25 Autumn Spices you need in your pantry

Every fall, before I pull out my baking dishes and turn on the AGA for the season, I do one thing first: I audit my spice cabinet. Because nothing derails a perfect pumpkin bread or cozy pot of chili faster than stale spices. This is my curated list of 25 essential autumn spices, herbs, and extracts: the ones I reach for from September through the holidays, along with tips on storing them, where to buy quality versions and blends, and the recipes that put them to work.

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

three sterling silver spoons with spices in them

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

a bottle of Wild Montana Foods Vanilla Extract

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

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 from 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.

a small grey plate with spices and cloves of raw garlic

Where I purchase my Spice Collection:

World Spice Market– Pike Market in Seattle. You can buy small amounts, teas, interesting salts and more. Lots of great offers for online shopping.
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 a specialty spice without spending a lot of money on an entire jar you may only use a few times a year.
Penzey’s- an incredible selection of every spice under the sun with lots of different sized jars and sampler packs.
The Spice House– Beautiful packaging. Great blends. Lots of seasonal options

a bowl of mayonnaise and yogurt in an earthenware bowl with a mound of curry and turmeric on top of the mixture

A few recipes that lean into interesting Autumn spices:

Masala Chai Latte– cardamom, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, peppercorns
6 Spice Gingerbread Bundt Cake– cloves, allspice, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon
5- Spice Blackened Shrimp – cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, ginger, Old Bay or Cajun blend
Simple Spiced Pumpkin Bread with Streusel Topping -cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger
Homemade Taco Seasoning Blend- cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, coriander, paprika, red pepper flakes, peppercorns
Curry Chicken Salad with Cashews and Mango– curry, turmeric, granulated garlic