Indulge in fall’s warm and comforting flavors with this irresistible apple pie spice recipe. Perfectly balanced and bursting with aromatic spices, this homemade blend will take your apple pies and desserts to a new level.
Recipe Science
- Combining warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice creates a balanced, aromatic blend that enhances the natural sweetness and flavor of apples.
- The volatile oils in these spices are released during mixing and cooking, infusing baked goods with a rich, complex aroma and taste.
- Using a finely ground spice blend ensures even distribution throughout the dish, providing consistent flavor in every bite.
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Why It Works
Homemade apple pie spice is an essential seasoning mix you should keep stocked in your spice cabinet. It’s made with four pantry staples that add fall flavors to any baked good or dish. Use it to make a classic apple pie, muffins, pastries, fruit filling, oatmeal, and more.
Use freshly grated or ground spices for the most intense, sweet flavors and aromas. However, the pre-ground jars are great to use for convenience. All you need is ground cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. In just a few minutes, you’re ready to use the seasoning for recipes that call for apple pie spice.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cinnamon: The base of the spice mix adds an earthy and sweet flavor to desserts, baked goods, and even savory dishes.
- Nutmeg: Adds a characteristic nutty, warm, and sweet flavor. I suggest freshly grating the nutmeg for the most robust aroma and flavor. A small rasp grater is my favorite tool to use.
- Allspice: As the name suggests, it adds various spices like nutmeg, black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon all in one. It enhances the taste of the other ingredients in the apple pie spice mix.
- Cloves: Adds a spicy, sweet, bitter flavor. It creates a subtle numbing sensation in the mouth, which enhances the warm baked notes of a recipe.
See the recipe card below for all ingredients and measurements (US and metric).
Ingredient Substitutions
Now that you have the base recipe for apple pie spice, it’s easy to customize! Try these flavorful additions to the blend:
- Spices: Try adding ground ginger for extra zing and warmth. Cardamom adds a floral and citrus aroma with a unique eucalyptus and peppery flavor. A small amount of black pepper adds an interesting lingering heat. Star anise adds a licorice note. Start by adding ¼ teaspoon and increasing gradually to taste.
- Citrus: Add grated zest from an orange or lemon. Make sure to dry it first before adding it to the spice mix.
- Cinnamon: Try using different types of cinnamon to vary the taste profile. Ceylon is less bitter and more expensive. Cassia has a more subtle flavor. Saigon cinnamon is concentrated in essential oils and adds a sharper flavor, making it great for baking.
How to Make Apple Pie Spice
Combine cinnamon, ground nutmeg, allspice, and cloves to make the spice blend. Add it to a container or spice jar where you plan to store it. This recipe yields about 2 tablespoons, enough to make four apple pies. It’s easy to double the recipe to make a larger batch to keep in your spice drawer.
Using the Apple Pie Spice
- Apple Pie: For a 9-inch apple pie, use 1 ½ teaspoons of apple pie spice.
- Apple Filling: For 2 ½ to 3 pounds of apples that have been sliced or diced, use 1 ½ teaspoons of apple pie spice.
- Toppings: Sprinkle on baked goods, pancakes, waffles, French toast, oats, yogurt, chia pudding, or healthy apple snacks.
How to Store
Store the apple pie spice in an airtight container for the most extended shelf life. I prefer glass jars because the material is thick enough to keep out moisture. Glass preserves the flavor and traps the aromatic compounds for the best taste. Store in a dark, cool, dry kitchen area for up to 6 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a pre-mixed spice blend for apple pie filling, fruit desserts, or baked goods. It typically contains ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Some recipes use cloves or ginger.
You can use apple pie spice substitutes like the individual spices used in the recipe. Ground cinnamon is essential, then add at least some nutmeg or allspice for a more complex flavor.
You can vary the amounts of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. Cloves and allspice can be used interchangeably in the recipe. Cloves will have a stronger tingling sensation. Don’t increase the two spices too much, or they will overwhelm the palate.
Sure! It’s great to add to apple turnovers, apple pie filling to top on dessert, or baked goods like muffins, cakes, or scones. Sprinkle onto oatmeal, yogurt, or chia pudding for a fall-inspired healthy snack.
They are very similar! The main difference in my recipe is that I add a good amount of ground ginger to my pumpkin pie spice blend and less nutmeg than apple pie spice.
Once spices are ground, they lose many of their aromatic flavor compounds. Toasting them before using them in a recipe can bring out the essential oils and deliver a deeper flavor. Gently toast them in a pan over low heat until fragrant. This can also be done in fat, like butter, to bloom the spice for a more intense flavor. Be careful not to burn them! Cinnamon can become charred quickly if not monitored.
Serve This With
If you tried this Apple Pie Spice, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Apple Pie Spice
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Make the Spice Blend – In a small bowl, whisk together cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves.
- To Use – Add to your desired recipe or transfer to a storage container or jar.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Recipe Yield: 2 tablespoons (makes 4 apple pies)
- Recipe Use: For one apple pie, use 1 ½ teaspoons of apple pie spice mix. Use 1 ½ teaspoons if omitting the cloves. Alternatively, add 1 ½ teaspoons per every 2 ½ to 3 pounds of apples.
- Substituting Spices: Cloves and allspice can be substituted for each other.
- Storing: Transfer to an airtight container or glass jar. Store for up to 6 months for optimum flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
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