How To Make Pumpkin Pie Spice Without Cinnamon

You can make pumpkin pie spice without cinnamon by using a blend of warm spices that mimic cinnamon’s sweetness and depth.
 
Maybe you’ve reached for the spice jar and realized you’re completely out of cinnamon right when you need it most.
 
Don’t panic, because making your own pumpkin pie spice without cinnamon is totally doable with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
 
This spice blend is the heart of so many cozy fall recipes, from pies and lattes to muffins and roasted squash.
 
In this post, we’ll walk you through how to make pumpkin pie spice without cinnamon, the best substitutes for that warm flavor, and how to use your homemade blend in your favorite recipes.
 
Let’s get into it.
 

How To Make Pumpkin Pie Spice Without Cinnamon

Making pumpkin pie spice without cinnamon comes down to balancing warm, sweet, and slightly spicy notes with common spices.
 
Here’s how to do it and why it works:
 

1. Start With Nutmeg As Your Base

Nutmeg is the closest thing to cinnamon’s warm, sweet character, and it’s the ideal starting point when you’re making pumpkin pie spice without cinnamon.
 
It brings that same cozy aroma and gentle sweetness that cinnamon normally provides.
 
Use about two teaspoons of ground nutmeg to anchor your blend, and it will carry a lot of the warmth you’d otherwise lose.
 

2. Add Ginger For Warmth and Zing

Ground ginger delivers the subtle heat that cinnamon usually contributes to a spice blend.
 
It’s slightly sharper than cinnamon, but it rounds out the flavor beautifully and keeps your pumpkin pie spice tasting bold.
 
A single teaspoon of ground ginger is usually the sweet spot.
 

3. Bring In Allspice and Cloves

Allspice is one of the best tools for making pumpkin pie spice without cinnamon because its flavor actually hints at cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves all at once.
 
Add about one and a half teaspoons of ground allspice, plus a quarter teaspoon of ground cloves for depth.
 
Cloves are strong, so a little goes a long way here.
 

4. Finish With a Touch of Sweet Spice

A pinch of ground cardamom or even a small amount of mace can elevate your pumpkin pie spice without cinnamon and give it that bakery-quality flavor.
 
Mace, which comes from the same plant as nutmeg, is especially good at standing in for cinnamon’s sweetness.
 
Just a quarter teaspoon of either one adds a lovely aromatic finish.
 

5. Whisk Everything Together and Store It Right

Once you’ve combined your spices, whisk them thoroughly so every spoonful of your pumpkin pie spice without cinnamon tastes consistent.
 
Store the blend in an airtight jar in a cool, dark spot, and it will stay fresh for up to six months.
 

Best Cinnamon Substitutes For Pumpkin Pie Spice

If you’re wondering what else works when making pumpkin pie spice without cinnamon, these substitutes have your back:
 

1. Allspice On Its Own

Allspice alone can replace cinnamon in pumpkin pie spice surprisingly well because its flavor profile overlaps with cinnamon so closely.
 
Use it in equal amounts to whatever cinnamon your recipe calls for.
 

2. Nutmeg and Mace Together

Nutmeg and mace are related spices that both bring a warm, sweet kick similar to cinnamon.
 
Combining them in your pumpkin pie spice without cinnamon creates a deep, rounded flavor that works in pies, cakes, and drinks.
 

3. A Dash of Cocoa Powder

This sounds odd, but a tiny bit of unsweetened cocoa powder can add a subtle earthy sweetness that mimics cinnamon’s role in a pumpkin pie spice blend.
 
Keep it to about half a teaspoon so it doesn’t overpower the other spices.
 

How To Use Your Pumpkin Pie Spice Without Cinnamon

Your homemade pumpkin pie spice without cinnamon works in all the same places the classic blend does.
 
Swap it one-for-one in pumpkin pie filling, pumpkin bread, pancakes, oatmeal, and even your morning coffee.
 
It’s also fantastic sprinkled over roasted sweet potatoes or stirred into a bowl of applesauce.
 
The flavor will be a little different from the original, but honestly, that’s part of the fun.
 
Try it in a pumpkin spice latte or a batch of spiced cookies and see how the blend holds up.
 
You might even find you prefer this cinnamon-free version.
 

So, Can You Make Pumpkin Pie Spice Without Cinnamon?

You can absolutely make pumpkin pie spice without cinnamon by leaning on nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves for that same warm, cozy flavor.
 
Maybe you’re out of cinnamon at the worst possible moment, but with these substitutes you’ll never be stuck again.
 
Hope this post has helped you with making pumpkin pie spice without cinnamon and using it in all your favorite fall recipes.