Our favorite pumpkin spice recipes

What is pumpkin spice?

If you want to get creative in the kitchen this fall, you can't avoid pumpkin spice recipes. The spice blend adds a wintery touch to your morning coffee and gives homemade bread a flavorful aroma. But what spices are actually behind the pumpkin spice blend?  Ironically, the mixture does not contain pumpkin at all. Instead, it contains aromatic ingredients such as cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ginger. Pumpkin spice is thus strongly reminiscent of winter spice blends such as those used for gingerbread or mulled wine. The name pumpkin spice tells us that the spice blend is traditionally used for pumpkin pie in the U.S. Nowadays, the iconic spice has found its way into a wide range of foods there – from breakfast cereals to yogurt and desserts.

How to make pumpkin spice 

For our pumpkin spice recipes, you'll obviously need your own pumpkin spice. You can find it in well-stocked grocery stores, but you can also easily make the autumnal spice mixture at home: mix 6 tablespoons of cinnamon powder (Ceylon cinnamon is the most aromatic) with 1.5 tablespoons each of allspice, cloves, star anise, and nutmeg. If you like, you can add 1 teaspoon of ginger for a hint of spiciness. Now that you've got homemade pumpkin spice at hand, you're ready to try out some of our delicious recipe ideas.

Creamy pumpkin spice latte 

Attention all coffee lovers! With an aromatic pumpkin spice latte, you can cozily enter the autumn season. The pumpkin version of the classic café latte is widely known across the globe thanks to the American coffee house Starbucks. Around Halloween, everything there revolves around the season's classic - an autumnal pumpkin spice latte with aromatic notes of cinnamon, cloves and ginger. To enjoy the trendy drink, you don't have to head to the nearest coffee shop, though. Thanks to our own gourmet recipe, you can make the perfect pumpkin spice latte at home, with flavorful notes of pumpkin, topped with a crown of creamy milk foam.

Ingredients for 1 serving:

• 250 ml milk or plant alternative (soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, etc.)
• 1 strong espresso
• ¼ tsp pumpkin spice
• Sweetener according to taste (honey, coconut sugar, etc.)

Directions

Prepare the espresso as usual. Meanwhile, whip the milk with a milk foamer until frothy. Add pumpkin spice to the espresso and mix well. If you like it sweet, add the sweetener of your choice now. Then slowly add the hot milk foam.

Fluffy pumpkin spice pancakes

Whether you are planning a hearty Sunday breakfast or want to get a morning person out of bed early, there is always an excuse to try out some pumpkin spice recipes! Our moist pancakes are not only deliciously fluffy, but also perfect for fall thanks to the aromatic pumpkin spice. Serve them hot straight from the pan or cold as a midday snack: these pancakes are the perfect way to celebrate autumn.

Ingredients for 2 servings: 

• 200 g red kuri squash
• 1 egg (size M)
• 125 g flour, e.g., spelt flour
• 200 ml whole milk
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• ½ tsp pumpkin spice
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• Butter for baking

Directions 

Remove the seeds from the pumpkin and chop roughly into pieces. Cook in a pot of hot water for about 20 minutes until the pumpkin is soft. Drain the water, then blend the pumpkin to a pulp using a blender. Set aside the pumpkin puree and mix spelt flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl. Add a pinch of salt. Whisk the pumpkin puree with whole milk, egg, oil, brown sugar and pumpkin spice. Stir the mixture into the dry ingredients until an even batter is formed. Heat a little oil in a pan and pour in about 2 tablespoons batter per pancake. Fry over medium heat until golden brown on both sides.

Sweet pumpkin spice bread

A new take on your favorite sandwich: This fall version features aromatic pumpkin spice and tastes just as good plain as it does with your favorite jam. The delicious cream cheese frosting completes your autumnal sweet treat! By the way: If you replace the eggs with 1 bag of egg substitute powder and use vegan butter and vegetable drink, our pumpkin spice recipe can easily be made vegan.

Ingredients for 1 loaf:

• 400 g red kuri squash
• 2 eggs
• 150 g brown sugar
• 1 tbsp oil
• 120 ml milk
• 240 g flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp pumpkin spice
• Pinch of salt 

Ingredients for the frosting:

• 120 g cream cheese
• 60 g butter
• 100 g powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp milk

 Directions 

Remove the seeds from the pumpkin and cut roughly into pieces. Cook in a pot of hot water for about 20 minutes until the pumpkin is soft. Drain the water, then blend the pumpkin with a blender to a pulp. Beat two eggs and combine with the pumpkin puree. Add the milk and oil. Then mix in the brown sugar and flour. Add baking powder, salt and pumpkin spice and mix until smooth. Pour the batter into a loaf pan and bake at 180°C for about 1 hour, then let cool. For the frosting, mix 120 g cream cheese with 60 g softened butter, 100 g powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of milk. Spread the frosting onto the pumpkin bread and enjoy.