Jamaican Mixed Spice for Baking

This recipe is my version of my favourite brand of mixed spice for baking. It consists of a combination of pimento, cinnamon, nutmeg, anise powder and dried orange peel. It is the essential blend for several traditional Jamaican baked goods.

What is mixed spice?

Mixed spice for baking is quite literally as the name implies; a mix of spices meant for baking. So apple and pumpkin pie spice mixes are both technically types of mixed spice for baking.

The mixed spice that we use in Jamaica most likely derived from the British tradition as a result of colonization. What makes up each mix varies from brand to brand. But warming spices such as: cinnamon, nutmeg, pimento, coriander, mace, anise, ginger and cloves are commonly used.

Mixed Spice for Baking from Island Spice

I grew up using the Island Spice brand and as such there is a fair bit of nostalgia there for me. My mom baked a lot before I took over and many of traditional baked goods that she would make have mixed spice. Easter bun, fruit cake, rock cake (a small coconut cake similar in preparation to but denser than a scone) and toto (spiced coconut quick bread) would not be the same without a pinch of mixed spice.

The Island Spice blend consists of pimento (Jamaican allspice), cinnamon, nutmeg, anise powder and orange peel.

Is mixed spice and allspice the same thing?

Mixed spice and allspice are different. Allspice is not a blend. It is ground Jamaican allspice which is called pimento in Jamaica. The name allspice is used because the smell of pimento is said to be reminiscent of a blend of all spices (mainly cinnamon, nutmeg and clove). See this post on Jamaican pimento to learn more about this spice once marketed as “Sweet scented Jamaican pepper”.

Can I use allspice instead of mixed spice?

Now I know I said that allspice is not a blend. However, you may be able to find a spice blend marketed as “allspice blend”. If the ingredient list states more than one spice then it can be used instead of mixed spice. If it just has allspice in the ingredient list then you wouldn’t want to substitute it.

Is mixed spice the same as garam masala?

Garam masala literally translates to “hot mix of spices”. It’s a blend of spices usually consisting of: cumin, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, mace, nutmeg and bay leaves. It is more pungent than the typical mixed spice for baking and is used widely in Indian cooking. It is great for savory dishes. I’ve never done any sweet baking with garam masala but it certainly would be interesting. I’d start with a tiny bit and work my way up. Garam Masala banana bread? Hmmm?

Why make your own spice blend?

With so many convenient spice blends on the market. It is easy to just walk into a store and grab something off the shelf. I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes convenience wins. And these days you can get truly high quality blends from spice shops both locally and online. But there is still something beautiful about buying whole spices and grinding them yourself. Your kitchen will smell AMAZING and you’ll be glad you did.

How to dry orange peel?

The dried orange peel in this recipe imparts hints of citrus flavour in the baked good it’s used in. I also like adding it to my tea or hot chocolate.

To dry: peel the oranges trying to avoid as much of the pith as possible. Place in a brown paper bag and fold close. Leave in a dry, draft free area. Check on it every couple days till it dries completely. How long it takes to dry will depend on your room temperature and humidity. Store the dry pieces whole in a glass jar or grind into a powder. The same can be done for lemon peel.

Do you have a favourite home made spice blend? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below. If you make this or any of the recipes from the blog be sure to #amazingackee and @amazingackee so I can see your posts across social media.

Until next time, thanks for stopping by 😊

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