Homemade Apple Pie Spice Blend: Recipe & Uses

Apple pie spice is a warm, cozy blend that will elevate your fall baking. This simple mix highlights apples and other seasonal favorites—and it’s effortless to make at home.

Making spice blends yourself means you always have fresh, flavorful seasonings on hand and know exactly what’s inside. Homemade mixes are economical, customizable, and far more aromatic than many store-bought options.

Apple pie spice features some of the most inviting aromas of the season. While not everyone loves pumpkin-spiced treats, apple desserts tend to be a universal favorite in my house—so this blend gets used often.

One of the best parts of making this mix is how your home smells when you bake with it. If there were a candle that smelled like this blend, I’d buy it in a heartbeat.

🥘 Ingredients Needed

One advantage of homemade spice blends is that you can adjust them to your preferences. Want more cinnamon? Add it. Prefer less cardamom? Reduce it. The blend is very forgiving.

What is in Apple Pie Spice?

• Ground cinnamon – Saigon cinnamon is bold and spicy; Ceylon is milder and warmer. Use whichever you prefer.
• Ground nutmeg – Freshly grated nutmeg is potent, so use less if using fresh. Old pre-ground nutmeg can be weak, so consider replacing it each season.
• Ground cardamom
• Ground ginger
• Ground allspice

You can optionally add 1 teaspoon of ground cloves for extra depth—many recipes call for it, though the flavor is strong. Some people also add a pinch of cayenne for a subtle heat if you’d like to experiment.

Making Your Own Fall Spice Blends

Fall brings a love of warm spices, and apple pie spice is a wonderful way to capture those aromas. Whipping up a fresh batch in under a minute with spices you likely already have is convenient and budget-friendly—especially if you buy spices in bulk.

Homemade spice blends also make thoughtful gifts for friends and hosts during the holidays. A small jar of a favorite mix is simple, personal, and useful.

🥣 How to Make It

This recipe yields about 1/3 cup of apple pie spice. You’ll typically use 1–2 teaspoons per recipe, depending on taste.

Combine all spices in a small bowl and stir until evenly blended, or add them directly to a jar and shake well to combine.

Store the mix in an airtight container away from direct light and heat.

Exact measurements and the printable recipe card appear in the recipe section below.

🥫 How to Store It

For the longest shelf life, keep your spice mix in an airtight container—small mason jars work well—and store it in a cool, dark place like a cabinet. Avoid storing spices above the stove or in direct sunlight, which can degrade flavor.

🍳 Ways to Use It

This apple-forward blend pairs with many fall recipes. Use it wherever you’d use cinnamon or nutmeg to add a fuller, more complex flavor.

Try it in:

• Maple bourbon apple butter
• Dutch apple pie
• Apple hand pies and apple spice cake
• Spiced apple cider
• Oatmeal cookies
• Glazed or butter-roasted carrots
• Candied pecans and roasted sweet potatoes
• Crispy apple chips and trail mix cookies

It’s also excellent at breakfast:

• Stirred into homemade yogurt topped with granola
• Mixed into oatmeal with dried apples and pecans
• Sprinkled on French toast
• Added to pancake batter for apple-cinnamon pancakes
• Folded into homemade granola bars

What are your favorite ways to use apple pie spice?

Looking for an Apple Pie Spice Substitute?

If you don’t have the full blend on hand, plain cinnamon will work as a quick substitute. It won’t deliver the same layered aroma, but it’s an easy swap in a pinch.

More Easy Spice Mixes

• Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Taco Seasoning
• Everything Bagel Seasoning
• Bayou Blast Cajun Seasoning
• Jamaican Jerk Seasoning