Easily make your own Apple Pie Spice Mix recipe at home that can be used in so many Fall desserts! Ground spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom are combined to create a flavorful DIY blend. Store in a spice jar to have on hand for making pies, crisps, muffins, bread, and applesauce.
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 crisp, apple bread, apple pie, and muffin recipes.
It can be purchased at the grocery store in the spice aisle or mixed together at home.
Ingredients
The simple ingredients needed to make homemade apple pie spice mix include:
- Cinnamon. This spice is has a warm and woody, sweet and slightly spicy taste. It makes up a large majority of the blend. Do not substitute this for any of the other spices.
- Nutmeg. Sweet and nutty, this spice also contributes a lot to the flavor profile.
- Cardamom. The main differentiating spice when compared to pumpkin pie spice. It has a subtle herby flavor while also being a tad spicy and citrusy.
- Ginger. A little bit of this spicy and floral ingredient balances out the warmth of the other spices.
- Allspice. This 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
These are the steps to follow to make this apple spice mix recipe:
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl.
You can either prepare it in a separate bowl or mix it together in the container you’ll be storing it in.
- Stir spices together until well combined.
A whisk works well to make sure everything is dispersed evenly.
- Use in your favorite recipes.
You can also store for later 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. 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
Pumpkin Pie Spice can be substituted, but be cautious that it will have a more potent clove taste.
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 spice does not. So make this substitution in recipes with a bit of caution!
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.
Apple pie spice will last for up to 1-2 years if stored at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
Recipes to Make with Apple Pie Spice
Now that you have this easy homemade spice blend mixed up, it’s time to put it to use! Try it in any of these recipes:
Apple Pie Spice Recipe
DIY Apple Pie Spice Mix is an easy recipe that can be used to make so many Fall desserts! Store in a spice jar to have on hand for making all the pies, crisps, muffins, bread, and applesauce.
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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