How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Spice Blend in 60 Seconds
Love pumpkin spice but don’t love paying extra for those tiny jars of premixed seasoning? Let me show you how to make homemade pumpkin spice blend in just 60 seconds, using four everyday ground spices you may already have in your pantry!
This simple homemade pumpkin spice blend delivers that familiar warm, fragrant autumn flavour without paying for a specialty mix. It’s wonderful in pumpkin pies, muffins, pancakes, oatmeal, coffee, and so many delicious seasonal recipes.
And the best part? You only need four ingredients and about a minute!
How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Spice Blend in 60 Seconds
My pumpkin spice recipe uses a straightforward ratio that’s easy to remember and even easier to multiply:
- 3 parts ground cinnamon
- 2 parts ground ginger
- 1 part ground nutmeg
- 1 part ground allspice
That’s it! No complicated measurements, unusual ingredients, or expensive specialty products.
Whether you need a teaspoon for your morning coffee or a larger jar for holiday baking, the same proportions work beautifully.
Watch My 60-Second Pumpkin Spice Blend Recipe
In this original Cooking With Kimberly YouTube Short, I show you how quickly you can put together this delicious four-spice mixture at home.
Watch My Homemade Pumpkin Spice Blend Short on YouTube »
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Blend Recipe
Preparation Time: Approximately 1 minute
Yield: 7 teaspoons, or approximately 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon
Difficulty: Easy
Equipment: Measuring spoons, a small bowl or jar, a spoon, and an airtight spice container
Ingredients
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
Note: You can use tablespoons instead of teaspoons to make a larger batch. Simply keep the same 3:2:1:1 ratio.
Instructions
- Measure the cinnamon. Add 3 teaspoons of ground cinnamon to a clean, dry mixing bowl or spice jar.
- Add the ginger. Measure 2 teaspoons of ground ginger and combine it with the cinnamon.
- Add the nutmeg. Stir in 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg.
- Finish with the allspice. Add 1 teaspoon of ground allspice.
- Mix thoroughly. Stir or shake until the spices are evenly distributed and the blend has a consistent colour.
- Store properly. Transfer the finished pumpkin spice blend to a clean, dry, airtight jar and label it with the preparation date.
Your homemade pumpkin spice is ready to use immediately!
Why Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice?
There are plenty of reasons I enjoy making seasoning blends from scratch, and this one is particularly convenient.
1. Save Money on Premixed Seasonings
If you already have cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice in your pantry, there’s no reason to purchase a separate jar of pumpkin spice just to make a seasonal recipe.
Making your own blend can be economical, especially if you use these spices regularly. Actual savings depend on the prices and quantities you purchase.
2. Make Only What You Need
One of the advantages of homemade pumpkin spice blend is that you control the quantity.
If you’re baking one pumpkin pie, you can mix a small amount. If you’re preparing muffins, cookies, coffee drinks, and holiday desserts, you can make a larger batch.
There’s no need to have an extra jar of a specialty seasoning sitting unused in the cupboard.
3. Know Exactly What’s in Your Spice Blend
My original recipe contains just four ground spices.
There are no added sweeteners or fillers in the ingredients I’ve specified, and you can check the individual spice labels before mixing.
4. Customize the Flavour
The cinnamon provides the familiar sweet warmth, while ginger adds a little lively spice.
Nutmeg contributes its distinctive aromatic character, and allspice brings warm, complex notes that complement the other ingredients.
Once you’ve tried my original ratio, you can experiment with the balance to suit your personal taste.
Does Pumpkin Spice Actually Contain Pumpkin?
Here’s something that surprises some people: pumpkin spice usually doesn’t contain pumpkin!
The name refers to the spices commonly associated with pumpkin pie and other autumn desserts rather than pumpkin flesh itself.
My homemade pumpkin spice blend contains cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. It’s a dry seasoning mixture intended to flavour pumpkin recipes and many other dishes.
That means you can enjoy the flavour of pumpkin spice even when you’re not cooking with pumpkin.
From coffee and hot chocolate to pancakes, oatmeal, and homemade baked goods, the possibilities are delicious.
