Substitutes for allspice

Allspice substitutes

Allspice tastes like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg in one. Mixing those spices gets close.

What allspice does

A single spice that tastes like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves together; used in baking, jerk seasoning and stews.

Quick reference

SubstituteAmount
Cinnamon and cloves ½ tsp ground cinnamon + ½ tsp ground clovesper 1 tsp allspice
Cinnamon with a little cloves and nutmeg Sources vary¾ tsp ground cinnamon + 1 pinch ground cloves + 1 pinch grated nutmegper 1 tsp allspice

When the substitute matters

  • Baking: cinnamon with a pinch each of cloves and nutmeg.
  • Stews and savoury dishes: equal parts cinnamon and cloves.
  • Cloves are strong, so measure them carefully.

The substitutes, in detail

Cinnamon and cloves

Amount: ½ tsp ground cinnamon + ½ tsp ground cloves per 1 tsp allspice

The NDSU extension chart and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln list agree: 1/2 tsp cinnamon plus 1/2 tsp ground cloves per tsp of allspice.

  1. Mix the two spices and use in place of the allspice.

Best for

  • baking
  • stews

What changes

Covers allspice's cinnamon and clove notes, without the nutmeg.

  • vegan
  • dairy-free
  • egg-free
  • gluten-free
Sources: North Dakota State University Extension·University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension (Lancaster County)·University of California Cooperative Extension (San Joaquin County)

Cinnamon with a little cloves and nutmeg

Amount: ¾ tsp ground cinnamon + 1 pinch ground cloves + 1 pinch grated nutmeg per 1 tsp allspice

Sources vary

Food Network: 3/4 tsp cinnamon with a pinch each of cloves and nutmeg per tsp of allspice. L'Academie and Silver Spoon use 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg and 1/4 tsp cloves; Pantry & Larder uses equal parts of all three.

  1. Mix the spices and use in place of the allspice.

Best for

  • baking
  • sweet dishes

What changes

Cinnamon-led and milder in clove than the cinnamon-and-cloves mix.

  • vegan
  • dairy-free
  • egg-free
  • gluten-free
Sources: Food Network·L'Academie·Silver Spoon·Pantry & Larder

How we source this

Each swap is backed by at least two independent sources, including a test kitchen, university extension service or product maker. The amounts replace one unit of the original ingredient and do not work in reverse. See the full source list.

Sources

Related substitute pages