Spice Pumpkin Bread
October 13, 2020
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Pumpkin spice is the pre-mixed fall-baking spice blend. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, all-spice, and cloves. That goes into pumpkin pie, lattes, smoothies, and most October-through-November baking on this site. The standard ratio is roughly 4:2:1:1:1 cinnamon to ginger to nutmeg to all-spice to cloves, but commercial blends vary. Pumpkin-spice favorites include Healthy Pumpkin Spice Smoothie where the blend provides the rounded fall-warmth that single-spice substitutes cannot.
Pumpkin spice and pumpkin pie spice are essentially the same blend, though commercial products vary slightly. Both center on cinnamon as the dominant spice, with ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves rounding out the profile. The standard homemade ratio is 3 tablespoons cinnamon, 2 teaspoons ginger, 2 teaspoons nutmeg, 1.5 teaspoons all-spice, 1.5 teaspoons cloves. Mix in a small jar and it keeps 6 months at full flavor.
For lattes and warm drinks, pumpkin spice mixes into the milk before steaming or microwaving. The technique: heat milk gently with 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin spice and 1 teaspoon brown sugar per cup, whisk to froth, pour over espresso or strong coffee. The result tastes dramatically better than the Starbucks version because the spice quality and freshness exceed industrial syrup-based versions. vanilla extract added at the end provides the rounded sweetness that ties everything together.
For baking applications, pumpkin spice is the time-saver for any recipe calling for individual warm spices. A pumpkin pie recipe that lists cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves separately can substitute 1.5-2 tablespoons of pumpkin spice for the combined amount. The result tastes slightly different (since the blend ratio differs from the recipe’s specific call), but works for any application where the warm-spice combination is the goal rather than a specific ratio.
For storage, pumpkin spice keeps best in a cool, dark, dry pantry away from heat. Pre-mixed blends sold in grocery stores often sit on shelves for months before purchase, then more months at home. Which is why the homemade version with fresh individual spices produces dramatically better baking results. Combining pumpkin spice with brown sugar for streusel toppings, oatmeal mix-ins, and pancake batter gives the easiest fall-flavor boost to almost any morning food. Look to pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon for adjacent applications in the site’s recipe library.
To make a pumpkin spice latte, combine espresso or strong coffee with steamed milk, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin spice blend. Sweeten with sugar or syrup, stir well, and top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice.
Pumpkin spice is a blend of warm spices, typically cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, used to flavor beverages, baked goods, and desserts. It creates the characteristic sweet, aromatic taste associated with pumpkin-flavored recipes.
Homemade pumpkin spice is made by mixing ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves in proportions to taste. Some recipes also include allspice or cardamom for added warmth. Store in an airtight container for use in recipes.
Pumpkin spice is created by combining specific warming spices—cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves—ground to a fine powder. The blend is balanced for sweetness and aroma to complement pumpkin-flavored beverages and baked goods.
For more warm-spice forms and pairings, see our cinnamon and ground cloves recipes.