Around Christmas, there is no way to get around this spice mix when baking – a Gingerbread Spice Mix can be used for many baked goods. Many supermarkets sell the spice mix these days, but with a few common spices you can mix your own blend quickly and easily at home. Without gingerbread spice, the Christmas season would be only half as delicious ;)
Gingerbread spice is a mixture of various aromatic spices that is often used in Christmas baking. The spice mixture has been around for baked goods since the Middle Ages. If you’re thinking of gingerbread here, you’re right. It’s only logical that the mixture got the name from the bake it was created for ;P
Some of you may be wondering what the advantage is of mixing the spices yourself rather than using a spice mix from the supermarket. Well… there are several reasons.
If you only want to use gingerbread spice for baking once in a blue moon, you are probably better off mixing a small batch of this spice yourself at home. Although the recipe below gets you quite a lot of the spice mix, you can, of course, mix only a fraction of it. For example, instead of using 2 teaspoons, you can use only 1/2 teaspoon of a spice, instead of 1 teaspoon only 1/4 teaspoon, and so on. You don’t have to be super precise here, tbh. As long as you keep a similar ratio, it will work.
You can easily adjust the recipe in terms of quantity and only mix the amount you need for your bake. Using individual spices from the kitchen cupboard usually results in a more flavorful mixture than a spice mix from the supermarket. The mixes you can buy are made to be sold over a long period of time. What you buy could be in the store for months already. Mixing your spice blend at home and requires fresh spices, of course, in order to be »fresher« than the stuff from the store. If you use spices that have been sitting in your cupboard for years, you will not get more flavor compared to the ready-made product ;P
The best argument for mixing the spices at home yourself, in my opinion, is money ;P Companies that sell spice mixes want to make money. Nothing wrong about that. But… take a look at spice mixes that are mainly salt – aka. Seasoned salt, for example. They slap a fancy name on the container, add 90% salt plus some cheap spices and then sell it to you with a hefty upcharge. Who needs a spice mix to season »tomato and mozzarella« or »fried potatoes« which is in both cases mostly salt and pepper? Nobody ;P
Ready-made gingerbread spice is pretty much the same here – more expensive and mostly cheap cinnamon. Some people will no doubt say »but if I have to buy all the spices separately first, I will pay much more…«. Yes! If you buy everything individually and then leave it all in the cupboard and never use it again, there’s no point in mixing it yourself. But if you already have most of the spices at home or if you cook and bake a lot and like to season your food, the homemade version is simply cheaper in the long run ;P
I use gingerbread spice in various Christmas recipes. In case you mixed yourself a whole container – don’t worry, you will definitely find some recipes here to use all of that spice mix. When you’re done here, make my Nürnberger Lebkuchen – a classic Christmas bake that would not be the same without this spice mixture here. Where else can you use the spice mix? For my Polka Dot Gingerbread Cookies, for example. There are individual spices listed in the recipe, but you can simply use this mixture here instead.
Gingerbread spice is mixed together from just a few spices. Here are the most common spices needed for the spice blend:
Cinnamon
No gingerbread spice without cinnamon! It is the spice with the largest proportion in the spice mix and therefore the most dominant flavor. Cinnamon gives the spice blend the warmth we all want for Christmas.
Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices known to mankind. Cinnamon is obtained from the bark of trees – you probably knew that already. When buying cinnamon, you should make sure you buy Ceylon cinnamon instead of Cassia cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is of higher quality and contains almost no coumarin (unlike cassia cinnamon), which is considered harmful in large quantities.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is an all-rounder in the kitchen. Nutmeg can be used for cooking and baking. The spice has a warm, slightly nutty note that refines and rounds off the flavors of many dishes and pastries. When it comes to nutmeg, it is always better to buy them in whole and then grate off the required amount. Ground nutmeg loses its flavor very quickly.
Cardamom
Cardamom is available in two versions – green or black. We mainly use green cardamom for cooking and baking. The flavor is sweet and spicy and can be used in many pastries and dishes. Swedish yeast buns would only be half as tasty without cardamom!
Cloves
Cloves are the dried buds of the clove tree. You can buy cloves as entire buds or already ground. They provide a slightly hot and spicy flavor in the spice mix.
Allspice
Allspice has many names around the world – in Europe, the spice is also known as Piment, clove pepper or Jamaica pepper. In English-speaking countries, the spice is known as »allspice«. The name Piment(a) or clove pepper is based on a confusion with the spice pepper. Colonists who settled in Central America and the Caribbean were probably no experts and thought they were dealing with real pepper ;P
Star anise/aniseed
Star anise is a spice that is cultivated in the tropics. The spice is not only used in Christmas baking, it is also very popular in Asian cuisine. Five-Spice would only be Four-Spice without star anise ;P
The flavor of aniseed is quite similar to star anise, but it is a completely different plant species. Star anise has a slightly sharper and more intense flavor, whereas aniseed is a little sweeter. However, both can be used for gingerbread spice.
Ginger
Ginger is something you know from many Asian dishes. The roots (or better said the rhizomes) of the ginger plant are often used to add some spiciness to a dish. Powdered ginger is also suitable for baking. However, you should always use it sparingly, as the ginger flavor can quickly take over ;)
INGREDIENTS / ZUTATEN
(1 glass)
2 tbsp. ground cinnamon*
2 tsp. ground nutmeg*
2 tsp. ground cardamom*
1 tsp. ground cloves*
1 tsp. ground allspice*
1 tsp. ground aniseed*
1/2 tsp. ginger powder*
FAQs
What’s the self life of homemade gingerbread spice?
Up to one year if stored correctly.
Can I customize the ingredients to my taste?
Yes, that’s the advantage of a homemade mix! Big fan of aniseed? Then add more to the mix and make it your own!
Which spices can I leave out?
You can leave out cloves, allspice, or the ginger powder if you prefer a milder mixture.
Is the gingerbread spice only suitable for desserts?
No, it’s also perfect for savory dishes – dark sauces become really delicious with a little bit of gingerbread spice!
Where is the best place to store gingerbread spice?
In an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Ideally protected from light.
DIRECTIONS / ZUBEREITUNG
1. Mix all the spices together and store in an airtight container (preferably not translucent).
1. Alle Gewürze vermischen und in einem luftdichten Behälter (möglichst nicht lichtdurchlässig) lagern.
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Homemade Gingerbread Spice Mix
- Prep Time: 00:01
- Cook Time: 00:00
- Total Time: 00:01
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Homemade
- Cuisine: Germany
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Gingerbread spice is an essential Christmas spice mix and so easy to do at home – use it for baking, drinks, and much more…
Ingredients
2 tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 tsp. ground cardamom
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ground allspice
1 tsp. ground aniseed
1/2 tsp. ginger powder
Instructions
Mix all the spices together and store in an airtight container (preferably not translucent).
Notes
Make something amazing in the kitchen!
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