| What, exactly, is pumpkin pie spice? Can you make | | | | - cinnamon "or nutmeg" and ginger |
| your own? More important, does it cost less to make | | | | - mace, cinnamon, and nutmeg |
| your own or to buy it? | | | | Modern pumpkin pie spice is usually a combination of |
| To begin with, pumpkin pie spice is a mixture, not a | | | | most or all of these ingredients, and more. People |
| single herb or spice. The ingredients in the mixture | | | | have grown used to a stronger, more complex taste. |
| vary, but they're mostly strongly flavored spices | | | | So, can you save money by mixing your own? If you |
| which are typically used in baking and sweet dishes. | | | | have all or most of these spices in your kitchen |
| For example, Club House pumpkin pie spice, a popular | | | | already, obviously, you can. If not - and most of us |
| brand in Canada, is made up of cinnamon, ginger, | | | | don't - it will be cheaper just to buy it readymade. |
| nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. (It also contains sulphites | | | | I've found pumpkin pie spice in the dollar store! (It |
| - preservatives - according to the company website.) | | | | was even made in Canada.) It was mixed with sugar, |
| The Spice House, a chain of specialty shops in the | | | | so I had to use more than the recipe called for, and |
| U.S. Midwest, makes pumpkin pie spice with those | | | | also cut back on the other sugar in the pie. But this |
| same spices, plus mace and powdered cassia buds. | | | | must have been how the manufacturer kept the |
| Older recipes for pumpkin pie spice are simpler. The | | | | cost so low. |
| Easiest Way in Housekeeping and Cooking by Helen | | | | If you have cinnamon and ginger on hand, you may |
| Campbell, a cookbook from 1903, says to use a | | | | want to try using them alone in your pie. However, |
| teaspoon of ginger and a half teaspoon of cinnamon. | | | | though these flavors are strong, they won't give |
| The Whitehouse Cookbook by Mrs. F.L. Gillette, | | | | quite the same taste as the full spice mix. It's your |
| published in 1887, gives three different recipes for | | | | call. |
| pumpkin pie. They use: | | | | You can find a recipe for homemade pumpkin pie |
| - cinnamon and ginger | | | | spice here. |