Homemade Pickling Spice Recipe

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!

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.

What's In Pickling Spice?

For this top-rated pickling spice recipe, you'll need:

• 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

How to Make Pickling Spice

Making homemade pickling spice is as easy as shaking all the ingredients in a jar! Here's how to do it:

Step 1:

Gather all the ingredients listed above. Make sure you have them ready before you begin.

Step 2:

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

Step 3:

Shake the jar to combine the ingredients evenly.

Step 4:

Add the ground ginger to the jar, seal it, and shake it again to mix everything together.

Step 5:

Crumbled bay leaves, broken cinnamon stick halves, and cloves go into the jar next. Seal the jar again and give it one final shake to combine all the ingredients.

Step 6:

Your pickling spice is now ready! Store it in a tightly sealed jar or airtight for up to one month in a cool, dark place, like your pantry or spice cabinet.

How to Use Pickling Spice

Use your homemade pickling spice to make traditional homemade pickles or any pickled vegetable you prefer! For extra inspiration, explore our collection of 40 Foods You Can Pickle. You can also use it for quick pickling by adding it to a brine and letting the mixture sit overnight. Afterward, rinse the pickled food, pat it dry, and slow-roast it at a low temperature for a few hours.

Storage Tips

Store your pickling spice in an airtight glass jar or , and it will stay fresh for up to one month. Keep it in a cool, dark place like your pantry to preserve its flavor.

Community Reviews

"I will be making this from now on when I need pickling spice," says one user. "I usually have all these spices on hand. It smells great in the beet and horseradish that's now simmering on the stove waiting to be canned."

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

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

• Calories: 29
• Total Fat: 1g (2% Daily Value)
• Saturated Fat: 0g (1% Daily Value)
• Sodium: 4mg (0% Daily Value)
• Total Carbohydrate: 4g (1% Daily Value)
• Dietary Fiber: 2g (7% Daily Value)
• Protein: 1g (2% Daily Value)
• Vitamin C: 1mg (1% Daily Value)
• Calcium: 44mg (3% Daily Value)
• Iron: 1mg (4% Daily Value)
• Potassium: 60mg (1% Daily Value)

Note: The nutritional information is based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your needs. Always consult a healthcare provider if you are following a medically restrictive diet.