Pain d’Epices Spice Blend
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A highly fragrant and flavorful seasoning blend to give your gingerbread creations an authentic French flavor! This pain d’épices spice blend recipe is exactly what you need to make a whole host of traditional French breads, cakes and bakes!
When it comes to spice and seasoning blends the old adage was never more true: Homemade is always BEST!
This pain d’épices blend (French gingerbread spice mix) comes together in just a snap and you can have it on hand whenever you need it. Use this blend in any recipe calling for gingerbread seasonings for an authentic French flavor.
Wonderfully fragrant and flavorful, use this seasoning to create your own gingerbread-flavored baked goods like muffins, cakes, cookies, pancakes, waffles and more!
And of course, you GOT to use this blend to make these iconic Nonnettes (French Gingerbread Cakes)!
Pain d’Epices Spice Blend Recipe
Let’s get started!
Place the ground and whole spices in a coffee or spice grinder and grind until it’s a smooth powder. Your French gingerbread spice blend is ready in a snap!
Keep your pain d’épices spice blend in an airtight jar away from direct sunlight or hot temperatures. Best used within a few months but for optimal flavor use within a couple of weeks.
Enjoy!
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Pain d’Epices Spice Blend
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 4 whole star anise
- 4 whole green cardamoms , seeds removed (shells discarded)
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground mace
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon anise seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
Instructions
- Place all the spices in a coffee or spice grinder and grind until it’s a smooth powder. Store in an airtight jar away from direct sunlight or hot temperatures. Best used within a few months but for optimal flavor use within a couple of weeks. Makes about 4 tablespoons.
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
Just the right balance to create delicious sweets and more!
Thank you, Carrie, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Kimberly firstly thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes they always turn out except one & that was my fault. Say no more. My partner cannot stand the flavour of anise seeds, what would you substitute this with or, should I just leave it out altogether?
Thank you, Denise, I really appreciate the compliment <3 There really isn't a substitute for anise so yes, you can simply omit it.
Hi Kimberly,
I have pre-made Pain d’Epices (G. Detou, Paris)–can I use that or does it not contain the same spice mix? I know there are MANY versions of this spice. Can’t wait to make these for the holidays.
Hi Toni, yes you can definitely use that. Happy baking!
Your recipe calls for star anise and anise. Aren’t these one in the same?
Hi Sara, no, there’s star anise and there is anise seed. And anise seed is not the same thing as the seeds in star anise :) It’s utterly confusing I know, but yes, they’re actually an entirely different spice with an entirely different flavor profile.
So how much of this blend does one use in making gingerbread or other recipes?
Hi Nancy, you’ll use whatever amount the gingerbread recipe or any other recipe calls for. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, and 1/2 teaspoon of ginger, that’s a total of 2 teaspoons and you can substitute 2 teaspoons of this pain d’epices spice blend in their place.
Would this work good with Pumpkin Pie? I am thinking YES….what do you think?
It sure will, Lori. Definitely a more complex flavor profile than standard pumpkin spice but why not add some more life and interest, right? :) Happy baking! :)
This looks so good! What a great combination of flavors!
I grind my cardamom from organic seeds. Would that be a good sub for the green pods?
Hi Gael, you don’t use the outer green pod. Remove the seeds from the pod and discard the pod.