What Can You Make with Homemade Pumpkin Spice Blend?
This is where our simple seasoning mixture really earns its place in the kitchen.
Pumpkin Pies and Autumn Baking
Use your spice blend to flavour pumpkin pies, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin breads, cookies, cakes, and other seasonal desserts.
Because recipes vary, start with the amount of pumpkin pie spice called for in your recipe and adjust according to taste.
If a recipe already lists cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice individually, you may be able to substitute this blend, but consider the proportions before making the change.
For more baking inspiration, browse our Pumpkin Recipes collection on Cooking With Kimberly.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Lattes
Add a little pumpkin spice to homemade coffee drinks for that comforting café-style autumn flavour.
I recommend starting with a small pinch, then adjusting to your liking.
Ground spices don’t completely dissolve in coffee, so whisking them into warmed milk, a syrup, or another flavour base can help distribute them more evenly.
You can use this blend when experimenting with homemade pumpkin spice lattes, cappuccinos, and other autumn-inspired beverages.
Oatmeal, Porridge, and Overnight Oats
A little pumpkin spice can transform an ordinary bowl of oatmeal into something wonderfully autumnal.
Try combining the spices with cooked oats, a little maple syrup, sliced apples, raisins, or toasted nuts.
It also makes a lovely flavour addition to overnight oats and other breakfast preparations.
Pancakes, Waffles, and French Toast
Add a little of the spice blend to pancake or waffle batter, or sprinkle it into a French toast custard mixture.
Serve with butter, maple syrup, baked apples, or your favourite fruit toppings.
It’s an easy way to introduce warm autumn flavours to a familiar breakfast.
Roasted Squash and Sweet Potatoes
Pumpkin spice isn’t limited to desserts.
Its warming spices can complement roasted squash, sweet potatoes, and other naturally sweet vegetables.
Try a small amount with butter or oil and adjust the seasoning depending on whether you’re preparing a sweet or savoury side dish.
Explore more autumn vegetables and cooking ideas in our Squash Recipes collection.
Homemade Edible Gifts
A little jar of homemade pumpkin spice can make a thoughtful seasonal kitchen gift.
Package the mixture in a clean, dry spice jar with a tight-fitting lid and add a label with the ingredients and mixing date.
You could even tuck the recipe ratio into the gift so the recipient can make another batch.
For anyone who enjoys baking, coffee, or experimenting in the kitchen, it’s a useful little addition to a homemade gift basket.
How Much Homemade Pumpkin Spice Should You Use?
The amount depends on the recipe and how prominent you’d like the spice flavour to be.
Here are some practical starting points:
- Coffee or hot chocolate: Start with a small pinch per cup.
- Oatmeal: Try approximately 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon per serving.
- Pancake or waffle batter: Start with approximately 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per batch, depending on its size.
- Muffins or quick breads: Start with approximately 1 teaspoon per batch and adjust as desired.
- Pumpkin pie: Follow your pie recipe’s seasoning instructions, substituting a prepared blend only when the flavour profile is appropriate.
These are suggested starting amounts, not fixed rules. Taste and adjust when practical.
How to Store Homemade Pumpkin Spice Blend
Like other ground spice mixtures, homemade pumpkin spice should be kept away from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight.
For the best flavour and convenience:
- Use a clean, completely dry jar or spice container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Store it in a cool, dry cupboard or pantry.
- Keep it away from steam, the stovetop, and sunny windowsills.
- Always use a dry measuring spoon.
- Label the jar with the preparation date.
- Check the freshness of your original spices before preparing a larger batch.
Ground spices gradually lose their aroma and flavour over time. For the most fragrant results, I recommend using a small homemade batch within approximately six months, especially if you enjoy a pronounced spice flavour.
This is a quality recommendation rather than a fixed food-safety expiration date. How well your blend maintains its flavour depends on the freshness of the ingredients and how you store them.
Can You Customize Your Homemade Pumpkin Spice Blend?
Absolutely!
My original homemade pumpkin spice blend uses only four spices in the 3:2:1:1 ratio, but there are other pumpkin pie spice variations.
