Wondering how to make gingerbread spice? This easy recipe will take you through the essential spices, so you can make it at home. Homemade gingerbread spice mix is a Christmas essential, and makes lovely gifts too!
What’s Christmas without gingerbread?! Have some festive fun and make your own gingerbread spice mix at home. It’s perfect for adding that extra special touch to your baking.
German gingerbread spice is known as Lebkuchengewürz, which is what we based this recipe on.
You can easily increase the batch size to make more spice mix to give as gifts. Fill into washed and dried old spice jars, tie with a fancy ribbon and label and you’ve got a lovely gift to add to a hamper, or share with all your foodie friends.
For more great ideas, check out our Vegan Gift Guide!
Ingredient tips
There’s eight different spices in our gingerbread spice mix:
- Nutmeg
- Star anise
- Allspice
- Cardamom
- Coriander
- Ginger
- Cloves
- Cinnamon
You can use already ground spices for speed and convenience, or grind your own.
Using whole spices
If you have a spice grinder, or are very patient with a pestle and mortar, you can make your gingerbread spice with whole spices.
With whole cardamom, you’ll want to remove the pod and just grind the seeds. And with nutmeg you’ll find a grater works well.
If you want to make everything from scratch, you can even dry your own ginger!
Peel and very finely slice some fresh ginger, spread it on a baking tray and dry in the oven at 80ºC / 175ºF until crisp and totally dry. Time need is approximately 2 ½ hours, but will vary depending on your oven and the thickness of your slices, so watch it carefully.
To bring out more flavour, you can gently toast the whole spices in a dry skillet until they become fragrant. Take care not to over toast them as this can bring bitterness.
What is the difference between gingerbread spice, pumpkin spice and mixed spice?
All three spice blends typically contain cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. Mixed spice also sometime contains coriander and allspice.
But a gingerbread spice blend usually also has star anise and cardamom which each bring their own unique flavour to the mix.
The proportions of the spices in each mix also vary and this can have a big effect on the overall taste.
Recipe ideas
You can use your homemade gingerbread spice to add a warm and rich flavour in so many recipes. Here’s some ideas:
- Try our yummy vegan lebkuchen recipe
- Make some gingerbread men
- Add to a fruit in a pie or crumble
- Use in place of cinnamon for a more festive touch
- Add it to these pancakes (gingerbread and apple is a great combination)
- Make a gingerbread spiced latte, or add it to some hot chocolate
We hope you enjoy this gingerbread spice recipe and have fun making some tasty things with it!
For some more delicious festive recipes, check out our:
Vegan Christmas Recipe Collection for lots of ideas
These totally yummy Vegan Vanillekipferl Cookies from Austria
And this easy Rice Pudding (would be nice with some gingerbread spice!)
📖 Recipe
Homemade Gingerbread Spice
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp ground allspice
- 1 tsp ground star anise
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Combine all the ground spices and mix through. For a richer flavour, use whole spices - grind them in a spice grinder or pestle and mortar and then measure them.4 tbsp ground cinnamon, 1 tbsp ground cloves, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp ground cardamom, 1 tsp ground allspice, 1 tsp ground star anise, ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- Transfer to a spice jar and store in a cool, dark place.
Notes
Proportions of spice
The amounts are based on a German gingerbread spice blend. You can vary the proportions of spices to your tastes and preferences.Using whole spices
If you have a spice grinder, or are very patient with a pestle and mortar, you can make your gingerbread spice with whole spices, or a use a mix of some whole and some already ground spices. To bring out more flavour, you can gently toast the whole spices in a dry skillet until they become fragrant. Take care not to over toast them as this can bring bitterness. With whole cardamom, you’ll want to remove the pod and just grind the seeds. And with whole nutmeg you’ll find a grater works well. If you want to make everything from scratch, you can even dry your own ginger! Instructions in the post above.Nutrition
This information is calculated per serving and is an estimate only.
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