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

Breakfast items include a pumpkin loaf, pumpkin spice croissant bread pudding, and assorted desserts such as pumpkin cake, chai cider panna cotta, orange cardamom cake, banana butterscotch torte, and maple pumpkin bourbon cookies. —Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024

JLo embraced pumpkin spice dressing in a Gucci sweater set. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024

Jamba has several pumpkin smoothies available through Halloween including Pumpkin Pie Crunch, made with pumpkin spice base, agave, granola and coconut whip. M&Ms: Facing a last-minute candy shortage? —Mike Snider, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024

Infusing your favorite drinks with fall flavors like cinnamon, clove, or even a bit of pumpkin spice can give a timeless recipe a fun seasonal spin. —Emily Price, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above