For me, pumpkin spice is a small ray of hope every year when summer ends and autumn begins. I enjoy the warm season with its long days and the lightness it brings – autumn, on the other hand, brings cold, darkness, and that constant shivering that I don't particularly enjoy. And yet, it also has something comforting about it: The world becomes calmer, cozier, and invites you to brighten up your everyday life with small rituals and special, soothing aromas.
This is where pumpkin spice comes in – the classic American spice blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cardamom. It not only adds a special touch to pumpkin recipes, but also goes perfectly with lattes, muffins, porridge, or apple desserts. For me, it's like a little comfort in a jar – a little source of consolation when everything outside seems gray and chilly. And a faint hint of warm nostalgia.
Ceylon cinnamon or cassia cinnamon?
Did you know that there are two different types of cinnamon? There's a distinction between the "original" Ceylon cinnamon and the "Chinese cinnamon" Cassia cinnamon.
Ceylon cinnamon is also known as the "real" or "original" cinnamon and comes from Sri Lanka or southern India. Ceylon cinnamon tastes a little more refined, more aromatic and less spicy because it contains less cinnamaldehyde than cassia cinnamon. Cinnamon is also said to have many health benefits that apply almost exclusively to Ceylon cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is rich in antioxidants and thus has an anti-inflammatory effect. There are studies that show that Ceylon cinnamon reduces "bad cholesterol" and increases "good" cholesterol and can therefore improve blood values. Ceylon cinnamon also has a blood sugar stabilizing effect and type 2 diabetics in particular can reduce their blood sugar levels with 0.5 - 2 teaspoons of Ceylon cinnamon a day.
Cassis cinnamon, on the other hand, is much cheaper and is usually used in processed foods. You will also often come across cassis cinnamon on the spice shelf in the supermarket. Cassis cinnamon is produced in southern China and contains a much higher concentration of coumarin. An overdose of coumarin can lead to headaches, nausea and dizziness. Just one teaspoon of cassis cinnamon often reaches the recommended maximum coumarin limit, so cinnamon lovers should be particularly careful about which cinnamon they choose.
Advertisement (Affiliate): For these reasons I prefer to use this Ceylon cinnamon to reap the health benefits and enjoy the aromatic, “real” cinnamon taste.
Inspiration for this Pumpkin Spice Recipe
As a basis for this recipe, I used and combined two recipes for pumpkin spice. I used this recipe by Barefeet in the kitchen and this recipe by Chef Lindsey Farr.
Recipes with Pumpkin Spice
On my recipe blog, I've already shared a few recipes that use pumpkin spice. So far, I've listed the spices individually in the recipe, but you can also simply use this homemade pumpkin spice blend. Those recipes are Carrot Cake Oatmeal Muffins and Carrot Cake Porridge and there will certainly be a few more to come…
Pumpkin Spice
Pumpkin spice is the classic American spice blend that instantly adds an autumnal flair to any dish. Blended with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and a pinch of cardamom, it's a perfect match not only for pumpkin recipes, but also for apple desserts, carrot cake, or a warming pumpkin spice latte.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
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Combine all ingredients for the pumpkin spice mix in a screw-top jar. Shake well to mix the spices.
Nutritional Information
servings 1
- Amount per Serving
- Calories 62kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 1.2g2%
- Potassium 111.9mg4%
- Total Carbohydrate 11.6g4%
- Dietary Fiber 4g16%
- Sugars 7.8g
- Protein 0.9g2%
** The daily percentages are based on a 2000 kcal diet. Your daily figures might be higher or lower according to your caloric need.