Is it just hype or should the spice be left to lattes and pies?
Every year around this time we start to see all sorts of food promotions featuring “pumpkin spice” flavoring. For whatever reason, this spice concoction evolved beyond the essential seasoning of pumpkin pie and ended up in lattes, drinks, pastries, snacks and dog food, just to name a few. What’s good? What’s not? We set out to find the most bizarre pumpkin spice- flavored recipes on the internet and curated a small sampling for you. We had to wonder: Is this recipe a trick? Or is it a memorable treat?
What is Pumpkin Spice?
We found that few recipes actually call for “pumpkin spice” as an individual ingredient. You can buy it on the spice rack, or you can make it yourself, as we did. Essential to the blend are cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. Research showed specific percentages of each varied dramatically. So here’s our ideal pumpkin spice blend: 1 1/2 ginger (use pre-ground), 3 cinnamon sticks, 1 nutmeg, 1/4 all spice, 1/4 cloves (use any increments like teaspoons). Aside from the ginger, we ground all our own spices ourselves. Once you try this, you’ll never buy the pre-ground stuff again. Why? Side-by- side comparisons reveal virtually no aroma from pre-ground versus an aromatic symphony of the home-ground. Make a batch for the season and put it on everything. Let us know if you stumble upon an amazing recipe.
A Word About Pumpkin
All these recipes include canned pumpkin. Check the ingredients when purchasing. Pumpkin should be the only thing listed (no sugars, no spices). If you want to cook and mash up your own pumpkin, go for it. We didn’t. // by Troy McQuillen and Dani Daugherty
CLIICK ON THESE DELICIOUS RECIPES AND GIVE THEM A TRY! Pumpkin Spiced Caipirinha, Pumpkin Spiced Hot Chocolate, Pumpkin and Bacon Spiced Cupcakes, Pumpkin Spiced Chip Dip, and Pumpkin Spiced Ice Cream.
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