The Sweet Occasion

  • FALL
  • RECIPES
  • BAKING TIPS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
menu icon
go to homepage
  • FALL
  • RECIPES
  • BAKING TIPS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
search icon
Homepage link
  • FALL
  • RECIPES
  • BAKING TIPS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
×
The Sweet Occasion » Recipes » Guides

Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe (4-Ingredients)

Published: Sep 20, 2019 · Modified: Sep 19, 2025 by Maria Pagiotas · Leave a Comment

13 shares
Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

This easy Pumpkin Pie Spice is so much better than store-bought and takes just 5 minutes to make with spices you already have in your pantry.

Pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl on a linen napkin.

Save This Recipe! 💌

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

This simple homemade spice is such a game changer for all your fall baking.

It’s one of those simple things that makes a huge difference in flavor. It’s aromatic, warm, and has more depth than anything you can buy at the store. If you’ve never made your own spice blend, this is the perfect place to start!

I love using this in my pumpkin Nutella muffins, easy pumpkin custard, or even just stirring it into my morning coffee for an instant fall latte. You can add it to both sweet and savory recipes (try it in roasted butternut squash soup or sprinkled on roasted sweet potatoes!).

This blend stores beautifully for up to two years, so I always make a big batch at the beginning of fall to last through the holiday baking season. It also makes lovely gifts - just package it up in cute little jars with a festive fall ribbon!

Why This Recipe Works

  • Perfect ratio - This combination creates a balanced blend where no single spice overpowers the others.
  • Completely customizable - Easy to adjust the quantities based on your family’s preferences.
  • Fresh, vibrant flavor - Using quality ground spices creates a more aromatic blend than store-bought versions.

Ingredient Notes

Spices in small bowls on a flat surface with a linen napkin.
  • Cinnamon - This is the base of the blend, so use a good quality ground cinnamon.
  • Ginger - Ground ginger adds warmth and a slight bite. Make sure it’s fresh and fragrant. If it smells flat or dusty, replace it.
  • Nutmeg - Freshly grated nutmeg is incredible if you have a whole nutmeg and a microplane, but good quality ground nutmeg works perfectly too.
  • Cloves - A little goes a long way with cloves! They add that signature depth, but too much can be overpowering.

Please see the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and measurements.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Measure all the spices and put them into a small bowl.

Pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl on a linen napkin.

Mix for at least 30 seconds to thoroughly combine.

Pro Tip: Use a whisk instead of a spoon – it will aerate the spices and create a more uniform blend, especially since ground ginger can clump together.

Tips for Success

  • Freshness check - Smell your ground spices before using. If they’re not fragrant, the blend won’t be either.
  • Taste and adjust - After mixing, taste a tiny pinch. Too mild? Add more ginger. Too intense? Add more cinnamon.
  • Storage is key - Store in a glass jar rather than plastic to preserve the oils that give spices their flavor. Keep away from heat and light. It will maintain peak flavor for up to 1-2 years.

Variations

  • Baker’s Enhancement: Add ½ teaspoon vanilla powder (not extract!) for an extra layer of bakery-style flavor.
  • Apple pie spice: Skip the clove and replace it with ground allspice for a more complex warmth.
  • Chai-Inspired Blend: Add 1 tablespoon ground cardamom and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper.

Recipes That Use Pumpkin Pie Spice

  • Pumpkin cinnamon rolls baked and topped with maple cream cheese frosting in a metal rectangular pan.
    Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Close up of homemade pop tart with pumpkin and marshmallow filling with a chocolate glass and gingersnap crumbs.
    Gingersnap Pumpkin S'mores Pop Tarts
  • Close up of baked pumpkin donuts stacked on a round wire cooling rack.
    One-Bowl Baked Pumpkin Donuts
  • Pumpkin Spice Roll Out Cookies
    Pumpkin Spice Cutout Cookies (No Chill)

❤️ Made This Recipe & Love It? ❤️
I hope you enjoy this recipe and that it becomes a family favorite! I would love for you to leave me a review and star rating below to let me know how you liked it! And please tag me on social @thesweetoccasion!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe (4-Ingredients)


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Maria Pagiotas
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 6.5 tablespoons 1x
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

This easy Pumpkin Pie Spice is so much better than store-bought and takes just 5 minutes to make with sp ices you already have in your pantry.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cloves

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, mix all the spices until well combined.
  2. Store in an air tight container or jar.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Guides

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @thesweetoccasion on Instagram so we can see your creation!

More Guides

  • Overhead shot of brown butter in a sauce pan set on a flat surface.
    How to Brown Butter (Easy Step-By-Step Tutorial)
  • Bunch of three bananas on a flat surface.
    Two Easy Ways to Quickly Ripen Bananas for Baking
  • Tray of browned butter chocolate chip cookie dough balls.
    How to Freeze Cookie Dough
  • Funfetti snack cake squares
    The Best Way to Store Cake
13 shares

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Hello! I'm Maria, a professionally trained pastry chef, blogger, and photographer. Here at The Sweet Occasion, you'll find easy and impressive baking recipes for everyday occasions that save you time. My goal is to inspire home bakers to bake from scratch.

More about me →

Holiday Cookies

  • Overhead shot of toffee cookies layered on a black wire cooling rack.
    Brown Butter Toffee Cookies
  • Chocolate Sugar Cookies-3
    Chocolate Sugar Cookies
  • Close up of Snickerdoodle cookies arranged on top of a blue and white striped napkin.
    Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Cookies
  • Close up overhead shot of chocolate chip pecan cookies set on a grey flat surface.
    Thick & Chewy Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies (30 minutes)

Footer

↑ back to top

About | Contact | Recipes | Editorial Policy | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Accessibility Policy

Copyright © 2025 The Sweet Occasion

Manage your privacy
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
  • Manage options
  • Manage services
  • Manage {vendor_count} vendors
  • Read more about these purposes
Manage options
  • {title}
  • {title}
  • {title}