Substitutes for pumpkin pie spice

Pumpkin pie spice substitutes

Pumpkin pie spice is mostly cinnamon with smaller amounts of ginger, allspice and nutmeg. You can mix it from the single spices you have.

What pumpkin pie spice does

A sweet, warm blend led by cinnamon, with ginger, nutmeg and allspice or cloves, used in pies, quick breads and lattes.

Quick reference

SubstituteAmount
Homemade pumpkin pie spice ½ tsp ground cinnamon + ¼ tsp ground ginger + ⅛ tsp ground allspice + ⅛ tsp ground nutmegper 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Cinnamon with nutmeg, ginger or allspice ¾ tsp ground cinnamon + ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, ginger or allspiceper 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

When the substitute matters

  • Have all four spices: mix the full blend per teaspoon.
  • Have only cinnamon and one other warm spice: 3/4 tsp cinnamon plus 1/4 tsp of the other.
  • Allspice on its own is not a substitute.

The substitutes, in detail

Homemade pumpkin pie spice

Amount: ½ tsp ground cinnamon + ¼ tsp ground ginger + ⅛ tsp ground allspice + ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg per 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

The NDSU extension chart and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln list agree on this mix per tsp. McCormick gives a shorter version: 3/4 tsp cinnamon plus 1/4 tsp of nutmeg, ginger or allspice. Blog blends use cloves in place of some allspice.

  1. Mix the spices and use 1 tsp of the mix per 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice.

Best for

  • pies
  • quick breads
  • lattes

What changes

Very close to store-bought pumpkin pie spice.

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

Cinnamon with nutmeg, ginger or allspice

Amount: ¾ tsp ground cinnamon + ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, ginger or allspice per 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

For 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, use 3/4 tsp cinnamon plus 1/4 tsp of ONE of nutmeg, ginger or allspice. Both sources agree on these options; cloves are not corroborated.

  1. Mix the cinnamon with one of the other ground spices.

Best for

  • pies
  • quick breads
  • spiced baking

What changes

A simpler blend than the four-spice recipe. Its flavour depends on the second spice you choose.

  • vegan
  • dairy-free
  • egg-free
  • gluten-free
Sources: McCormick·The Spice House

Don't use

  • Allspice on its own

    McCormick says pure allspice alone is not a substitute for pumpkin pie spice.

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