Pumpkin Spice Season is Here!

Fall is officially here! And whether you love it or hate, that means pumpkin and pumpkin spice products are everywhere. Each year new seasonal products line the shelves of your grocery store. You can find cookies, breads, cereals, yogurt, sauces, and coffee (to name a few) with flavors of pumpkin and spice.

If you’re like me, and love everything pumpkin spice, it’s easy to go over budget at the grocery store. If I’m not careful, I stock my cart with way too many seasonal items that aren’t on my grocery list. These impulse buys add up quickly, and I spend more than anticipated.

This year I’ve decided to save money by making my own pumpkin spice flavored foods. It’s actually pretty easy, and you only need a couple ingredients: canned or fresh pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice.

Once you have these ingredients, you can get creative making both sweet and savory recipes. The USDA Mixing Bowl has a variety of budget-friendly pumpkin recipes, and here are a few ideas to try. Top these Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes with apples and bananas to start your day with both fruits and vegetables. Warm up with bowl of Pumpkin Chili on a cool night. Make this Pumpkin Pudding for a delicious dessert. The recipe calls for pumpkin pie spice, which can be purchased at the store or made at home using ingredients that you likely have in your pantry.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ginger
• 2 teaspoons nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cloves

Mix together all ingredients and store in a spice jar or container.

Enjoy these recipes and share your favorite pumpkin recipes in the comments!