Do you know what’s in that pumpkin pie spice blend you purchased? Chances are, if you’re a fan of pumpkin spice, you might have some idea. But I’m here to convince you that making your own is the way to go. Here’s why:
You’ll save money
Spices don’t come cheap. Buy the good stuff, and you’ll be plunking down $5-15 for just a few tablespoons of various spices, and more if the spice is labor intensive to grow or harvest. But you’re buying pre-mixed spice blends, you’re choosing to spend more on spices than you even need to. You’ll get much less product, for way more money, and that mix is so highly specialized, it’s way more limited in use.
You’ll save space
Most spice blends are made from your basics. You’re probably already equipped to make pumpkin spice (and many other spice mixes) simply by having a reasonably well-stocked spice rack. Adding specialty spices just takes up more room.
You can customize it
Perhaps the best reason of all, you can customize your mix to your preferences as well as to the recipe you’re making. Some recipes might taste better with more ginger, other with more cinnamon. When you’re making your own, you can customize the mix each time. Plus, you know your tastes better than any spice company. If you like things to have a little more kick, go heavy with the ginger or cloves. If you like things more mellow, omit some of the cloves and amp up the smooth cinnamon.
So there you go. Now how do you go about making a good pumpkin pie spice? We’ll, here is a recipe to get you started:
Homemade pumpkin pie spice
Makes 5 tablespoons
Ingredients
3 tbsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cloves
Directions
For use right away: Add all ingredients to a small mixing bowl and whisk until well combined. To save for later: Add all ingredients to an airtight container and shake well. Store in a cool, dry spot until ready to use.
Note: This story originally appeared on Everybody Craves.
