Clove Substitute Guide: Best Alternatives for Cooking & Baking

The best clove substitutes are allspice (use 3/4 teaspoon allspice for every 1 teaspoon cloves), cinnamon (1:1 ratio but milder), or a blend of cinnamon and nutmeg (1/2 tsp each per 1 tsp cloves). For baking, allspice works best; for savory dishes, try star anise or cardamom.

Running out of cloves during cooking doesn't have to ruin your recipe. Understanding the right clove alternatives ensures your dishes maintain their intended flavor profile whether you're baking holiday cookies or preparing a savory stew. Cloves deliver a distinctive warm, sweet, and slightly bitter flavor with hints of citrus and earthiness that's challenging to replicate exactly, but several common pantry spices can effectively stand in.

Understanding Clove's Unique Flavor Profile

Cloves contain eugenol, which gives them their signature pungent, warm, and slightly numbing quality. This compound makes cloves potent—you need far less than other spices to achieve noticeable flavor. Whole cloves release flavor slowly when simmered, while ground cloves disperse quickly throughout dishes. Recognizing these characteristics helps you choose the most appropriate substitute based on your specific cooking application.

Top Clove Substitutes Ranked by Effectiveness

Not all substitutes work equally well in every situation. The best alternative depends on whether you're making sweet or savory dishes, and whether your recipe calls for whole or ground cloves.

Substitute	Best For	Flavor Match	When to Avoid
Allspice	Baking, mulled wine, spice blends	★★★★☆	Delicate dishes where allspice's complexity might overpower
Cinnamon-Nutmeg Blend	Pumpkin pie, apple desserts, baked goods	★★★☆☆	Savory meat dishes requiring cloves' distinctive bite
Star Anise	Braised meats, stews, Chinese five-spice applications	★★★☆☆	Delicate baked goods where licorice notes would be distracting
Cardamom	Rice pudding, Scandinavian baking, chai	★★☆☆☆	Recipes requiring cloves' sharper, more medicinal notes

Detailed Substitution Guide

Allspice: The Closest Single-Spice Alternative

Allspice earns its name because it tastes like a blend of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Its warm, slightly peppery notes make it the most direct replacement, especially in baking applications. When substituting allspice for cloves:

• Use 3/4 teaspoon allspice for every 1 teaspoon of ground cloves
• For whole cloves, use 6 allspice berries to replace 8 whole cloves
• Best in: Pumpkin pie, gingerbread, apple crisp, mulled wine

Cinnamon-Nutmeg Blend: Ideal for Baked Goods

When you need a clove substitute for sweet recipes but lack allspice, combine these two common pantry staples:

• Mix 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon with 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg to replace 1 teaspoon cloves
• For stronger clove flavor, add a pinch of ground ginger
• Perfect for: Cinnamon rolls, apple pie, bread pudding

Star Anise: Best for Savory Applications

Star anise shares cloves' eugenol content, giving it a similar aromatic profile with distinctive licorice notes. Use it when:

• Simmering broths, stews, or braises (remove before serving)
• Preparing Chinese five-spice influenced dishes
• Substituting at a 1:1 ratio for whole cloves in liquid-based recipes

Substitution Ratios Cheat Sheet

Keep this reference handy when modifying recipes:

Original Amount	Allspice	Cinnamon-Nutmeg Blend	Star Anise
1 tsp ground cloves	3/4 tsp ground allspice	1/2 tsp cinnamon + 1/2 tsp nutmeg	1/2 tsp ground star anise
1 whole clove	3/4 allspice berry	N/A	1 star anise point
6 whole cloves	5 allspice berries	N/A	1 whole star anise

Recipe-Specific Substitution Recommendations

For Baking Projects

When making pumpkin pie spice substitute without cloves, combine 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 2 teaspoons nutmeg, 1.5 teaspoons ginger, and 1 teaspoon allspice. This blend works perfectly in pumpkin pie, carrot cake, and other fall desserts where cloves typically appear.

For Savory Dishes

In beef stew recipes calling for cloves, star anise provides the closest flavor match. Use one whole star anise pod per recipe instead of 4-6 whole cloves. Remove before serving as the star shape remains intact during cooking.

For Beverages

When making mulled wine without cloves, allspice berries work best. Use 1 teaspoon allspice berries per bottle of wine along with cinnamon sticks and orange peel. The allspice releases flavor gradually like whole cloves would.

Common Substitution Mistakes to Avoid

Some popular suggestions for clove alternatives actually create inferior results:

• Using equal amounts of cinnamon alone - Creates a one-dimensional sweetness without cloves' complexity
• Substituting clove oil directly - Essential oils are too concentrated; use 1/4 teaspoon clove oil only when recipe specifically calls for it
• Replacing whole cloves with ground substitutes in pickling - Ground spices cloud liquids; use whole alternatives like allspice berries instead

Maximizing Flavor with Your Substitute

When using clove alternatives, consider these professional techniques:

• Add substitutes early in cooking for savory dishes to allow flavors to meld
• For baking, bloom ground substitutes in melted butter before incorporating
• Toast whole substitute spices (like allspice berries) before grinding for enhanced flavor
• Always taste and adjust—most substitutes require slight recipe modifications

Storing Your Substitute Spices Properly

Ground spices lose potency within 6 months, while whole spices maintain flavor for 2-4 years. Store all substitutes in airtight containers away from heat and light. Test spice freshness by rubbing a small amount between your fingers—if the aroma is weak, replace your spices before using them as clove alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use nutmeg alone as a clove substitute?

Nutmeg alone makes an incomplete substitute as it lacks cloves' distinctive sharpness. For better results, combine nutmeg with cinnamon (1:1 ratio) to approximate cloves' complex flavor profile, especially in baking applications like pumpkin pie or apple desserts.

What's the best clove substitute for ham glaze?

Allspice works best for ham glaze as a clove substitute. Use 3/4 teaspoon ground allspice for every 1 teaspoon of cloves the recipe requires. The allspice provides similar warmth without overwhelming the sweet-savory balance essential to proper ham glazing.

How do I substitute cloves in chai tea?

For chai tea recipes requiring cloves, use star anise as the closest substitute. Replace 4-6 whole cloves with 1 whole star anise pod. The star anise provides similar aromatic compounds while contributing complementary licorice notes that work well with chai's other spices.

Can pumpkin pie spice replace cloves directly?

Yes, pumpkin pie spice makes an excellent clove substitute since it typically contains cloves along with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Use a 1:1 ratio when replacing ground cloves in baking recipes. For recipes already calling for pumpkin pie spice plus additional cloves, increase the pumpkin pie spice by 25% to compensate.