As much as the saturation of pumpkin spice snacks from potato chips to hummus in the 2010s cemented its eventual punchline status, the jokes have gone stale. But the resilient, very necessary flavor profile has reclaimed its spot in the kitchen pantheon. The classic blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and allspice makes many things — pies, cakes, cookies, and hot drinks on cold mornings — so much better. When you open the spice drawer, you find that you’re completely out of this warm blend. If the fall baking moment is already underway, you’ll likely need a pumpkin pie spice substitute – and fast.

It is also worth remembering that as we hurtle toward the holidays, this may not be the time to experiment too much with the recipes. Perhaps you’re in a pinch or want to take a chance and redirect your tried-and-true recipes. These ideas are easy to pull off, and yet won’t require too big of a leap of faith.

Apple Pie Spice

Pumpkin spice’s close cousin apple pie spice is an excellent substitution if you need it, though note that you might find it has a few different variations. Many apple pie spice blends call for, essentially, every element of pumpkin spice, plus the addition of star anise. And it is star anise that gives apple pie spice, and pretty much anything else it touches, a unique “warm” flavor. It’s become synonymous with apple pies and so many other seasonal delights. The uniquely shaped licorice-flavored seed pod originated in parts of North Vietnam and southern China, where it grows on evergreen trees. So give this one a try, and if the balance is right and things don’t get too licoricey, your dish will soar.

Chai Spice

Another close relative of pumpkin spice, chai tea spices can come in a few different possible combinations, but by and large, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and allspice are what it’s all about. Chai also has the addition of both cardamom and black peppercorn — two popular hero flavors in pies and cookies. One could even sub in cardamom for allspice, cinnamon, allspice, and clove and allow this sophisticated, peppery, piney flavor to do lots of the heavy lifting. You might be thinking that cardamom makes sense for a pumpkin pie spice substitute in sweet dishes, but black pepper might be more of a surprise. There is a growing awareness among newbie bakers around black pepper’s innate knack for elevating desserts of all kinds. For instance, both black peppercorn and cardamom are great for bringing out the best in chocolate chip cookies.

Garam Masala

Here is another blend of the familiar heavyweights including clove, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, coriander, nutmeg, bay leaf, mace, and black pepper that makes for an incredible pumpkin pie spice substitute. Garam masala is a mainstay blend in savory Indian dishes, but there are many uses for sweet dishes, from ice cream to gingerbread cookies. Mace is an interesting element as it is fairly close to nutmeg. They grow on the same tree and are parts of the same fruit. The spice is harvested from the covering around the seed or nut that becomes nutmeg as we know it. It has a more rich and spicy flavor than nutmeg but is nonetheless a solid stand-in for pies and all kinds of desserts.

So there it is. Any of these three are top-notch pumpkin pie spice substitutes for your pie or any dessert that commands more than vanilla and sugar. You can make this fall your time to get extra spicy and add star anise, cardamom, black peppercorn, and mace to your standard array of dessert seasonings.