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Autumn Spices you need in your pantry

ByMeggen Wilson Posted on Updated on

Here is my list of 25 spices, herbs and extracts for the perfect pantry this fall baking season.

Sweet or Savory- here is the list of Autumn Spices you need in your pantry this fall:

Leaning towards sweet:

  • Cinnamon- sweet, warm, floral
  • Whole or ground cloves- heat, warm, earthy
  • Cardamom- Floral, sweet
  • Ginger ground- earthy, heat, warm
  • Whole nutmeg- warm, floral, sweet
  • Allspice- earthy, warm
five silver teaspoons filed with spices

The Savory list:

  • Cumin- earthy, warm
  • Smoked paprika- earthy, warm, floral
  • Rose Harissa- earthy, floral, warm
  • Fennel seeds- citrus, bright, warm, herbal
  • Mustard Powder- earthy, umami
  • Sage- pine, herbal
  • Smoked flaked salt- warm, earthy
  • Thyme-herbal, piney
  • Turmeric- nutty, earthy and warm
  • Chili powder- heat, warm, earthy
  • peppercorns- rose, warm, earthy, citrus

And extracts, syrups and vinegars to consider for Fall Baking:

  • Pure maple syrup- not pancake syrup
  • Molasses
  • Premium Vanilla Extract
  • Lemon extract
  • Maple sugar
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Red wine vinegar
three sterling silver spoons with spices in them

Tips about Storing Spices:

  • Never buy the large plastic bulk containers of spices (except salt) from Costco or wholesale clubs. Spices lose most of their flavor within 3 months due to oxygen and heat exposure.
  • When you buy your spices, always buy the smallest jar. Label the date you opened it with a sharpie.
  • Buy whole spices- they last longer. An investment in a spice grinder will pay off with the money you’ll save form not tossing out old ground spices.
  • Before Fall balking season begins, pull out all your spices, toss anything that is more than 6 months old. Salt is the exception. Ditto on your baking sodas and powers. Extracts typically last a very long time because of the alcohol content, but it’s always a good idea to check the label. Treat yourself to a premium vanilla or seasoned sea salt this fall to “spice” up you spice cabinet.

Where I purchase my Spice Collection:

  1. World Spice Market– Pike Market in Seattle. You can buy small amounts, teas, interesting salts and more. Lots of great offers for online shopping.
  2. Roseaur’s Huckleberry’s Organic Market/ Sprouts Market– many organic grocery stores sell bulk or organic spice blends. This is a great way to try out an exotic spice without spending a lot of money on an entire jar you may only use a few times a year.
  3. Penzey’s- an incredible selection of every spice under the sun with lots of different sized jars and sampler packs.
  4. The Spice House– Beautiful packaging. Great blends. Lots of seasonal options
a small grey plate with spices and cloves of raw garlic

A few recipes that lean into interesting Autumn spices:

a collection of vanilla products from Pine & palm Kitchen

My love for entertaining began when I was in seventh grade and threw a surprise party for my mother (I did have to fess up about it so she could buy the wine).

I have been blissfully married to Hunky Hubbie for 34 years. We have three brilliant adult daughters (all of whom are off the company payroll) as well as two incredible son-in-laws, and one “they’ve been dating for 12 years — will they or won’t they?” honorary son-in-law.

For the last 20 years, we’ve split our time between our home in Northwest Montana and our downsized dream house in Winter Park, Florida, but in 2022 we loaded up the wagons and decided to “Go West”, making Montana our full time home.

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