For example, some blends include ground cloves.
If you enjoy the bold, warming flavour of cloves, you can experiment with a small pinch in a separate batch.
However, cloves can easily dominate more delicate flavours, so begin cautiously.
You can also adjust the cinnamon or ginger to suit your personal taste.
For consistency, make the original four-spice recipe first. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll have a useful reference point for any experiments.
Explore the Four Spices in This Homemade Pumpkin Spice Blend
Each ingredient brings something special to this simple mixture. If you’re curious about other ways to use these spices, explore our Cooking With Kimberly ingredient videos below.
Cinnamon Recipes & Reviews
Cinnamon forms the foundation of this homemade pumpkin spice blend, contributing its familiar sweet, woody warmth.
Browse Our Cinnamon Recipes Category »
Watch Our Cinnamon Recipes & Reviews Playlist
Explore more recipes and culinary ideas featuring cinnamon.
Ginger Recipes & Reviews
Ground ginger adds a lively, warming flavour that balances the cinnamon beautifully.
Want to prepare your own dried ginger for homemade spice blends and everyday cooking? I’ve also created a How to Dry Ginger cooking demonstration, showing another useful way to work with this wonderfully aromatic ingredient.
Watch My How to Dry Ginger Tutorial on YouTube »
Browse Our Ginger Recipes Category »
Watch Our Ginger Recipes & Reviews Playlist
Discover more ginger recipes, cooking demonstrations, and ingredient ideas.
Nutmeg Recipes & Reviews
Nutmeg contributes a fragrant, distinctive character to autumn spice blends. A little goes a long way!
Browse Our Nutmeg Recipes Category »
Watch Our Nutmeg Recipes & Reviews Playlist
Discover ways to use nutmeg in baking, beverages, sauces, and other delicious dishes.
Allspice Recipes & Reviews
Allspice has a distinctive aromatic flavour that makes it a wonderful addition to pumpkin spice, holiday baking, and both sweet and savoury cooking.
Browse Our Allspice Recipes Category »
Watch Our Allspice Recipes & Reviews Playlist
Explore allspice recipes, seasoning ideas, and culinary inspiration.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Blend: An Easy Pantry Essential
One of the things I love about cooking is discovering how much you can accomplish with basic ingredients and a little kitchen knowledge.
Why buy a specialty seasoning blend when you can create your own in a minute using spices you may already have?
It’s practical, economical when you have the ingredients on hand, and easy to prepare whenever the craving for autumn flavours strikes.
And remember, pumpkin spice isn’t just for Halloween or Thanksgiving. These warm flavours are delicious throughout the cooler months, especially in Christmas baking, comforting breakfasts, and homemade beverages.
Give this simple four-spice combination a try, and let me know how you use it in your kitchen!
Be a Champion in Your Kitchen, and Eat Deliciously!
Explore More Pumpkin Spice Recipes & Cooking Videos
If you enjoyed this homemade spice blend, there’s plenty more autumn cooking inspiration waiting for you on Cooking With Kimberly.
Explore our pumpkin recipes, seasonal cooking videos, and spice blends using the collections below.
Pumpkin Spice Recipes & Reviews
Looking for more delicious ways to enjoy pumpkin spice? Expand the playlist below to watch pumpkin spice recipes, seasonal drinks, and reviews.
Pumpkin Recipes & Cooking Videos
Pumpkins are wonderfully versatile, whether you’re roasting them, baking desserts, preparing soups, or creating seasonal treats.
Browse Our Pumpkin Recipes Category »
Spice Rub Recipes & Reviews
Love making your own seasonings? Explore more Cooking With Kimberly spice preparations, seasoning combinations, and culinary ideas.
More Cooking With Kimberly Recipes & Kitchen Inspiration
Love creating delicious dishes with everyday ingredients? Explore more homemade pantry essentials, seasonal recipes, practical kitchen tips, and cooking videos right here on Cooking With Kimberly.
Whether you’re blending your own seasonings, preparing autumn treats, or discovering new ways to make the most of your ingredients, there’s always something delicious to explore.
