Fall has finally arrived! As the fall breeze settles in and the holiday season draws near, there is a certain comfort that comes from smelling those fragrant fall spices spilling out of your kitchen. My favorite of the fall spices, pumpkin spice, is the one I use most often — from pumpkin-spiced lattes to pumpkin-spiced snickerdoodles, it’s my go-to spice of the season.
Let’s not forget about another fall favorite, apple pie spice. Use it for anything baked with apples. Both spice blends really elevate any fall recipe to a whole new level of flavors. And, homemade spices make a great gift for the bakers in your life. As with anything made for someone with a food allergy, please be sure to read labels.
A Taste of Fall
What makes each spice blend have a different flavor profile? While both spice blends consist of basically the same spice ingredient lineup, they both have a different taste, thanks to the different measurements and amounts of each spice used within each blend.
Ingredient Line-Up
Cinnamon – a sweet, yet woody flavor, cinnamon is used to flavor many types of baked goods.
Ginger – is a sweet, yet peppery flavored spice.
Nutmeg – a very versatile spice, nutmeg adds a spicy yet slightly sweet flavor to baked goods.
Allspice – used in a variety of baked goods, allspice is similar in flavor to cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
Cloves – has a strong spicy flavor that is also mildly sweet.
Tools Needed
Measuring Spoons – use measuring spoons versus a kitchen scale to measure your ingredients, as spices weigh so little.
Small Mixing Bowl – use a small bowl to hold and mix all the spices together evenly.
Small Whisk – you can use a small whisk to mix all the spice ingredients together in your bowl.
Small Funnel – use a small funnel to avoid spilling your spice blends when filling your jar.
Glass Jars/Containers – use any small container you have to store your spice blends. If gifting your spices, check out these cute spice containers.
Stickers and/or Ribbon – use a sticker to label your new spice jar; if gifting, wrap the jar in a cute fall ribbon.
The Perfect Compliment to Fall
Both pumpkin spice and apple pie spice blends are a perfect addition to pies, cookies, muffins or breads. Follow your recipe as instructed, using your homemade spices in place of store bought ones, or you can experiment with flavors by adding a teaspoon (or more) in place of or in addition to the spices listed in the recipe. Bring fall to your hot drinks by adding either spice blend to coffee or hot chocolate. I like to add a couple of teaspoons of pumpkin spice to coffee grounds to make flavored coffee.
Thinking outside of baked goods, you can also add fall spice blends to your dinnertime meals. Pumpkin spice can add depth to soups and stews, while apple spice can enhance roasted vegetables or pork dishes. And with the holiday season heading our way, you can create adorably labeled spice jars as gifts for family and friends.
Pumpkin Spice
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp ginger
- 2 tsp nutmeg
- 1-1/2 tsp allspice
- 1-1/2 tsp cloves
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients together, including any tools and jars that you’ll need.
- In a mixing bowl, combine all the spices. Whisk thoroughly until all spices are combined.
- Using a funnel, transfer the spice blend to a small jar. Label and store in a cool, dry place.
Apple Pie Spice
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp ginger
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients together, including any tools and jars that you’ll need.
- In a mixing bowl, combine all the spices. Whisk thoroughly until all spices are combined.
- Using a funnel, transfer the spice blend to a small jar. Label and store in a cool, dry place.
Get To Baking
Creating your own homemade spice blends not only infuses your dishes with flavor but also fills your kitchen with the scents of the seasons. Consider these spice blends as your “secret ingredient,” and try them out with these recipes: Classic Pumpkin Pie or Apple Pie Bars. As you experiment with these spices in different recipes, you’ll discover the versatility and unique character they bring to your baked goods. Happy Fall Baking!
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