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Elevate your baking experience with this easy homemade Apple Pie Spice blend. Discover the secret to perfect apple pies with a touch of warmth, and sweetness in every bite.
What’s in Apple Pie Spice?
Apple pie spice is a blend of warm and aromatic spices commonly used to enhance the flavor of apple-based desserts, particularly apple pies such as Apple Cranberry Pie. While the exact ingredients can vary, it typically includes a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and sometimes clove or Allspice.
These spices add a comforting and rich flavor profile to apple pies, making them taste warm, sweet, and inviting. Some variations may also include cardamom or ginger for added complexity and depth of flavor.
Ingredients Needed
- Cinnamon – Cinnamon is a key ingredient in apple pie spice, and it brings a warm, sweet, and slightly spicy flavor to the blend.
- Nutmeg – Nutmeg is a crucial component, contributing a rich and earthy flavor with a hint of sweetness. It adds depth and complexity to the spice blend. You can also grate your own nutmeg or use a Nutmeg Substitute.
- Allspice – Allspice brings a unique and complex flavor. It contributes depth, warmth, and a touch of spiciness. If you don’t have any you can use an Allspice Substitute or make your own Allspice.
- Ginger – Ginger, when included in homemade apple pie spice, introduces a subtle yet distinctive spiciness and warmth to the blend. It complements the sweetness of the apples and other spices, such as cinnamon and nutmeg, by adding a hint of heat and a slightly zesty note.
- Cardamom – Cardamom, when added, contributes a unique and exotic flavor profile. It brings a citrusy, floral, and slightly peppery note to the blend.
How to Make Apple Pie Spice
Although you can find pre-made apple pie spice blends at grocery stores, creating your own homemade batch is not only incredibly easy but also more budget-friendly. Plus, it makes for a wonderful gift!
Having some on hand also makes preparing treats like Apple Crumble Muffins even easier. If you find you’re out of any of the spices in the mix you can also use an Apple Pie Substitute.
Mix the spices together. There’s nothing complicated about this recipe. Just measure out and whisk together the assorted spices, then store the blend in an airtight container.
Storing Information
To maintain the peak quality of this homemade apple pie spice blend, store it in an airtight container until the expiration dates of the individual spices, which generally span from 1 to 2 years. I prefer to purchase all the spices simultaneously before creating this blend, guaranteeing their freshness.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Check your spices. Checking the freshness of your ground spices is crucial. Examine their expiration dates and take a moment to evaluate their aroma. As spices lose their potency over time, if they no longer enhance the flavor of your dishes, it’s best not to include them.
- Substitute apple pie spice. Many baked apple recipes will use the spices that are in apple spice spice. You can easily swap those spices for your own homemade apple pie spice by totaling the amount needed and using that amount of your spice blend. For example, Old Fashioned Apple Crisp uses 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and instead, you can swap that for your homemade blend.
- 1 tablespoon of apple pie spice. To make only 1 tablespoon you will need 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon of ground allspice, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground cardamom.
- 1 teaspoon of apple pie spice. If you only need 1 teaspoon of the spice blend you can use 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon of ground cardamom, a pinch of ginger, and allspice.
- Can you swap apple pie spice for pumpkin spice? Yes, and you can learn how to with Apple Pie Spice vs Pumpkin Pie Spice.
More Apple Recipes
Apple Pie Spice Recipe
Equipment
- Small Bowl
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons Ground Cinnamon
- 1½ teaspoons Ground Nutmeg
- 1½ teaspoons Ground Cardamom
- 1 teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Allspice
Instructions
- Mix the spices together. There’s nothing complicated about this recipe. Just measure out and whisk together the assorted spices, then store the blend in an airtight container.
Notes
- Check your spices. Checking the freshness of your ground spices is crucial. Examine their expiration dates and take a moment to evaluate their aroma. As spices lose their potency over time, if they no longer enhance the flavor of your dishes, it’s best not to include them.
- Substitute apple pie spice. Many baked apple recipes will use the spices that are in apple spice spice. You can easily swap those spices for your own homemade apple pie spice by totaling the amount needed and using that amount of your spice blend. For example, Old Fashioned Apple Crisp uses 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and instead, you can swap that for your homemade blend.
- 1 tablespoon of apple pie spice. To make only 1 tablespoon you will need 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon of ground allspice, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground cardamom.
- 1 teaspoon of apple pie spice. If you only need 1 teaspoon of the spice blend you can use 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon of ground cardamom, a pinch of ginger, and allspice.
