Get Ready for the Baking Season with These 10 Top Nutmeg Substitutes

The festive aroma, the magic that transforms a creamy sauce, and the excitement in a warming squash soup—all thanks to nutmeg. This spice adds a cozy touch to both sweet and savory dishes, making it a kitchen essential. But if you find yourself short on nutmeg while making your classic eggnog cookies, don’t worry. Plenty of excellent alternatives are available.

What Exactly Is Nutmeg?

Nutmeg isn’t technically a nut but rather the seed of an evergreen tree native to Indonesia. This seed is sold whole to be grated fresh or pre-ground into the fragrant spice we all know. Although it’s often associated with baking, nutmeg has a long history in various global cuisines, from Africa to France, where it's used in many savory dishes.

How Does Nutmeg Taste?

Nutmeg has a bold, warm flavor with a rich, earthy nuttiness. Its aroma is comforting, with peppery notes and a subtle sweetness. While nutmeg’s flavor is delightful on its own, its true magic lies in how it enhances both sweet and savory dishes, making everything it touches taste even better.

Discover the recipe: Eggnog Cheesecake

Top Nutmeg Alternatives

Mace

Did you know that the same evergreen tree that produces nutmeg also gives us mace? Mace is the spice derived from the red, lacy outer covering of the nutmeg seed, which is dried and ground. This makes mace an ideal replacement for nutmeg. Its sweet, warm flavor can easily substitute nutmeg in a 1:1 ratio. Try it in a delicious sweet potato bread recipe.

Cinnamon

If you're an avid baker, you probably have cinnamon on hand in larger quantities than most other spices. So, if you find yourself without nutmeg, you're likely to have cinnamon as a fallback. While cinnamon shares some uses with nutmeg in both sweet and savory dishes, their flavors are distinct. Start by using half the amount of cinnamon as you would nutmeg, and adjust to taste.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

If you have some leftover from pumpkin spice latte season, now's the time to use it. Nutmeg is one of the key spices in this blend, which also includes cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves. You can swap it in 1:1 for nutmeg, especially in recipes like pumpkin bread.

Allspice

Despite its name, allspice isn’t a mix of spices—it's simply dried allspice berries ground into powder. Its flavor has hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, with a dash of peppercorn, making it a perfect substitute. Use it in equal amounts as you would nutmeg, perhaps in a seasonal muffin like these autumn treats.

Cloves

Cloves are just as common in holiday baking as nutmeg, adding a warm, aromatic flavor. Ground cloves are the go-to here, and you can use about half the amount of nutmeg called for. If using whole cloves, opt for recipes like sauces or soups where they can be easily strained out, and be careful not to overdo it—they can quickly overwhelm the dish. If the recipe already includes cloves along with nutmeg, be cautious not to add too much more.

Ginger

Ginger brings a lively, zesty kick that works well if you're after a bold flavor, like in a delicious apple betty. If your recipe already includes ginger, feel free to add a bit more. This substitute can be used in equal amounts, especially in hearty meat or vegetable dishes.

Discover the recipe: Amazingly Good Eggnog

Cardamom

Cardamom joins the ranks of warming spices and is a key player in chai spice blends. Its flavor is bold and unique, so be cautious when using it as a nutmeg substitute. It works well as a garnish, like a light dusting over drinks such as eggnog, or in recipes that call for only a tiny amount of nutmeg (like ¼ teaspoon).

Apple Pie Spice

Like pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice is a blend of warm spices, but it also includes cardamom. To use it as a nutmeg substitute, stick to recipes where only a small amount of nutmeg is needed, like this old fashioned peach cobbler. Reduce the apple pie spice by half, and adjust to taste—remember, you can always add more, but you can’t take it out once it’s in.

Garam Masala

This spice blend, often featuring cinnamon, coriander, peppercorn, mace, and nutmeg, is a staple in dishes like Indian curries. It's warming with a touch of heat, making it a perfect fit for savory recipes like herb rub roasted turkey or pulled pork. Given its complex flavor profile, which may also include spices like bay leaf and cumin, start with about ¼ of the amount you would use for nutmeg, adjusting to taste as needed.

Star Anise

Star anise has a strong, distinct flavor that doesn’t easily replace nutmeg in most recipes. However, if you're just grating it fresh over a drink or adding it to your coffee grounds, it can offer a touch of licorice-like sweetness as a unique twist.