Apple Pie Spice Recipe
Apple pie spice is an easy homemade spice blend that brings warm, familiar flavor to all kinds of fall bakes. Made with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger, and a hefty pinch of cardamom, you'll love whisking it up and stashing it in the pantry. It's perfect in quick breads, muffins, and, of course, PIE!
In the interest of further streamlining my life (see my homemade pumpkin pie spice for a variation on a theme), I also love putting together this super easy apple pie spice recipe. It makes apple pie, well, apple pie!
It's such an easy win: a homemade spice blend that brings warm, cozy flavor to all kinds of fall baking. Made with a handful of basic pantry spices, it takes just a minute to mix together. I love it in gluten free apple crisp, gluten free apple crumble, gluten free apple bread, gluten free apple pie, and so many more recipes.
I appreciate having a jar of this blend on hand when the weather turns cool and my backyard apples are begging to be used. Making it yourself also means you can adjust the spices to suit your taste. My blend includes my all-time favorite spice, cardamom, but you can leave it out or add a little extra cinnamon if you prefer.
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What is Apple Pie Spice?
Apple pie spice is a blend of ground spices traditionally used to flavor apple pie and other apple desserts. (Yes, you can measure out the spices and add them individually, and I often do just that. But when I'm in a rush, I love the convenience of an already-prepped spice blend.)
Cinnamon is usually the main ingredient, along with spices like nutmeg, ginger, and allspice. Some blends also include cloves or cardamom, depending on the recipe. You'll notice that mine does, because I firmly believe that more is more.
Apple pie spice and pumpkin pie spice have a lot in common, although the exact combination and proportions vary from blend to blend. When you make your own, you can adjust the spices to create a combination you love.
Why You'll Love Using This Apple Pie Spice Recipe
- It's quick and easy. Simply measure the spices, stir or whisk them together, and you're done.
- You probably have everything you need. The blend uses everyday pantry spices, so there's no need to buy a special jar at the store. Plus, if you're short on one spice you can easily make it up with a different one.
- You can customize it. See above! Add a little extra cinnamon or ginger, or adjust the nutmeg and cloves to suit your taste.
- It's not just reserved for apple pie. Stir a couple of teaspoons of this blend it into muffin batter, sprinkle it over oatmeal, or add it to pancakes, cakes, and fruit crisps.
Recipe Ingredients
Here's a look at what this mix needs to make - note that all of these are ground spices. Make sure to scroll down to my recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full ingredient amounts and instructions!
- Cinnamon - As might be expected, the main character in this mix is cinnamon, for sweet warmth.
- Ginger - A little bit of ground ginger for extra spice and warmth.
- Cardamom - I got so into cardamom when we lived in Saudi Arabia and I love adding it to this mix (I also often add it to my homemade pumpkin spice blend!).
- Cloves - A fall spice mix just wouldn't feel right without sweet cloves!
- Allspice - I love that allspice is just one spice - slightly peppery - rather than "all" spices.
- Nutmeg - Another familiar player in apple pie, nutmeg brings a light nutty flavor to the blend.
How to Make This Apple Pie Spice Recipe
Here's an overview in photos of how to make this beyond-easy blend:
1. Assemble: Add all of the spices to a bowl.
2. Combine: Whisk all of the spices together to combine well, then store in a jar.
Tips for Making Apple Pie Spice Blend
- Use fresh spices. Since this recipe is all about the flavor of the individual spices, make sure your ground spices are fresh and fragrant. Older spices can taste flat or dusty. Spices should be discarded within a year of purchase!
- Adjust the blend to your taste. Cinnamon makes a lovely base, while nutmeg, ginger, and allspice add depth. If you prefer a gentler flavor, reduce the ginger or leave out the cloves.
- Mix thoroughly. Stir the spices together until they're evenly combined so each spoonful has a consistent flavor.
- Make a smaller amount first. If you're trying a new combination, mix just enough for one or two recipes before preparing a larger jar.
- Then make a bigger batch. This recipe is easy to double or triple, especially during apple season when you'll likely be using it often.
- Label the jar. Add the date and the name of the blend to your jar so you know what you've made and when (especially helpful when you have a jar of pumpkin spice blend in the pantry as well ... ask me how I know).
- Store properly. Keep apple pie spice blend in an airtight jar or container in a cool, dry pantry and use it within 1 year.
How to Use This Apple Pie Spice Recipe
- Pie - Obviously! :) A Gravenstein apple pie or gluten free Gravenstein apple pie love this blend, and it's also nice in gluten free peach pie and blackberry apple pie.
- Quick breads - Gluten free applesauce bread and apple walnut bread are natural choices, but it's also great in an oat flour pumpkin bread for a flavor switch or a loaf of banana apple bread.
- In sauce - Like pear sauce or homemade applesauce.
- Muffins & scones & breakfast stuff - Add apple pie spice to gluten free apple scones and gluten free apple muffins, gluten free apple banana muffins, and more.
- Cakes - I love sprinkling a bit of this spice blend over the top of a gluten free gingerbread cake before serving. It's also lovely in an almond flour apple cake, gluten free apple cake or gluten free pear cake, and gluten free applesauce cake.
How to Store This Apple Pie Spice Recipe
Place the blend in an airtight container (my favorite is a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid) and store it in the pantry at room temperature for up to 1 year.
Happy baking! If you make this homemade apple pie spice recipe, let me know! Please leave a comment below or reach out with any questions. I hope you loved it! ❤️
Apple Pie Spice Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ⅓ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Place the ¼ cup ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, ½ teaspoon ground allspice, and ⅓ teaspoon ground nutmeg in a bowl, then whisk well to combine.
Notes
- Use fresh spices. Since this recipe is all about the flavor of the individual spices, make sure your ground spices are fresh and fragrant. Older spices can taste flat or dusty. Spices should be discarded within a year of purchase!
- Adjust the blend to your taste. Cinnamon makes a lovely base, while nutmeg, ginger, and allspice add depth. If you prefer a gentler flavor, reduce the ginger or leave out the cloves.
- Mix thoroughly. Stir the spices together until they're evenly combined so each spoonful has a consistent flavor.
- Make a smaller amount first. If you're trying a new combination, mix just enough for one or two recipes before preparing a larger jar.
- Then make a bigger batch. This recipe is easy to double or triple, especially during apple season when you'll likely be using it often.
- Label the jar. Add the date and the name of the blend to your jar so you know what you've made and when (especially helpful when you have a jar of pumpkin spice blend in the pantry as well ... ask me how I know).
- Store properly. Keep apple pie spice blend in an airtight jar or container in a cool, dry pantry and use it within 1 year.
