When it comes to wanting a fresh, tender and warm feeling in a dessert form – then look no further than an apple pie. It’s America’s finest and brings about not only feelings of identity, but also a feeling of home.
Part of the reason for this is what is involved in the pie – notably, the apple pie spice. Made with a delicate blend of nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and ginger, you’ve got one of the most amazing additions to a pie.
But of course, these are only the very basics. You’ll need to know a lot more about what goes into making an apple pie and what the apple pie spice is all about.
Read on to learn more with our handy guide below!
What Is An Apple Pie?
An apple pie for those who might not know is quite literally as the name suggests – a pie made with apples!
It’s traditionally made with pastry for the upper crust and the filling, and usually served with whipped cream, custard or ice cream.
Despite its origins coming from England, it is a symbol of national pride for the United States and is often associated with homeliness, safety and comfort.
Perhaps the biggest reason for this feeling of comfort and safety is the ingredients used, especially the apple pie spice. The aroma and taste of things like cinnamon can make you feel right at home, especially in cold weather.
This makes sense as apple pie is traditionally a dessert associated with the fall and winter, so the spices used are usually used in the same months.
What Ingredients Are Used In Apple Pie Spice?
Of course you can’t make apple pie sauce without choosing the right ingredients. Let’s take a look at exactly what is usually used within an apple pie sauce.
Cinnamon
Ground nutmeg
Ground allspice
Ginger or dash ground cloves
How Do You Make Apple Pie Spice?
The way to make apple pie spice is the same, but the amount of ingredients you use will depend on the size of the batch you are making.
Let’s look at two of the most popular batch sizes and see what you may need to include.
Small Batch
Small batches can be used for one normal sized apple pie, with perhaps some leftovers but not too much. This equates to about one teaspoon. You will need to:
Stir half a tablespoon of ground cinnamon with a quarter of a tablespoon of ground nutmeg
Add ⅛ of a tablespoon of ground allspice and mix either dash cloves or ginger
Larger Batch
Larger batches equate to about two and half teaspoons of apple pie spice. To make this amount, you will need to do the following:
Mix two teaspoons of ground nutmeg with four teaspoons of ground cinnamon
Next, mix one teaspoon of ground allspice with a quarter of a teaspoon of ginger and then add dash cloves or ginger
What Do I Do With Apple Pie Spice?
You can actually do a lot more apple pie spice than you might think. It’s not only reserved for apple pies! Here’s some of the most common uses for apple pie spice.
Pastries
As you might have expected, the primary use for apple pie spice is in the use of baking pastries. These include pies, crumbles, tarts, cakes, muffins, turnovers and buns.
Oats
You can use apple pie spice for things like oatmeal or other types of porridge.
It makes for a great “good morning” pick me up, the first thing in the morning! You should leave the spices to blend in overnight for the best results.
Over Apples
To enhance the natural taste of juice and delicious apples, you may choose to sprinkle the apple pie spice over your apples and really enjoy a quick burst of flavor.
Hot Drinks
Why not enjoy your favorite cup of hot Joe in the morning by boosting it up with a spicy feel. It will really get you moving when you need to wake up!
You can also put it in cold drinks like apple cider, which can make the flavors pop in your mouth.
Pancakes
Sticking with the breakfast theme, why not use apple pie spice on your morning pancakes and get your day started the right way!
Do I Have To Make Apple Pie Spice?
No, of course not! You can find some fantastic ready-mixed apple pie spice in stores.
More often than not, you can find the mix in health food stores or sometimes in grocery stores, but you may need to look for it high and low.
Having said that, nothing beats the taste and feeling of making things right from scratch, so it’s recommended that you give it a try yourself, at least once!
Are There Health Benefits To Apple Pie Spice?
Yes and no. On its own, it would be an ideal addition for your health – but it’s almost impossible to consume the spice alone.
The problem is that most of the things you would use apple pie spice in will often contain a lot of sugar and fat. As a result, any potential benefits are lost.
Can I Use Apple Pie Spice In Savory Foods?
You sure can, but it’s best enjoyed for sweeter foods. We’d recommend that you use the spice in sweet dishes first and then see how you fare with it.
If you are going to experiment with a savory dish, try something that does not have an overpowering taste to begin with and then gradually experiment with other foods.
The Bottom Line
Apple pie spice has a blend of different spices and therefore it creates a unique taste. It’s usually used for apple pie, but it can be included in other things, either sweet or savory.
Have you ever made something so delicious that you wished you could savor it forever?
Only to find that the recipe has now mysteriously vanished from your phone and the entirety of the internet. Yep, there’s not much more painful than that.
Hi, my name is Mark Williams and I have been infatuated with cooking since I was young. I would beg my mother to pull a chair up to the counter so I could watch what she was doing.
