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Turn a handful of everyday spices into a warm and fragrant apple pie spice blend for pancakes, muffins, and so much more! Once you start making your own, you’ll never buy store-bought again.
For years, I’ve spent lots of money on tiny little jars of apple pie spice from the grocery store.
I find those little containers quite handy – way easier than measuring out each and every spice – and I assumed there wouldn’t be much of a difference between homemade and store-bought.
Honestly, I’m kicking myself for even thinking this because the flavor difference is SO MUCH BETTER.
Sorry for all caps, but I just have to say it as loudly as possible.
It all started when I made a batch of homemade pumpkin pie spice. The flavors are so much bolder and richer…I couldn’t believe how much better my desserts were with a simple ingredient swap.
The same goes for this apple pie spice recipe. It’s my go-to for all my favorite apple recipes.
Now, the grocery store stuff tastes like overpriced dust and I will *never* go back.
Why is homemade apple pie spice so much better?
It comes down to three factors: freshness, quality, and preparation.
Freshness
Who knows how old the spices are in your spice mixes from the store?! How long have they been waiting for you on the grocery store shelf, let alone in the warehouse before then?
Chances are they’ve been waiting for you for a long, long time.
High Quality Spices
But really, I think the biggest flavor difference comes from using high quality spices. I’ve been using Burlap & Barrel spices for mine, and the flavor and aroma is so much better.
Even if Burlap & Barrel is a bit of a splurge, try grabbing whole spices and grinding them in a spice grinder. You will totally understand what I’m talking about!
(P.S. You can often find perfectly good spice grinders at secondhand stores for just a couple of bucks. No need to buy anything new.)
Preparation
One of my favorite tricks is to toast the cinnamon first. This brings out the fullness of its flavor and can make even mediocre cinnamon taste rich and full.
If you can use a really nice cinnamon, like Royal Cinnamon from Burlap & Barrel, all the better!
Ingredients in Apple Pie Spice Mix
If you hop around different recipes, you’ll notice quite a variation in ingredients and quantities.
Cinnamon is always the star, but the other ingredients tend to vary. After testing several variations, this specific combo is my favorite.
- Cinnamon
- Allspice
- Cardamom
- Ginger
- Ground nutmeg
And just in case you’re wondering, pumpkin pie spice and apple pie spice are very, very similar! The main difference is the ratio of ingredients, plus pumpkin spice usually has ground cloves and more ginger.
I added cardamom to this mix since I love how it goes with apple, but you can skip it, if you want!
How to Make Apple Pie Spice Blend
Step 1: Combine all spices in a bowl.
For the best flavor, toast the cinnamon ahead of time (10 mins at 300F) and grind whole spices just before mixing.
Step 2: Whisk spices until combined. Transfer to a storage container and use as desired!
Tip: Use the best spices!
The quality of your recipes hinges on the quality of your ingredients. The spices from Burlap & Barrel are hands-down the best quality you can find.
All of their spices are grown using organic methods on small family farms around the world. They’re never irradiated and have the absolute best flavor.
Order your next batch of spices through them and get a FREE bottle of Robusta Black Peppercorns (1.8 oz grinder-top bottle)! Just be sure to add $15 worth of products to your cart and use code MILKGLASSHOME.
Storing Suggestions
Like all spice mixes, store in an airtight container like a mason jar in a cool, dry, and dark place, like your pantry or spice cupboard.
The blend will have the most flavor in the first six months and I always try to use mine within a year.
How to Use Apple Pie Spice
I’ve been using apple pie spice for years as a cinnamon alternative. It just adds that extra something that makes everyday French toast or oatmeal taste special.
Of course, it is incredible for adding to apple desserts, whether that’s a Moist Apple Cinnamon Cake, Apple Crumble Scones, or Apple Blondies. Feel free to use it for flavoring apple butter, too.
I also find that this blend works really well with pears, especially with the cardamom. Love it in this pear crumble!
I also like to use it make an alternative to Cinnamon Sugar for rolling my Apple Cider Cookies. You just get more depth of flavor than using regular cinnamon!
More Homemade Spice Mixes
If you made this recipe, please leave a comment or ask a question below! I’d love to hear what you think or troubleshoot any issues.
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Homemade Apple Pie Spice Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp cinnamon, (1/4 cup)
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
Instructions
- Toast the cinnamon in the oven at 300F for 5-10 minutes or until fragrant and grind any whole spices.4 tbsp cinnamon
- Combine ground spices in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Transfer to a storage container and use as desired!1 tsp nutmeg, 2 tsp allspice, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground cardamom
Notes
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