Homemade British Mixed Spice
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Makes about 1/4 cup of Mixed Spice.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon quality ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground allspice
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground coriander
3/4 teaspoon ground mace
Directions:
Combine all spices in an airtight glass jar and keep stored in a dark, cool place for up to several months.
Notes:
What is Mixed Spice?
The term “mixed spice” for this popular British spice blend has been referenced in cookbooks since at least the early 1800s. It’s especially popular in baked goods (thus also called “cake spice”) during the Christmas season, where it’s used in a variety of holiday baked desserts, including English Christmas pudding, thus also commonly called “pudding spice.”
Mixed spice is similar to gingerbread and pumpkin spice blends in other countries in its choice of spices and has a warm and sweet-spicy flavor and fragrance.
If you enjoy British holiday baking, Mixed Spice is absolutely essential to have in your spice cabinet. It can be challenging to find it outside of the UK and Commonwealth countries. Many people here in the U.S., for example, will just substitute gingerbread spice or pumpkin spic,e but as I mentioned before, it is not the same.
The difference is subtle, but there is a difference, and if you’re after that authentic British flavor, stick with Mixed Spice.
How to Use It:
Mixed Spice is used in a variety of cakes, puddings, pies, breads and buns, cookies, pancakes, cupcakes, gingerbreads, and fruit salads.
For a unique flavor boost, you can substitute this blend for anything that calls for cinnamon. You can also get creative with savory dishes, like adding it to stuffing mixes for your turkey or using it as a seasoning for roast chicken.
Recipe courtesy of Daring Gourmet.com