DIY Spice Blends & Homemade Seasonings

Here's how and why to mix your own spice blends and homemade seasonings, including recipes for my own favorite blends like Cajun Seasoning, Garam Masala and even Pumpkin Pie Spice. It's fast, it's easy, saving time and money.

Budget Friendly, Another Great Way to Save Money on Groceries. Mix and Match the Spices, Making Only What You Need With Spices You Already Have On Hand. A Mainstay in a The Homemade Pantry.

~ PIN This Page ~

~ Skip Straight to the Recipes ~

You've Got Spices, Use 'Em!

Grocery stores and specialty spice shops put premium prices on jars of mixed spices. Many of the blends, especially the savory spice blends, also include an inordinate amount of salt which means you're paying a super-premium for simple ordinary salt!

So when you need a spice blend, skip the grocery-store spice rack and stir together your own blends. It's fast, it's easy and here are four great reasons to do-it-yourself.

• Make it to order, just enough for one recipe or enough to fill a spice jar, usually either 4 tablespoons for a small jar or 8 tablespoons for a tall jar.
• Make it to taste, leaving out the spices you don't like, using more of your favorites.
• Make it without salt, allowing for seasoning to taste later.
• Make it with spices already on hand without a special search or grocery run.

---

MY SIGNATURE SPICE & HERB BLENDS
My Spice Rub NEW!

DIY Herb Blend for Herb Bread

Pumpkin Pie Spice

SWEET SPICE BLENDS
Cinnamon Sugar NEW!

Pumpkin Pie Spice

SAVORY SPICE & HERB BLENDS
My Spice Rub NEW!

Cajun Seasoning

Creole Seasoning

DIY Herb Blend for Herb Bread

Garam Masala

Homemade Curry Powder

Homemade Poultry Seasoning

Homemade Pickling Spice

Ras el Hanout

Spiced Tuscan Salt

---

CAJUN SEASONING I

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Time-to-table: 5 minutes
Makes 4+ tablespoons

• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt (assumes Morton's)
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Just stir together! Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year or so.

FIRST PUBLISHED HERE
• Cornmeal Catfish with Warm Potato Salad A Quick Supper for late summer and early fall.

---

CAJUN SEASONING II

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Time-to-table: 5 minutes
Makes 2 tablespoons

• 1-1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1-1/2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon oregano

Just stir together! Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year or so.

FIRST PUBLISHED HERE
• Old-Fashioned Southern Brunswick Stew An old-fashioned southern tradition for election gatherings.

ALSO USED HERE
• Big Cajun Chopped Salad

---

CINNAMON & SUGAR

Hands-on time: 1 minute1
Time-to-table: 1 minute
Makes 4 tablespoons

• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons sugar

Just stir together! Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year or so.

FIRST PUBLISHED HERE
• Cinnamon Sugar Cookies (Snickerdoodles)

---

CREOLE SEASONING

Hands-on time: 10 minutes
Time-to-table: 10 minutes
Makes about 7 tablespoons

• 3 teaspoons paprika
• 3 teaspoons smoked paprika (pimentón)
• 3 teaspoons onion powder
• 3 teaspoons garlic powder or granulated garlic
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 2 teaspoons thyme
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• Cayenne to taste
• Salt to taste

Just stir together! Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year or so.

Please note that this blend does not specify amounts for either salt or cayenne so that these important ingredients may be added to taste. I leave them out of the blend itself, then season each recipe to taste. Both ways work!

FIRST USED HERE
• Perfect Thick Pork Chops Turn out juicy, perfectly cooked meat every time.

---

DIY HERB BLEND for HERB BREAD

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Time-to-table: 5 minutes
Makes a generous 4 tablespoons, enough for about two pounds of bread dough

• 4 teaspoons onion powder
• 4 teaspoons dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon ground anise
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground caraway
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill (whole or ground)
• 1/2 teaspoon marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
• 1/2 teaspoon dried savory
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (whole or ground)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Just stir together! Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year or so.

FIRST PUBLISHED HERE
• DIY Herb Blend for Homemade Herb Bread The twelve herbs I use for herb bread.

ALSO USED HERE
• Our Daily Bread: My Easy Everyday Bread Recipe An easy, European-style bread I make every few days.
• Easy Everyday Bread for the Stand Mixer Better bread, no kneading by hand!

