Apple Pie Spice

Pumpkin takes up a lot of space in the “Fall Flavors” album.  It’s the one thing you can guarantee will appear in the grocery stores and internet recipe aisles every September.  Heck, I even join the bandwagon of pumpkin plethora with a few of my favorite recipes.  However, my hands down favorite thing about Fall baking, is making Apple Pie. Not just any apple pie either.  Oh, no.  It has to be an apple pie full of both. sweet and tart apples, plenty of sugar and a hearty dose of spice.  The crust has to be flaky, tender and beautifully decorated! The warm, tangy smell of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger together with the apples just screams “FALL IS HERE!”

Let’s get this apple pie love started with a batch of homemade Apple Pie Spice Mix!  Sure you can pick up a bottle of Apple Pie Spice at the grocery store, but making your own is easy and you can customize it to satisfy your own taste profiles. Love extra nutmeg or more vanilla? Add a little more.  Adjust it, as you like it.  Seriously,  you really can’t mess this up!

This homemade Apple Pie Spice Mix is very easy to put together and once you start baking and cooking with it, you’ll see it’s versatility!  You can use it to season pork chops or chicken and sprinkle it over sliced apples for a healthy after-school treat!  Add it to muffins or pancake batter.  Use it to make spiced nuts or as a seasoning for baked apples!  No matter how you use it, you’re going to love it!

Here’s what you need to create your own masterpiece: cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger and vanilla bean powder. Sometimes I get a little crazy and toss in cardamom or ground cloves.  Like I said, you really can’t mess this up!  I’ll make a big batch and keep it in a half-pint canning jar to use throughout the Fall/Holiday Baking Season.  Start with this basic recipe and then customize it for you and your family!

What’s your favorite Fall Baking flavor?  Share with me in the comments!  Let’s get our bake on together!