Several times over the last few weeks (and plenty of times before that) I’ve mentioned a pie spice mix that I use in my baking. It’s basically just your average mixture of cinnamon additions, like cloves and allspice, mixed in proportion. I use it pretty much anywhere in a recipe that calls for cinnamon, because it’s basically just cinnamon but better.
Well, instead of just repeating the recipe every time I mention it in a post, I figured I might as well write a whole post about it. So, here it is!
This spice mix is super simple. It makes your cinnamon a little more potent and a lot more complex, and I think it adds a great amount of depth to any recipe that calls for it. You can, of course, adjust the proportions if you like a little more clove and a little less ginger, or however you prefer it. I like it this way, so this is what I use. It goes great in all kinds of baking and with fruits of all sorts. It’s also a great addition to chocolate!
The core ingredients are:
- Cinnamon, of course. Cinnamon is your go to spice to add a bit of a kick to any sweet baking. Did you know cinnamon is a bark from a tree? Probably the most delicious bark there is, I would wager.
- Allspice. Allspice is a dried berry with a bunch of different names. It’s used all over the world, and it’s sort of similar to the combination of everything else in this mix, hence the name. I think it adds a great depth to the flavor of cinnamon.
- Clove. Cloves are little dried flower buds and they are very potent. Clove oil is used for tooth pain because it’s so strong it numbs you. It’s a very versatile flavor, too, and can be used in stews and baking in equal measure. It’s flavor is an interesting sort of mint-like pepper, in a way.
- Ginger. Ginger is a root and has a peppery taste when dried and ground, which is what I use for this. Fresh ginger has a fruitier kind of taste to it, which is also delicious, but better for other purposes.
- Nutmeg. Nutmegs are large nut-like seeds of a kind of evergreen, and are another nice way to add some depth to cinnamon. It’s also another versatile spice. Try adding a pinch or two to your mashed potatoes next time!
That’s all there is to it. Just mix up a batch of this, store it in an air-tight container, and use it anywhere cinnamon is called for.
Cinnamon Pie Spice Mix
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp Cinnamon
- 2 Tsp Ginger
- 2 Tsp Nutmeg
- 1½ Tsp Allspice
- 1½ Tsp Cloves
Instructions
- If using whole spices, grind them in a spice grinder. If not, simply measure and mix. Use anywhere cinnamon is called for.