Making Apple Pie Spice

It's apple season (as Wednesday’s post will attest)!  What a great time of the year for long walks in the country soaking up all of the beautiful fall color, and trips to the farm to pick your own apples for scrumptious fall baking.

The first thing you’re going to need in order to make use of the wonderful apple recipes that are cropping up (if you'll pardon the pun) is apple pie spice.  As with pumpkin pie spice, there is no need to buy it, just create your own blend from the spices that you already have on your shelf.   The photo above provides the proportions, the written recipe is below.  This makes about 3 tablespoons.  You can double it, triple it, or even cut it in half, depending upon your projected use.  You can also put a heaping tablespoon into a pan of water, along with apple peelings, and a few cloves, and simmer it on the stove to give your home a wonderful fall scent.

Apple Pie Spice

(Makes about 3 tablespoons)

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

Stir together and store in an airtight jar.

This post is linked to:

Seasonal Sunday

On the Menu Monday

Metamorphosis Monday

Wow Us Wednesday

Tutorial Tips & Tidbits

Applesauce Spice Muffins

One nice thing about being stuck inside during snowy weather is that I have time to make muffins for breakfast in the morning.  These are particular favorites because they can be mixed by hand, so no dragging out the mixer, and the recipe only makes six, so I'm not overwhelmed with more muffins than we can possibly eat, and end up having to freeze the majority of them.  The fragrance that comes out of the kitchen when they are baking will make you weak at the knees.  This combination of spices scents the house so beautifully that you'll wish in came in candle form.

Applesauce Spice Muffins

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

5-1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Topping:

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 6-cup jumbo muffin pan.  In a medium mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together egg and brown sugar until thoroughly combined, then slowly add butter, whisking until mixture is creamy. Stir in applesauce, then fold in flour mixture until flour is just moistened. Stir in nuts.  Using an ice cream scoop, fill the six cavities in your jumbo muffin pan equally with the mixture.  Stir together topping ingredients and sprinkle on top of muffins. Bake until muffins are puffed and golden, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly before removing muffins from pan, and then cool thoroughly on a wire rack.

This is linked to Real Food Wednesdays.