Apple Pie Spice

Making Apple Pie Spice from scratch could not be easier. This simple homemade spice blend comes together in minutes and adds warm, cozy flavor to everything from pies and crisps to oatmeal, toast, and even roasted apples. Once you start keeping a jar in your pantry, you’ll wonder why you ever bought it at the store.

If you’ve ever wondered what is in apple pie spice, it’s simple: cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, and cloves. That combination gives recipes a familiar bakery-style flavor that makes apple desserts taste extra special. It’s an easy little homemade staple that brings a lot of wow factor with very little effort.

So, I have been told I make the very best apple pie. The problem is, I have never actually put it on my website. It’s on my list to add to my site this year. Basically is a spice apple pie, made with both red and green apples, a little sugar, flour, and this delicious apple pie spice. I am telling you, this is my apple pie secret weapon.

Easy Apple Pie Spice

This is one of those little recipes that makes a big difference. It takes just a couple of minutes to stir together, but it gives your baked goods that warm, homemade flavor that makes people ask what you did differently. I love that it uses pantry spices I usually already have on hand, and that I can mix up a batch whenever I need it.

It’s also nice because you’re not limited to pie. Yes, it is perfect for apple pie, but it is also delicious in muffins, crisps, coffee cakes, oatmeal, applesauce, and even sprinkled over sliced apples for a quick snack. Having your own apple spice mix recipe ready to go makes baking feel just a little easier.

What Is Apple Pie Spice?

Apple pie spice is a warm spice blend made to flavor apple desserts and other cozy baked goods. It is similar to pumpkin pie spice, but the flavor is a little different. This homemade version uses cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, and cloves for a blend that is warm, balanced, and just a little deeper in flavor than using cinnamon alone.

Ingredients for Apple Pie Spice

You will find the complete ingredients and instructions at the bottom of this post in the printable recipe card. 

• Cinnamon – This is the base of the blend and gives that classic warm, sweet spice flavor you expect in apple desserts.
• Nutmeg – Nutmeg adds a rich, earthy warmth that makes the blend taste fuller and more bakery-style.
• Mace – Mace brings a smooth, warm flavor that works beautifully with apples and adds a little extra depth.
• Cloves – Cloves add just a bit of bold spice and warmth. A small amount goes a long way and rounds everything out.

How to Make Apple Pie Spice

Making your own homemade apple pie spice could not be simpler.

Add all four ingredients to a small bowl. Stir everything together until the spices are evenly combined.

Transfer the spice blend to an airtight container or spice jars and store in a cool, dry place until ready to use.

How to Store Apple Pie Spice

Store your apple pie spice from scratch in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. A pantry or spice cabinet works perfectly. As long as your spices are fresh when you mix the blend, it will keep well and be ready whenever you want to bake.

This recipe makes 1/4 cup of spice mix, which is enough for several recipes and plenty to keep on hand through apple season.

Love it? Pin it!

If you can’t wait to try out my homemade apple pie spice recipe, make sure you can find it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!

Pumpkin Pie Spice vs Apple Pie Spice

A lot of people wonder what is different between apple pie spice and pumpkin pie spice. The two are definitely similar, and both are made with warm baking spices, but they are not exactly the same.

Apple pie spice is usually built around cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, and cloves. Pumpkin spice often includes those same cozy spices, but ginger is typically a key part of the blend, and some versions also include allspice. That gives pumpkin pie spice a slightly different flavor profile.

So while they are close cousins, apple pie spice has its own flavor and really shines in apple recipes.

How Much Apple Pie Spice Do I Use for an Apple Pie?

If you’re wondering how much apple pie spice I use for an apple pie, a little goes a long way. For a typical pie, you will usually want about 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of apple pie spice, depending on how boldly spiced you like your filling.

My recipe notes also make it easy to scale down if you only want enough for one pie. That smaller amount is perfect when you do not want to mix a full batch.

Recipes that Use Apple Pie Spice

You can use this apple pie spice blend in place of the spices in any apple recipe, even the ones that just call for cinnamon.  By substituting this unique blend of spices, you are going to take any recipe to the next level. Take the simple flavor to something a little more complex with an easy substitution.

• The Very Best Apple Crisp (pictured above)
• Bugga’s Apple Pie
• Applesauce Coffee Cake
• Apple Pie Oatmeal Cookies
• Apple Crisp in a Mug
• Fresh Apple Granola

It’s also incredible in cakes, oatmeal, muffins, applesauce, cookie recipes, or any apple dessert that normally calls for cinnamon

See ALL of my apple recipes here!

It is such an easy way to give recipes a little more depth and make them taste extra homemade.

For the longest time, cinnamon was the only spice I used in apple pie, too. And while it was good, once I started using a true apple pie spice blend, it made such a difference. It adds that little extra something that takes a recipe from good to “wow, this is really good.”

This is one of those simple pantry recipes that is worth making yourself. It is quick, easy, and gives you a fresh homemade blend ready whenever baking season rolls around.

I’d love to hear what you think if you try it!

This recipe was originally posted on September 21, 2020. It has been updated to improve user experience and reshared on April 7, 2026.