Name: Edible Gifting Week #2: 8 Homemade Spice Mixes (Vegan+GF)
Prep time: 10 min
Ingredients: 3 1/2 tablespoons onion powder; 3 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder; 2 tablespoons rosemary; 2 tablespoons thyme; 1 tablespoon dried chives; 1 tablespoon basil; 1 tablespoon salt; 2 teaspoons pepper; 2 teaspoons nutmeg; 4 - 5 bay leaves; 3 tablespoons onion powder; 3 tablespoons paprika; 3 tablespoons garlic powder; 3 tablespoons oregano; 2 tablespoons thyme; 1 tablespoon cumin; 1 tablespoon salt; 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes; 2 teaspoons pepper; 3 tablespoons sesame seeds; 3 tablespoons black sesame seeds; 3 tablespoons onion powder; 2 tablespoons garlic powder; 2 tablespoons poppy seeds; 1 tablespoon caraway seeds; 1 tablespoon salt; 2 teaspoons pepper; 3 tablespoons cumin; 3 tablespoons chili powder; 3 tablespoons paprika

I’m not sure this necessarily qualifies as a recipe but can’t we all use a little more spice in our lives? These homemade spice mixes are so easy and they make gift giving so simple.

This post is all about how to make homemade spice mixes

In case you missed yesterday’s post, I’m doing a week of edible gift ideas for you guys. I think everyone has at least one of those people that are impossible to buy for every year. So hopefully one ore two of these posts will help inspire you.

Something that got really old really fast when we first moved here was the way that spices and herbs are packaged and sold. There are exceptions of course. However, more often than not you’ll only find the specific spice you need in tiny portions in these little plastic pouches. Clearly Chileans have a fondness for bags. (They even put kechup and mayo in squeeze bags, weird right?) Now if you’re the type that can manage to keep your pantry and cabinets organized and labeled like a Pinterest post, fabulous. That’s wonderful for you, good job.

For those of us who live in real-world land though, this packaging system is annoying. It forces you to constantly refill every spice jar as you use it and can be slightly aggravating to say the least. Every shopping trip ends with a new bag of tiny bags. It usually ends up piled on a pantry shelf in a disorderly fashion. It makes it impossible to find anything. It’s even worse for me because I’m always cooking for huge groups and using tons of random spices and seasonings for various blog recipes, so we go through a lot of spices.

Okay, let’s get to the point

My point here, because I do occasionally have one, is that I have a high appreciation for spice blends. What I’ve got going on here are eight different spice blend flavor ideas. That should give you a variety to choose from for the holidays. Obviously you don’t have to make them all. Even one or two would make a really nice and thoughtful gift. Choose the ones you think the receiver of this gift would enjoy, and more importantly actually use, the most.

You can get creative with the containers and put them in spice jars, larger jars, or even clear ornaments for a really christmasy option. I opted for the shakers because I thought they were cute. If you want to double the amount on just two or three of the flavors, then jars would look really nice. You also have to decide whether to mix the spices or layer them so that each color is defined. If you choose to do the latter just be sure to tell the recipient of this gift to mix them up before using. I like the look of the layers better but pre-mixing is more practical.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SPICE MIXES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Edible Gifting Week #2: 8 Homemade Spice Mixes (Vegan+GF)

Customize your spice cabinet by making a few or all of these 8 different combinations from araound the world!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

Garlic Bread:

3 1/2 tablespoons onion powder
3 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons rosemary
2 tablespoons thyme
1 tablespoon dried chives
1 tablespoon basil
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons nutmeg

Cajun:

4 - 5 bay leaves
3 tablespoons onion powder
3 tablespoons paprika
3 tablespoons garlic powder
3 tablespoons oregano
2 tablespoons thyme
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons pepper

Everything Bagel:

3 tablespoons sesame seeds
3 tablespoons black sesame seeds
3 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons pepper

Taco:

3 tablespoons cumin
3 tablespoons chili powder
3 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion
2 tablespoons oregano
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon pepper
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

Ranch:

3 1/2 tablespoons dill
3 tablespoons onion powder
3 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons basil
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons pepper

Italian:

3 tablespoons basil
3 tablespoons oregano
2 1/2 tablespoons parsley
2 tablespoons thyme
2 tablespoons rosemary
2 tablespoons sage
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons fennel seed

Moroccan:

3 1/2 tablespoons cumin
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons allspice
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 tablespoon curry
1 tablespoon cloves
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons salt
pepper

Pumpkin Pie Spice:

1/4 cup cinnamon
3 tablespoons ginger
3 tablespoons cloves
2 1/2 tablespoons allspice
2 tablespoons nutmeg

Instructions

For each spice, pulse ingredients together in a food processor or blender until well combined. (With the exception of the cajun spice [because of the bay leaves] all of these can be mixed by hand as well.)

So hopefully these idea posts are sparking your Christmas spirit into giving mode.

p.s. The everything bagel blend is my fave!

This post was all about how to make homemade spice mixes

10 Comments

Aria | Purrfectly Inspired

December 1, 2015 at 9:43 pm Reply

Love this, very cute.
Heather Mason

December 2, 2015 at 9:58 pm Reply

Haha, that’s too funny! I was just in Panama and was so annoyed the spices and herbs come in little plastic packets. So weird!! What’s even worse is milk in a bag- so hard to save! You can find that one in Nicaragua. Now I’m back in America and enjoying my spices in glass jars 🙂
Love the name of your blog, just found it, am looking forward to following along!
- Tori
  
  December 3, 2015 at 9:06 am Reply
  
  So funny. I’m so glad you like my blog and want to follow along. Thank you, Heather!
Sarah

December 4, 2015 at 3:46 am Reply

This sounds like a wonderful gift! I am definitely going to do this. I do have a silly question. Is the “everything bagel” spice for specifically making everything bagels? Or do you use it any other way?
- Tori
  
  December 4, 2015 at 11:00 am Reply
  
  Hey Sarah, thank you so much and that’s not a silly question. No, the everything bagel can be used in all kinds of things and it’s amazing! You can basically use it like you would use any spice blend, put it on grilled fish, sprinkle on salads, smother popcorn in it, and the possibilites go on…
  Merry Christmas!
Pingback:

December 4, 2015 at 9:59 am

Edible Gifting Week #5: DIY Hot Cocoa Mix 4 Ways | Gringalicious
Emily

November 7, 2016 at 4:55 pm Reply

Hey Tori,

I saw your image from pinterest and it forwards to your blog. It’s a wonderful blog I ever seen, and nice images.
If its possible to borrow one of your image to reprint for my restaurant artwork? It will

Thank you.
- Tori
  
  November 8, 2016 at 8:33 am Reply
  
  Thanks, Emily. I’m so flattered at your compliments. Oh, and as for using a picture I think that would be fine, although if there is some way you could credit my blog that would be great.
Sb

December 26, 2016 at 2:22 pm Reply

This is a lovely recipes but I am morrocan. Moroccan spice never use curry and cacao. I hope this information will help you. I will defenetly try the recipes. Thank you.
- Tori
  
  December 28, 2016 at 9:46 am Reply
  
  Interesting. Thanks for letting me know that and it does. In the future I’ll be sure to adjust things to make them more authentic. Have a great 2017!