Homemade Pickling Spice

4.8
(26)

Make a from-scratch homemade pickling spice using this old-time combination of herbs and spices.

A glass gar of homemade pickling spice with a small wooden spoon
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Prep Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
10 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
about 1/4 cup

Why buy store-bought pickling spice when you can make your own at home? You likely already have all the ingredients you need in your spice cabinet!

What Is Pickling Spice?

Pickling spice is a spice blend that's used to pickle all different kinds of foods, from cucumbers to eggs. It contains mostly whole spices instead of ground spices, so it stands up well to the potent ingredients used in the pickling process.

Learn more: What Is Pickling Spice?

What's In Pickling Spice?

For this top-rated pickling spice recipe, you'll need: whole mustard seeds, whole allspice berries, whole coriander seeds, red pepper flakes, ground ginger, bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves.

How to Make Pickling Spice

Making homemade pickling spice is as easy as shaking all the ingredients in a jar! You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe with detailed instructions below.

Tips from Mooseinthekitchen :

· You can substitute caraway seeds for coriander seeds if desired. Drop a whole clove of garlic into each jar of cucumbers as the final spice element to this blend.
· The fresher your spices, the more pungent your pickling blend will be. Spices that have been ground into a fine powder have more surface area and should be used carefully or they will overpower the mix.

How to Use Pickling Spice

Use your DIY pickling spices to make traditional homemade pickles or any pickled vegetable you like! For delicious inspiration, explore our collection of 40 Foods You Can Pickle. You can also use it alone with a brine for overnight quick pickling of tough meats – the next morning, rinse the meat, pat dry, then slow-roast in a water bath at low heat for several hours.

How to Store Pickling Spice

Store the pickling spice in a tightly sealed glass jar or airtight container for up to one month in a cool, dark place (such as the pantry or spice cabinet).

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"I will be making this from now on when I need [pickling spice]," says Lynn Dudar Hagan. "I usually have all these spices on hand. It smells great in the beet and horseradish that is now simmering on the stove waiting to be canned."

"This ended up working perfectly for the fridge pickles I made today," according to SimpleGifts. "Very easy to put together, and a nice, small amount in the end(doesn't clutter up the cupboards this way). Thanks for sharing, it was a lifesaver!"

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 2 tablespoons whole mustard seeds

  • 1 tablespoon whole allspice berries

  • 2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds

  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more to taste

  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 2 bay leaves, crumbled

  • 2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half

  • 6 whole cloves

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Ingredients to make homemade pickling spice

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Place mustard seeds, allspice berries, coriander seeds, and pepper flakes into a small glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

    A glass jar with mustard seeds, allspice berries, coriander seeds, and pepper flakes

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Shake to combine. Add ginger to the jar, seal, and shake again.

    A hand holding a sealed glass jar with spices

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Add crumbled bay leaves, cinnamon stick halves, and cloves to the jar. Seal and shake once more to combine.

    A jar of picking spice, topped with crumbled bay leaves, cinnamon stick halves, and cloves

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Store in a tightly sealed jar for up to 1 month.

    A closed glass jar of homemade pickling spice

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

72 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

29 Calories
1g Fat
4g Carbs
1g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 29
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 1%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 1g 2%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 44mg 3%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 60mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.