Pumpkin Pie Spice mix

Pumpkin spice usage has blown up in recent years.

Gone are the days where you only needed it for Pumpkin Pie. Now people make and eat pumpkin flavored everything.  Lattes, Ice cream, Cookies, and Baked goods are all jazzed up with Pumpkin Spice.

If you've caught onto the craze like I have, you'll be making some of these treats at home, and that means you need your own recipe for Pumpkin Spice.

I know it seems easier to just buy a premade 'Pumpkin Spice' mix at the store, but ...

1.  It's not that much more work to make your own.
2. You get to customize the spice mix so it's completely you.
3. Its better for your health. More on that in a minute....

I find a lot of premade mixes have too high of a clove or all spice ratios. When those spices are too strong it's off putting and can ruin your recipe. When you buy a premade mix you have no control of the spice ratio.

It also insures you're using the right kind of Cinnamon.

True Cinnamon is called Ceylon Cinnamon and it's sweeter than the more common Cassia or Chinese Cinnamon. Other than flavor, why is this important?

Because all varieties of Cinnamon contain a natural compound called Coumarin which is known to cause liver and kidney damage when consumed in high quantities. Research has found that Cassia, on average, contains 63 times more Coumarin than Ceylon. That means you can safely eat more Pumpkin spice goodies if they are made with Ceylon Cinnamon.

I buy this bag of Ceylon Cinnamon every couple of years.  I used it in this recipe and any other time I need a Cinnamon fix.

So, go forth with your Pumpkin Spice loving and do it right. Make your own and use real Cinnamon...

You can use pumpkin spice in these delicious recipes:

• Pumpkin Coffee Cake
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Pumpkin Doughnuts