This Is What Is in Apple Pie Spice (and How to Make It at Home)

There are certain fall spices, like cinnamon and cloves, that are ideal for baking. They warm your heart, keep your tummy happy and taste incredible—especially when combined. And while you can take the time to measure out each of your spices every time you bake, there’s a blend that combines all your favorite flavors: apple pie spice.

What is in apple pie spice?

It’s a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. You can also add cardamom, cloves or ginger, depending on your palate, to create a custom blend.

How to Make Apple Pie Spice

For this recipe, you’ll want a mini jar to store your blend. You’ll make a good amount, so don’t waste any!

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons nutmeg
• 1-1/2 teaspoons allspice

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, then use a small whisk or fork to blend spices together. Transfer to a mini jar and store tightly covered. Use in your favorite apple pie recipes!

Make the Apple Pie Spice Blend Your Own

If you prefer one spice over the others, feel free to experiment with your apple pie spice recipe. Adjust the ratios to ensure you’re hitting your favorite flavor combo, and if you’re interested in introducing other spices into the mix, consider adjusting the recipe as follows:

Infuse it with ginger

Ginger has a very distinct taste that can elevate your bake. Add 1/2 teaspoon to your apple pie spice to add a flowery note.

Add a hint of cloves

Cloves are incredibly powerful—one whiff and you’ll be transported to the holiday season. Use this spice lightly; it can easily overpower your blend. Add 1/8 teaspoon to the recipe above for a powerful kick.

Sprinkle in some cardamom

Cardamom is not as aromatic as cinnamon, but it still packs a flavorful punch. It’s a milder spice that can still bring a lot to the table, adding a slightly earthy taste to your blend. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon to your blend, depending on your taste.

How to Use Apple Pie Spice in Your Recipes

You’ve got your apple pie spice blend, a blue-ribbon snickerdoodle recipe and a can-do attitude—now what? You can use apple pie spice in place of warm spices in all kinds of recipes. You can do a 1-for-1 substitution while baking. If the recipe calls for a tablespoon of cinnamon, use a tablespoon of your blend. If it calls for a teaspoon of cinnamon and a 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, use 1-1/2 teaspoons of your blend.

Don’t forget to experiment! Half the fun of creating a new spice blend is testing how many recipes you can use it in. This apple pie spice is great for cookies, crumbles and—obviously—pies, but try using it in other recipes that are cinnamon- or nutmeg-heavy, like a hearty batch of cinnamon rolls or a bowl of oatmeal.

Our Best Apple Pie-Inspired Recipes

1 / 17

Easy Mini Caramel Apple Cheesecakes

Cheesecake is the ultimate comfort food, but a big slice can be too rich. These bite-sized cheesecakes topped with apples and creamy caramel dazzle the senses. —Brandie Cranshaw, Rapid City, South Dakota

Get Recipe

Bite-Sized Apple Pies

These little bites are fun for kids to make. Simply wrap strips of pastry around apple wedges and shake on some cinnamon-sugar. Then just bake and watch them disappear! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Get Recipe

Apple Caramel Cheesecake Bars

[rms_recipe id=5296 slide_no=0 ] [rms_recipe id=44944]

Get Recipe

Hand-Held Apple Pies

When I was in high school, my best friend's mother baked this mini apple pie recipe every year. I was thrilled when she shared it with me—I finally felt like an adult! —Katie Ferrier, Houston, Texas

Get Recipe

Dutch Apple Pie Muffins

Wake up loved ones with a fresh batch of these cinnamon-spiced muffins. They're topped with a heavenly apple pie style filling. —Suzanne Pauley, Renton, Washington

Get Recipe

Apple Dumplings with Sauce

[rms_recipe id=8124 slide_no=6 ][rms_recipe id=3058]

Get Recipe

Apple Crisp Pizza

While visiting a Wisconsin orchard, I tried a tempting apple crisp pie. At home, I put together this apple pizza. As it bakes, the enticing aroma fills my kitchen, and friends and family linger waiting for a sample. —Nancy Preussner, Delhi, Iowa

Get Recipe

Apple Kuchen Bars

This apple kuchen is about family, comfort and simplicity. My mom made this delicious sweet treat many a winters night and served it up warm with some of her famous homemade ice cream. I like to make a double batch and pass on the love! —Elizabeth Monfort, Celina, Ohio

Get Recipe

Healthy Apple Crisp

This easy dish is a tradition in my family. It's as quick as a boxed cake mix but it's a healthier dessert choice. It's ideal in fall when it seems that everyone has a bag or two of fresh apples to give away! —Terri Wetzel, Roseburg, Oregon

Get Recipe

Caramel Apple Strudel

My father, who was born and raised in Vienna, Austria, would tell us stories about how his mother covered all of the kitchen counters with dough whenever she made apple strudel. This recipe is a modern, delicious way to carry on part of my family's heritage. —Sarah Haengel, Bowie, Maryland

Get Recipe

Glazed Apple-Maple Blondies

My 6-year-old son and I conjured up this recipe to use up the last of the apples we picked from the local apple orchard. Serve it with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine

Get Recipe

Dutch Apple Pie Tartlets

These adorable mini apple pie pastries make a delightful addition to a dessert buffet or snack tray. The recipe calls for convenient frozen phyllo shells, so they're surprisingly easy to prepare. The lemon curd filling adds a unique flavor twist. —Mary Ann Lee, Clifton Park, New York

Get Recipe

Apple Pie Oatmeal Dessert

[rms_recipe id=16997]

Get Recipe

Streusel-Topped Apple Cheesecake

I love cheesecake & apple pie so I thought this would be a great combination! It has everything that makes an apple pie delicious - apples, cinnamon, and a nice crumble topping plus the creamy-ness of a cheesecake!

Get Recipe

Oma's Apfelkuchen (Grandma's Apple Cake)

My husband’s German family calls this Oma’s apfelkuchen,, which translates to "Grandma’s apple cake." They’ve been sharing the recipe for more than 150 years. I use Granny Smith apples, but any variety works. —Amy Kirchen, Loveland, Ohio

Get Recipe

Apple Brandy Cheesecake

If you like apple pie, you will also enjoy this cheesecake. Bits of apple are scattered throughout the filling and a cinnamon-brown sugar streusel is a delightful topping to this impressive dessert.—Marian Platt, Sequim, Washington

Get Recipe

Upside-Down Apple Cake with Butterscotch Topping

This cake is a favorite of mine. I love the smell of the apples and butterscotch as it is baking. It fills the house with a perfect autumn aroma. —Sabrina Haught, Spencer, West Virginia

Get Recipe

The post This Is What Is in Apple Pie Spice (and How to Make It at Home) appeared first on Taste of Home.

Kate Ellsworth