Pumpkin Pie is one of those dishes that is incredibly comforting and filled with deliciously warm spices that will leave you feeling festive and fun.
It’s such a distinct taste and you can probably taste it as you’re reading this. Unfortunately, there will probably come a time when you need pumpkin pie spice and you won’t be able to get hold of any.
Luckily, there are lots of pumpkin pie spice substitutes out there that are just as good as the real thing. We’re going to take a look at 6 substitutes you can use that you probably already have in your kitchen. So let’s take a look!
1. Cinnamon
The first substitute you should go for is cinnamon. Pumpkin pie spice is primarily made with cinnamon, so it only makes sense that you use it as your substitute.
On top of that, cinnamon is one of those spices that is incredibly easy to get a hold of and it won’t cost you much money.
You can still enjoy the warm flavors of pumpkin spice with this substitute and it won’t really taste much different from the real thing.
Cinnamon can be a bit overpowering by itself though, so if you are going to use this spice, don’t use as much as you would with pumpkin spice.
2. Nutmeg
Another great substitute, nutmeg will work really well as a pumpkin pie spice substitute. It’s usually used as a topping for eggnog around Christmas time, and it provides the same festive taste that pumpkin pie spice does.
Nutmeg is also commonly found in pumpkin pie spice blends, so you will find it works as a great substitute for the real thing.
It can be a little overpowering though, so less is more when you’re using nutmeg!
3. Allspice‘
Allspice might sound like it’s made from a blend of lots of different spices, but it isn’t. That being said, it does taste a lot like a blend of cinnamon, number, cloves (see also ‘5 Substitutes For Cloves‘), and pepper.
Most of these ingredients are used in pumpkin pie spice blends already, so this makes allspice a fantastic substitute when all else fails.
Allspice (see also ‘5 Allspice Substitutes‘) is a little more earthy in taste than pumpkin pie spice, but it still tastes just as good. It works in both sweet and savory dishes as well.
4. Ginger
Ginger (see also ‘7 Great Ginger Substitutes‘) also works as a pumpkin pie spice substitute, but it does have a bit of a different flavor than cinnamon and nutmeg.
It is not earthy like allspice, instead, it leans more on the citrusy side in terms of flavor. Ginger is incredibly strong in flavor as well, so you don’t want to add too much to your dish.
Though it is quite different from the other spices on this list, when used in moderation and in the right way, it works beautifully as a pumpkin pie spice substitute.
5. Ground Cloves
Cloves are also another ingredient that is already used to make pumpkin pie spice, so it only makes sense that it has a place on this list.
Like many of the other substitutes on this list, cloves are quite strong in flavor, so you want to make sure that if you use them, you don’t use too much.
You can purchase cloves in their whole form, but when it comes to using them as a pumpkin pie substitute, you will want to get some ground cloves instead.
If you want this substitute to emulate the pumpkin pie flavor, even more, consider blending them with another ingredient on this list.
6. DIY Pumpkin Pie Spice
Because most of the ingredients on this list are already in pumpkin pie spice, you can also just make your own recipe for it yourself.
To make your own pumpkin pie spice, you will need cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves. Make sure that they are all of the ground variety.
You just need to mix them all together and your blend will be ready to go. You can keep your DIY pumpkin pie spice blend in an airtight container so you can use it whenever you need some but can’t get hold of some that are premade.
Having your own homemade pumpkin pie spice at the ready can save a lot of time and hassle in the future and you don’t have to worry about using one of the other alternatives by themselves.
Conclusion
Luckily, pumpkin pie spice is really easy to make and because it combines so many other spices together, getting hold of a substitute shouldn’t really be an issue.
Try some of these substitutes for yourself and see which one you like the most!
Though the DIY pumpkin pie spice is your best option, the other spices on this list work just as well. Because a lot of them are quite strong, make sure you use them in moderation!
6 Pumpkin Pie Spice Substitutes
Are you making a recipe for pumpkin pie spice but you don’t have any available? Click here to learn about 6 pumpkin pie spice substitutes you can try!
Ingredients
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Allspice
Ginger
Ground Cloves
DIY Pumpkin Pie Spice
Directions
- Decided on what substitute you need
- Pick a substitute from the list above
- Read what you need to substitute with
- Create the recipe and enjoy
Recipe Video
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