What You Should Know About Pumpkin Spice

It seems like every year, pumpkin spice and pumpkin spice lattes get even more 
popular. It’s not just the coffee anymore; you see pumpkin spice being used in 
everything from brownies and cookies to savory and sweet recipes. So, what is pumpkin 
spice? Here is some information about the spice and how you can use it.

Pumpkin Spice is Simply a Combination of Spices

A common question asked about pumpkin spice is – what exactly is it? You might see a 
spice bottle labeled either as ‘pumpkin spice’ or ‘pumpkin pie spice’, both of which are 
probably either exactly the same or very similar. There is no 100% accurate 
combination of spices in pumpkin spice, as it is simply a mix of traditional seasonal 
spices. This is when you have spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. 

Sometimes allspice is also included, but not always. You can also control the flavor of it 
based on how much of each of these spices you use.

It is Easy to Make Yourself

While you can pick up a jar of pumpkin spice at your local store, you can also make it at 
home. If you already have these spices in your cabinet, why not? Again, you can control 
how much of each spice you use. Perhaps you don’t have allspice so you skip it, but 
you love nutmeg and want a little extra – go for it! Typically, you want to have about 
equal amounts of ground nutmeg, ground ginger, and ground cinnamon. However, if 
you love cinnamon, go ahead and add a little more. Then you want to add in your 
ground cloves and allspice, about half of what you included with the other spices. Mix it 
up and add it to a container to save for later.

There are Many Ways to Use it

People often think about pumpkin pie or pumpkin spice lattes when they think about this 
spice combination, but there are so many other ways to use it. First of all, instead of 
mixing up a latte at home, just add some pumpkin spice to your coffee grounds before 
brewing a cup of coffee. It will taste like pumpkin without the added sugar or milk. You 
can also add it directly to creamer, whipped cream, and many other ingredients.

Pumpkin spice works great for both savory and sweet dishes. It is just as good in soup 
and pasta with pumpkin as it is when you are making muffins, cookies, or pumpkin bars.
