Easy 4-Ingredient Homemade Apple Pie Spice Recipe

How to make the best homemade apple pie spice substitute in 5 minutes or less. This is a quick and easy, no fail recipe using only 4 ingredients and no cardamom, and it makes the perfect gift in a jar. Keep this warm and cozy, fall-inspired spice mix on hand for all your favorite fall desserts!

It’s no secret that I love fall, and I definitely love all of the delicious comfort food that comes with it. Every year, usually sometimes towards September-October, we can all start to feel a chill in the air. Then I know it’s time for a gluten-free apple crisp, and all of the tasty fall spices that come with it.

But many fall dessert recipes, including apple pie, call for apple pie spice, and that’s not something that I have always kept on hand. Instead of making a last-minute trip to the store, I’ve figured out that it’s pretty easy to make my own, and now I like to mix up a large batch to keep on hand for whenever I need it. And the best part is that this homemade spice blend works great as a 1:1 substitute for store bought apple pie spice!

What Is Apple Pie Spice?

This easy homemade apple pie spice is basically just a blend of various autumn spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger. It’s chock full of that iconic fall season flavor most often associated with apple pie. You can use it in all of your favorite fall desserts.

In case you’re wondering, there is a difference between apple spice and pumpkin pie spice. The main difference is that pumpkin spice usually has cloves, whereas apple pie spice does not. That said, you can usually swap one out for the other and not tell too much of a difference.

Why This Is the Best DIY Apple Pie Spice Recipe

• Homemade apple pie spice is perfect for your favorite fall desserts. I like to keep some mixed up and on hand at all times so that I don’t have to measure out each individual spice every time I want to make a fall-inspired dessert.
• You can make this easy, one bowl recipe in 5 minutes or less, and it only uses 4 simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.
• It’s dirt cheap to make. Why run to the store and spend all that money on apple pie spice when you can just make your own apple pie spice mix at home?
• Homemade always tastes better, and this recipe is no exception. There’s just something so warm and comforting about apple pie spice, especially when you make your own.
• The great thing about this recipe is that it’s super customizable. For example, I don’t like cardamom, and so I made this homemade apple pie spice without cardamom!
• If you have any food or nut allergies, like gluten-intolerance, you can source out your own allergen-free ingredients for your own spice blend. Unfortunately, store-bought spice labels are vague at best, so this a great way of avoiding any problems.

Ingredients & Substitutions Notes

• Cinnamon – You can use any plain old, generic ground cinnamon at the local grocery store for this recipe, but the type of cinnamon you use actually makes a big difference in the flavor profile of your apple pie spice, especially since it’s the main ingredient. Some people like the milder and slightly more complex flavor of Ceylon cinnamon, but I personally prefer the stronger flavor of a good Saigon/Vietnamese cinnamon. Here’s a complete guide to the different types and flavors of cinnamon available in the store.
• Nutmeg – Apple pie spice just wouldn’t be the same without the warm, nutty and slightly sweet flavor of ground nutmeg.
• Allspice – Because of its name, many people think allspice is a blend of various spices, but it’s not. In fact, it’s actually just the ground berries from the allspice tree that’s native to Jamaica. It has a very unique flavor that tastes like a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and black pepper. It’s perfect for apple pie spice!
• Ground Ginger – I like to add just a little bit of ground ginger to my apple pie spice. Ground ginger has a very pungent, spicy flavor that pairs well with the other spices in this recipe, but it needs to be used in very sparing amounts.
• Optional Add Ins – Although I usually just keep it simple with the spices mentioned, you can also add other ground spices like ground cloves, cardamom, star anise, and even black pepper. Be creative!

How to Make Homemade Apple Pie Spice

You can make this easy recipe in 2 steps or less, and it usually takes no more than about 5 minutes…

1. Start by measuring out the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger and any other spices into a small mixing bowl.
2. Whisk until everything comes together into a fine, powdery mixture with little to no lumps. That’s it!

This recipe makes roughly 5 tablespoons of apple pie spice, which should be enough to last for quite a while. This homemade spice blend is fairly potent, so you usually only need to use a small amount. That said, feel free to double, triple or even quadruple this recipe to make an even bigger batch!

How to Store Homemade Apple Pie Spice

I recommend storing your homemade apple pie spice in an airtight container or glass weck jar. Store them somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight, like inside of a spice cabinet or on a spice rack. Don’t store them in the refrigerator or freezer, as this can destroy the flavor of many spices.

Stored this way, your homemade apple pie spice mix should last up to 6 months. It can stay good almost indefinitely, but the flavor of the spices will start to degrade after that time.

How to Use Homemade Apple Pie Spice

You can use DIY apple pie spice in just about all of your favorite fall desserts. Here are some of my favorite recipes to add it to…

• Of course, apple pie spice goes great in my favorite recipe for Dutch apple crumb pie, especially during the holiday season.
• It also makes the best baked cinnamon apples. Sometimes I even add it to my microwave apples for a quick fall or winter treat!
• You could definitely add this apple pie spice to CrockPot baked apples, stuffed with a scrumptious cinnamon oatmeal mixture that is so warm and comforting for the colder months.
• Speaking of oatmeal, why not drop a pinch into your bowl of maple brown sugar oatmeal for breakfast?
• It would also make a fantastic addition to this apple dump cake, or even this caramel apple dump cake.
• Fall just wouldn’t be the same without the cozy flavors of homemade apple butter, especially spiced up with homemade apple pie spice.
• This cream cheese caramel apple dip is the best fall-inspired snack/appetizer for potlucks, parties and holiday dinners. This apple pie spice would really kick things up a notch.
• Looking for more breakfast recipes? Drop a pinch of this apple pie spice into the pancake batter for these gluten-free American pancakes before cooking. Alternatively, you could also mix it in to your own homemade pancake mix.
• Apple pie spice adds a lot of depth to this yummy cinnamon apple French toast casserole, the ultimate make-ahead breakfast recipe!

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

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