Falling leaves, cooling temperatures, getting out the cozy sweaters, and the appearance of winter squash, apples and root vegetables at the grocery store means that autumn is underway. Another sign to add to the list of autumn essentials: pumpkin spice. It’s easy to make at home and is an incredibly versatile spice to have in your pantry.
What Is Pumpkin Spice?
While it may seem that pumpkin spice has been around forever and a day, it’s a relatively new seasoning blend. There is the odd reference to pumpkin spice in cookbooks from the late 1800s, yet it wasn’t until the 1950s that the blend was packaged and sold to be used more widely, beyond recipes that contained real pumpkin in them.
In 2003, a well-known coffee company (you know the one we mean!) introduced its Pumpkin Spice Latte and that’s when pumpkin spice hit the big time. And we’re not just talking lattes – pumpkin spice has permeated throughout the food market, earning just over $500 million in sales in 2019.
This blend is very easy to make at home (you probably already have everything you need) and you can adjust the spice ratios depending on what you like.
You can easily double or triple this recipe and it will keep well if sealed properly all season long.
17 Ways to Use Pumpkin Spice Mix
Now that you’ve got your homemade blend in your pantry, time to start using it! Bonus points for using fresh pumpkin too.
Your entire home will smell heavenly with pumpkin-spiced baked goods cooking in the oven! We also love adding chocolate chips to our pumpkin-spiced cookies.
(And you can never have too many gluten-free cookie recipes! Try one of these 27 recipes with vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, grain-free and Paleo options.)
Muffins
Do you like to slice your muffins in half? We sure do, so we can slather them with nut/seed butter, coconut butter, coconut oil, honey or ghee.
(Adore bread but don’t have enough solid gluten-free options? Try one of these Gluten-Free Bread Recipes.)
Dairy-Free Ice Cream
Dairy-free ice cream may be enjoyed most during the summer, but with the warming qualities of pumpkin spices you can dish it up throughout the fall and winter.
We like assembling chia pudding a few days ahead so that we have a batch of tasty, pre-prepped, portable breakfasts and snacks ready on hand. The pumpkin spices take them to another level!
(Tired of eating the same old, same old breakfasts? These 12 Energizing Breakfasts can help you feel full of vitality throughout the day!)
Oatmeal
Gluten-free oats cooked in coconut milk and pumpkin spice and heaped with nut/seed butter and fresh or dried fruit is the ideal breakfast for the colder months.
Season your nuts or seeds, or create your own trail mix, with the deliciousness of pumpkin spice. The addition of your favourite natural sweetener and some coconut oil can add depth to the flavours.
Create a pilaf with your favourite gluten-free grains by mixing in sautéed onions, garlic, ginger and then adding in pumpkin spice and sea salt. Finish with some dried fruit and you’ve got a delectable side!
Pumpkin spices aren’t just for sweet dishes. A number of popular seasoning blends and cultural foods feature cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg and cloves. You can swap in your pumpkin spice mix in a variety of one-pot dishes like tagines or chilis, or try it in Jamaican-style jerk dishes.
(Sometimes you just want a little nosh, right? Bite-sized snacks are perfect for when you’re feeling snacky, having guests over for a party, or for little mouths you need to feed.)
With all of these ideas and options, your autumn is sure to be packed with pumpkin-spiced deliciousness!
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