you can use them in place of each other if needed in most recipes. Pumpkin pie spice is usually made with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Apple pie spice has a little less ginger and includes allspice and cardamom, giving it a slightly brighter flavor that pairs well with apples. If you'd like to make your own, try my homemade pumpkin pie spice.
Homemade apple pie spice keeps for up to 6 months in an airtight jar in the cabinet. I recommend making a fresh batch each fall.
Yes! Cardamom adds a slightly citrusy, floral flavor, but the blend is still delicious without it. Just leave it out. If you'd like something in its place, a small pinch of ground cloves adds a different kind of warmth.
Recipes To Bake With Apple Pie Spice
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Apple Pie Spice
Equipment
- small mixing bowl
- measuring spoons
- whisk
- small storage container
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon ground allspice
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cloves
- ¾ teaspoon ground cardamom
Instructions
- Measure the spices. Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cloves, and cardamom to a small bowl. Level off each measuring spoon so the ratios stay accurate.4 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg, 1 tablespoon ground allspice, 1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger, ¾ teaspoon ground cardamom
- Whisk until combined. Use a small whisk or a fork to mix the spices together.
- Store in a small jar. Spoon the spice blend into an airtight jar or spice container. Label it and store in your spice cabinet for up to 6 months.
Notes
- Use fresh spices. Spices lose flavor over time, so for the best-tasting blend, use spices that are less than a year old. If a spice has lost its smell, it won't add much flavor.
- How much to use. Use this blend 1:1 in any recipe that calls for apple pie spice. If a recipe calls for cinnamon alone and you'd like a more complex flavor, swap in this blend for all or part of the cinnamon.
- Missing a spice? See the substitutions above for more options.
- Make it your own. Add extra ginger or cardamom if you like a spicier or more floral blend.
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