Pumpkin spice, which doesn’t necessarily contain pumpkin in its ingredients, is typically made from a combination of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and allspice. Whether you wait all year for the monumental return of the pumpkin spice latte or prefer to get your fix in foods, it’s unquestionably the most festive fall flavoring. From coffee and crumb cake to Pop Tarts and pasta to lip balm and chewing gum, this spice seems to pop up in nearly every fall-themed sweet and product. We prefer DIY desserts and drinks to packaged (i.e., artificially flavored) pumpkin spice products. If you feel the same way, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ve rounded up our favorite pumpkin spice recipes perfect for autumn—and every other time of year. Not a fan of cloves? Leave it out. Love nutmeg? Add more. You can even play with spices like cardamom and mace, which, though not commonly included in conventional pumpkin pie spice blends, make great additions.