---

GARAM MASALA

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Time-to-table: 5 minutes
Makes scant 3 tablespoons

• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1-1/2 teaspoons coriander
• 1-1/2 teaspoons cardamom
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/3 teaspoon cloves
• 1/3 teaspoon nutmeg

Just stir together! Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year or so.

FIRST PUBLISHED HERE
• Afghan Chicken & Rice Casserole (Kabeli Palau) Unusual, amazing combination of ingredients.

ALSO USED HERE
• Vegetable Pulao (Indian Rice & Vegetables) with Tomato Raita
• Hot & Sour Chickpeas (Chana Masala)

---

HOMEMADE CURRY POWDER

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Time-to-table: 5 minutes
Makes about 10 tablespoons

• 2 tablespoons coriander
• 2 tablespoons cumin
• 2 tablespoons turmeric
• 2 tablespoons ginger
• 1 tablespoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon clove
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom

Just stir together! Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year or so.

USED HERE
• Cashew Chicken Curry Reminiscent of London's curbside curry take-away.

---

HOMEMADE POULTRY SEASONING

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Time-to-table: 5 minutes
Makes about 12 tablespoons (3/4 cup)

• 1 teaspoon ground sage
• 1 teaspoon ground thyme or thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon rosemary
• 1 teaspoon marjoram

Just stir together! Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year or so.

FIRST PUBLISHED HERE
• Sausage Stuffing (Turkey Dressing) My grandmother's recipe for sausage stuffing.

---

HOMEMADE PICKLING SPICE

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Time-to-table: 5 minutes
Makes about 12 tablespoons (3/4 cup)

• 2 tablespoons black peppercorns
• 2 tablespoons mustard seeds
• 2 tablespoons coriander seed
• 2 tablespoons dill seed
• 2 tablespoons allspice berries
• 1 tablespoon red pepper flake
• 10-12 crushed bay leaves

Just stir together! Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year or so.

FIRST PUBLISHED HERE
• Ripe-Tomato Relish with Peaches & Pears (Sharon's Pickle)

---

MY SPICE RUB

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Time-to-table: 5 minutes
Makes 3/4 cup (I usually make a double batch)

Please See My Spice Rub

FIRST PUBLISHED HERE
• My Spice Rub

---

PUMPKIN PIE SPICE

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Time-to-table: 5 minutes
Makes 4-1/2 teaspoons

• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3/4 teaspoon allspice
• 3/4 teaspoon cardamom
• 1/8 teaspoon clove, optional

Just stir together! Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year or so.

FIRST PUBLISHED HERE
• Pumpkin Spice Lattes Fall's favorite coffee drink, made at home with real ingredients.

ALSO USED HERE
• Mini Pumpkin Pies
• Creamy Pumpkin Steel-Cut Oats
• Pumpkin Pancakes
• Pumpkin Granola
• Pumpkin Dip
• Baked Pumpkin Donuts & Donut Holes
• No-Bake Pumpkin Cream Pie
• Pumpkin Fruitcake

---

RAS el HANOUT

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Time-to-table: 5 minutes
Makes 5 tablespoons

• 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon turmeric
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons cardamon
• 2 teaspoons cloves

Just stir together! Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year or so.

FIRST PUBLISHED HERE
• Red Rice with Tomatoes A lovely rouge-tinted vegan summer side dish. (PIN This)

---

SPICED TUSCAN SALT

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Time-to-table: 5 minutes
Makes about 4 tablespoons

• 4 teaspoons peppercorns
• 2 teaspoons fennel seed
• 2 teaspoons coriander seed
• Small dash red pepper flakes
• Small dash dried lemon peel

• 4 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon turbinado sugar

In a mini food processor, grind all except the salt and sugar, then combine. Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year or so.

FIRST PUBLISHED HERE
• Milk-Braised Pork Roast Be it ever so humble, milky good.

Bookmark! PIN! Share!

How do you save and share favorite recipes? recipes that fit your personal cooking style? a particular recipe your mom or daughter or best friend would just love? If this useful page inspires you, please do save and share! I'd be honored ...

Top of Page

---

© Copyright Kitchen Parade
2020, 2023 & 2024^9.11