Quickly make your own Apple Pie Spice at home with only a few simple ground spices you probably already have in your pantry! It’s the best DIY recipe that will fill your pies, crisps, muffins, and breads with tons of apple spice flavor. Make a single batch in under 5 minutes and store in the pantry to use throughout the year.
Apple Pie Spice Recipe
Have you ever been in the midst of making an apple crisp or applesauce muffins only to read the line that calls for…
Apple Pie Spice?!
You rummage around in your cabinet only to find some ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and maybe ginger.
Or maybe you went to the grocery store specifically looking for a jar of apple pie spice and there were none in sight!
No need to worry, my friend.
You can quickly make this spice blend at home with only 5 common spices that can easily be found at your local grocery store.
Not to mention, when you make your homemade version, it has SO much more flavor than the store bought kind!
What is Apple Pie Spice?
Apple Pie Spice, sometimes called apple spice, is made primarily of cinnamon and nutmeg with some additional cardamom, ginger, and allspice. It’s used in many apple pie, apple crisp, apple bread and muffin recipes.
It can be purchased at the grocery store in the spice aisle or mixed together at home.
Apple pie spice is much like its spice blend cousin, Pumpkin Pie Spice, but they are not identical. Pumpkin pie spice has cloves in it whereas apple pie spice does not. So make this substitution in recipes with a bit of caution!
Ingredients
Typically you will find 4-5 different spices in store bought and homemade apple pie spice.
(See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.)
- Cinnamon – This spice is has a warm and woody, sweet and slightly spicy flavor. It makes up a large majority of the blend. Do not substitute this for any of the other spices.
- Nutmeg – Sweet and nutty in flavor, this spice also contributes a lot to the flavor profile.
- Cardamom – This is the main differentiating spice when compared to pumpkin pie spice. It has a subtle herby flavor while also being a bit spicy and citrusy.
- Ginger – A little bit of this spicy and floral ingredient balances out the warmth of the other spices.
- Allspice – This spice is optional and is not found in all apple pie spice recipes. It also has a peppery bite, so feel free to leave it out if you want to tone down your mix.
How to Make
Much like other homemade spice blends, this recipe is very quick and easy to make.
You can either prepare it in a separate bowl or mix it together in the container you’ll be storing it in.
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl.
- Whisk spices together until well combined.
- Use immediately or store until ready to use.
Storing
It is best to keep homemade spice blends in an airtight container. These 4-ounce mason jars or these glass spice jars are both good options.
You do not want too much open space in the container. It is best to choose one that just barely fits all of the seasoning mix.
Store the glass container in a cool, dry space. A spice cabinet (NOT over the stove!) or a dry pantry both work great.
If stored properly, apple pie spice will last for up to a year, slowly losing its potency over time.
Store Bought Brands
A store bought apple spice is a great substitute if you don’t have time to make it from scratch.
Mccormick’s is the easiest kind to find at your grocery store.
If you prefer an organic variety, Fronteir Co-Op and Primal Palate both make great mixes.
FAQs
Can I substitute with anything?
Pumpkin Pie Spice can be substituted for apple pie spice.
Does a homemade mix ever go bad?
Homemade seasoning mixes will never go bad, but they will lose their potency over time.Make sure you store in an airtight container for best results.
How long does it last?
Apple pie spice will last for up to 1-2 years if stored at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
Apple Pie Spice Recipe
Quickly make your own Apple Pie Spice at home with only a few simple ground spices you probably already have in your pantry! It's the best DIY recipe that will fill your pies, crisps, muffins, and breads with tons of apple spice flavor. Make a single batch in under 5 minutes and store in the pantry to use throughout the year.
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp. nutmeg
- 1 tsp. cardamom
- ½ tsp. ginger
- ½ tsp. allspice optional
Instructions
-
Add ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
-
Use Apple Pie Spice in your favorite applesauce, apple crisp, or in muffins or bread recipes.
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Store seasoning mix in an airtight jar for up to 1 year.
Recipe Notes
- This recipe yields ~4 tablespoons of apple pie spice.
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