The temperature is going down, the leaves are turning crisp and orange, and people are dressing up as clowns to scare the living daylights out of each other. Yes, it’s that wonderful time of the year again: October.

Most people agree that nothing screams Autumn more than sweet treats, drinks, and desserts with pumpkin in them– pumpkin pie, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin bread, and so much more.

But what do all these baked goods have in them that makes them so darn good besides pumpkin? Pumpkin spice.

Pumpkin spice is simply a blend of spices, with cinnamon as the base, that is used in pumpkin-inspired dishes to kick up the flavor. With out it, your pumpkin pie would taste like a roasted pumpkin with sugar.

The great thing about having your own jar of pumpkin spice this season is that you can add it to practically any dish to give it that Fall-inspired flavor.

Making sugar cookies? Throw in a teaspoon of pumpkin spice, and you’ve transformed it into pumpkin spice cookies — which taste incredible, by the way.

Pumpkin spice can be used on anything, and the chances are, baked goods you find at a grocery store labeled with pumpkin, such as ‘pumpkin cake’ or ‘pumpkin scones,’ aren’t actually made with real pumpkin — they’re actually made using pumpkin spice.

Some people resort to going out and buying one of those small, expensive McCormick seasoning bottles of pumpkin pie spice. But why spend so much for so little when you can make your own pumpkin spice at home?

Here is my simple recipe for classic pumpkin spice.

Pumpkin Spice:

• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Mix all ingredients in a bowl thoroughly and store in a air-tight container. You now have homemade pumpkin spice and it’s ready to go for any occasion.