Hearthkeeper's Wisdom~Pumpkin Spice

If you've been following along with our Pumpkin Spice Herbal Wisdom series, first of all, thank you for joining me on this little journey through the spice cupboard!

We've explored the history, folklore, traditional uses, and kitchen magic of the individual spices that make autumn smell so wonderful. Now it's time to bring them all together.

Today I'm sharing the homemade pumpkin pie spice blend we reach for whenever we're making something pumpkin. It's warm, fragrant, just a little more complex than most store-bought blends, and wonderfully versatile.

One of my favorite things about making my own spice blends is being able to adjust them to suit our family's tastes.

Granny B's Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

• 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

• 2 teaspoons ground ginger

• 1 teaspoons ground nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon ground allspice

• 1 teaspoon ground cloves

• ½ teaspoon ground mace

• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom

• ⅛–¼ teaspoon finely ground black or white pepper (optional)

  
  

Instructions

Combine all the spices in a small bowl and stir until thoroughly blended. Transfer to an airtight spice jar and store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Give the jar a little shake before each use.

A clear glass bowl filled with aromatic homemade pumpkin spice, perfect for adding a warm and cozy flavor to autumn dishes.

A Little About the Pepper

I know what you're thinking. Pepper? In pumpkin pie? Yes, really!

A tiny amount of pepper adds a subtle warmth and complexity that complements the cinnamon, ginger, and other spices without making the blend taste peppery.

I find that black pepper works especially well in pumpkin pies, muffins, and quick breads, where its slightly bolder warmth adds character.

White pepper has a somewhat softer, earthier flavor that I enjoy in pancakes, oatmeal, cookies, and more delicate desserts.

Of course, the pepper is entirely optional. The blend is delicious without it, too.

What About the Mace?

Mace is one of those wonderful old-fashioned spices that doesn't seem to get nearly enough attention these days.

Although mace and nutmeg come from the same fruit, their flavors aren't identical. Mace has a slightly more delicate, aromatic warmth that adds another layer of complexity to this blend.

Unfortunately, mace can be surprisingly difficult to find in local grocery stores. I finally ordered mine online from The Spice Way. You can also look for it through Amazon or Mountain Rose Herbs.

If you can't find mace, don't let that stop you from making the recipe. Simply leave it out. Your pumpkin spice will still be wonderful.

Just a note: I don't receive commissions or compensation from any of these suppliers. I'm simply sharing where I've found ingredients when they're difficult to locate locally.

How to Use Your Homemade Pumpkin Spice

Here's a little trick I use when baking.

Rather than measuring out several individual spices every time I make something, I simply add up the total amount of spices called for in the original recipe and substitute the same amount of my homemade blend.

For example, if a recipe calls for:

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon nutmeg

• ½ teaspoon allspice

• ½ teaspoon cloves

• ½ teaspoon ginger

  
  

That's a total of 4½ teaspoons of spices.

Instead of measuring all five separately, I use 4½ teaspoons of Granny B's Pumpkin Spice Blend.

The flavor won't be exactly identical because the proportions are different, but that's part of the fun of creating your own house blend!

And to show you just how easy it is, here's one of our favorite pumpkin bread recipes.

Homemade Pumpkin Bread

Original Recipe

• 1 cup shortening

• 2 cups sugar

• 4 eggs

• 2 cups pumpkin purée

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• ½ teaspoon ground allspice

• ½ teaspoon ground cloves

• ½ teaspoon ground ginger

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9 × 5 × 3-inch loaf pans.

2. Cream the shortening and sugar together until well combined.

3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

4. Stir in the pumpkin purée.

5. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.

6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture, stirring just until combined.

7. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared loaf pans.

8. Bake for approximately 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

9. Allow the loaves to cool in their pans for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.

Yield: 2 loaves

Freshly baked pumpkin bread loaves cooling on a wire rack, featuring a golden-brown crust and rich aroma.

Pumpkin Bread with Granny B's Pumpkin Spice Blend

Here's where things get wonderfully simple.

Use the exact same ingredients and instructions as above, but replace the five individual spices with:

4½ teaspoons Granny B's Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

That's it!

You get the familiar comfort of homemade pumpkin bread with the additional warmth and complexity of mace and cardamom, and perhaps just a whisper of pepper.

And if you really want to make this bread special, serve it with a little homemade cinnamon butter.

Sweet Cinnamon Butter

• 6 tablespoons butter, softened

• 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1 cup powdered sugar

  
  

Instructions

Cream the softened butter, cinnamon, and powdered sugar together until smooth and fluffy.

Refrigerate until ready to serve. Allow it to soften slightly before spreading.

This makes a sweet, cinnamon-rich spread that's somewhere between traditional cinnamon butter and a light buttercream frosting.

It's absolutely wonderful on a warm slice of pumpkin bread!

Freshly baked pumpkin bread slices, generously spread with creamy cinnamon butter, served on a sleek white plate.

A Little Wisdom from the Hearth

There's something special about having a house spice blend. Over time, it becomes part of the flavors your family recognizes, the familiar scent of something baking, the warmth of a favorite recipe, and the memories made around the kitchen table.

What began as seven individual spices, each with its own history and traditions, becomes something entirely new when they're brought together.

And perhaps that's the real magic of pumpkin spice. No single ingredient creates that familiar autumn comfort on its own. It's the way they complement one another, each contributing something different, that makes the blend so memorable.

From my hearth to yours.

Pumpkin Spice Blend reminds us that sometimes the most wonderful things happen when we bring a little bit of everything together.

~Granny B