Mixed Spice Recipe
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This homemade mixed spice recipe is ideal for non-UK bakers who want to try their hand at traditional British recipes like hot cross buns and bara brith, but can’t easily purchase jarred mixed spice at the supermarket.
What Inspired This Homemade Mixed Spice Recipe?
Mixed spice is a traditional British spice blend commonly used in baking recipes, including bara brith, mince pies (or mincemeat hand pies!), Christmas pudding, gingerbread, and hot cross buns. It consists of ground spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, mace, ginger, cloves, and coriander. (It’s similar to American pumpkin spice, but with a distinctly British flavor profile) UK cooks have been using this combination of spices since the early 1800s, but I didn’t discover it until after arriving in the UK for pastry school in 2019. It quickly became a staple ingredient in my kitchen cabinet, and these days I add mixed spice to everything from cakes and cookies to overnight oats, and even my morning cup of coffee.
In London, it’s easy to buy jarred mixed spice from any supermarket. (I usually get mine from Sainsbury’s, or Waitrose if I’m feeling fancy.) But in the US, where mixed spice (and its cousin, mixed peel!) isn’t nearly as ubiquitous, I make my own blend using the recipe below. I think of it as the reverse of everything bagel seasoning and pumpkin spice—both super easy to find in America, but much harder to source on the other side of the pond!
Ingredients for Making Homemade Mixed Spice
To make this homemade mixed spice recipe, you’ll need the following ground spices: Ground allspice, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground mace, ground coriander, ground cloves, and ground ginger:
Ingredients for making homemade mixed spice
Choose fresh, good-quality spices for homemade mixed spice. Ground spices lose their potency over time, so while the ancient jars at the back may still be safe to use, they won’t add the same depth and complexity to your baking. For best results, replace ground spices annually and store the jars in a cool, dark place.
How to Use Homemade Mixed Spice
Add homemade mixed spice to traditional British bakes like bara brith, hot cross buns, and Christmas pudding. (BBC Food has an excellent compilation of recipes using mixed spice.) Stir mixed spice into porridge, oatmeal, or overnight oats. Blend it into smoothies in lieu of cinnamon, or add a pinch to ground coffee for a spice-infused brew. Mixed spice also makes a great addition to fruit pies and crumbles, homemade granola, pancakes, cookies, muffins, and other baked goods.
Tips and Tricks
- Make a big batch. This mixed spice recipe can easily be doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled.
- Fresh is best. For maximum flavor, make homemade mixed spice with fresh, good-quality ground spices.
- Give it away. Homemade mixed spice makes a lovely gift for baking enthusiasts.
- Store appropriately. To keep mixed spice fresh, invest in good, lidded jars or airtight storage containers. (I like these pretty glass spice jars.) For gifting, you can even design and print your own personalized labels.
Mixed Spice
- Total Time5 minutes
- Yield15 grams (about 3 tablespoons) 1x
A homemade version of mixed spice, a traditional British spice blend.
Ingredients
1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground mace
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl.
Store homemade mixed spice in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Miscellaneous
- Cuisine: British
Other British Recipes You Might Enjoy
Bara Brith
Eton Mess
Bourbon Biscuits
Lemon Posset
Oreo Rocky Road
Party Rings
Homemade Mixed Peel
And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!
