Substitutions / allspice
What to use instead of allspice
Use pumpkin pie spice in equal amounts. A blend that mimics allspice's warm complexity but adds cinnamon and nutmeg notes, which may shift the flavor slightly.
Every option, best first
| Use instead | How much | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin pie spice | 1:1 | A blend that mimics allspice's warm complexity but adds cinnamon and nutmeg notes, which may shift the flavor slightly. |
| Ground cloves | ¼ tsp / 1 tsp allspice | Very close to allspice's core flavor but more intense and pungent, so use less. |
| Cinnamon and nutmeg | ½ tsp + ¼ tsp / 1 tsp allspice | Covers the warm, spiced profile but misses allspice's distinct clove-like bite. |
How much is a cup of allspice?
Substituting by volume and weighing are different problems, and the second one has an exact answer. Weigh allspice in grams →
A word on how to read these
A substitution is a trade, not an equivalence. The ratio gets the quantity right; the third column is the part worth reading, because it tells you what you are giving up. In a stew, most of these are invisible. In a cake — where flour, liquid, fat and leavening are in a fixed relationship — the same swap can change the crumb.
Why baking notices and stew doesn't →
Where these came from
These substitutions were written by Gather's own kitchen model — the same one the app uses when you tap an ingredient and ask what else would work — then checked and saved as a fixed list in July 2026. Nothing on this page is generated while you read it. They are a good starting point and not a substitute for tasting as you go.