pumpkin spice

noun

variants or less commonly pumpkin pie spice

: a mixture of usually cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and often allspice that is commonly used in pumpkin pie

Pumpkin spice is everywhere, and at this point you simply give in to the pounds you'll potentially gain from all the glorious spreads during the holidays.

—Chris Scott

By mixing in a few simple ingredients with pumpkin—think vanilla yogurt, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and a sprinkling of graham cracker—you create a velvety pumpkin pie experience in a matter of seconds.

—Erika Chayes Wida

—often used before another noun

It's that time of year again—holiday decorations festoon the lampposts and store windows, the smell of pumpkin spice lattes pervades the air, and the chill of winter has settled in …

—Lee Hutchinson

With sweet potato pie, the same pumpkin pie spice blend … is used along with the pre-baked crust.

—WSOCTV.com

Examples of pumpkin spice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But while the pumpkin spice latte gets a lot of attention, apple cider is another delicious cold-weather drink that deserves more love. —Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Dec. 2024

Avocado oil Infused with seasonal ingredients like nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon, pumpkin spice avocado oil was created by Chosen Foods. —Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 26 Nov. 2024

Seasonal lattes include a matcha chai, a pumpkin spice matcha and more coming soon. —Mckenzie Rankin, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024

For extra festive treats, add on six turkey sugar cookies ($30) or pumpkin spice flourless chocolate cake ($34). —Samantha Nelson, Chicago Tribune, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above