I Asked 3 Pro Bakers for Their Favorite Pumpkin Spice, and This Is the Only One I’ll Buy From Now On

Pumpkin spice may be the unofficial flavor of the fall season, infiltrating all sorts of food from popcorn, bagels, and even Oreo cookies. Love it or hate it, as soon as the temperature hints at cooler weather, pumpkin spice returns to fill coffee shops, bakeries, and grocery stores with that familiar warm fragrance. In our home kitchens, it’s a convenient spice blend that’s perfect for pumpkin pies, muffins, pancakes, or cakes.

Browse the spice aisle of your local grocery stores in the fall, and you are likely to find several brands of pumpkin spice. But buying a new or unfamiliar brand of spice blend can feel like a bit of a guessing game, as you can’t be sure that its taste will meet your expectations. With that in mind, I reached out to a handful of professional bakers to ask for their favorite brand of pumpkin spice. To my surprise, they all picked the same recommendation, and even shared helpful tips for getting the most out of a jar of pumpkin spice.

Our Panel of Professional Bakers

What Is Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin spice (also known as pumpkin pie spice) is a blend of ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. It may also contain ground allspice. To make an easy, homemade pumpkin spice, you simply stir together the individual spices and keep them stored in an airtight container, like a Mason jar.

Most recipes and store-bought blends contain more ground cinnamon than other ingredients. Aside from that, the ratio can range from brand to brand of pumpkin spice. 

“Of course, if you want it to be a certain way, it’s extremely easy to make your own,” Sprung says. “If you don’t use the spices found in pumpkin spice often enough on their own, then just buying the blend will be the best option!”

The Best Brand of Pumpkin Spice, According to Pro Bakers

The experts provided a few of their favorite options for pumpkin pie spice, but the one common pick is from Simply Organic for two major reasons: The pros like this brand in particular because it’s readily available at many grocery stores, and it contains high-quality, organic spices. Other favorite picks included Frontier Co-Op, McCormick, Trader Joe’s, and Badia.

“My top choice is Frontier Co-Op Organic Pumpkin Spice or Simply Organic,” Council admits. “These both have the same blend of four spices that has the best mix, and I tested a lot [of spices] when I had my bake shop! It’s comforting, not too spicy, and perfectly cozy—everyone always loves it.”

Hosking agrees that Simply Organic is a great pick, telling me that she often uses McCormick brand spices, including blends like pumpkin spice, but appreciates that Simply Organic delivers great quality and is available in most grocery stores. “We love incorporating [pumpkin spice] into a variety of offerings and seasonal treats, from our pumpkin spice muffins to the pumpkin spice latte,” she adds.

Sprung says she likes the affordability of brands like Trader Joe’s and Badia, in addition to Simply Organic. She makes this point, however: “To be very honest, you’re not eating pumpkin spice on its own, so they’re all going to be pretty similar in your final result.”

How to Get the Most Out of Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin spice has a very distinct, assertive flavor and aroma. As such, Hosking notes that it’s important not to overdo it. “My best advice is that a little goes a long way,” she says. “Good quality ingredients make all the difference in the end.”

Hosking also assures that if you keep your pumpkin spice stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, it will preserve the quality, taste, and shelf life for several months. “After that, they’re still safe to use, but the flavor and aroma start to fade. A good rule of thumb is to check the color and scent—if it looks dull or doesn’t smell very fragrant, it’s probably time to replace it.”

According to Council, if you plan to use only a small amount of the spice blend for a single recipe once a year, it may not make sense to purchase a premade blend. If you need a teaspoon or so of pie spice, consider making a small amount of your own using the separate ground spices mentioned above. 

“Spices will stay fresh for about a year, but if you buy a whole spice jar of pumpkin spice to make just a couple things a year, it can be wasteful as you’re tossing it before you need it again,” Council says. “If you make your own, you have half the recipe if you won’t use as much.”