Ground Cloves Substitute

Ground cloves are key to adding warmth and flavor to fall and winter dishes, but if you don't like the strong, pungent aroma or run out of your stash at home, a ground cloves substitute is necessary!

The nostalgic spicy, sweet flavor that cloves add to desserts and savory dishes is certainly something you don't want to skip. Below I dive into the many alternatives you can use for ground cloves in your baked goods and delicious dishes.

Jump to:

• What are cloves?
• What do cloves taste like?
• What spice is closest to cloves?
• Whole cloves vs. ground cloves
• What is the best ground cloves substitute?
• 1. Whole Cloves
• 2. Allspice
• 3. Nutmeg
• 4. Cardamom
• 5. Cinnamon
• 6. Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 7. Apple Pie Spice
• 8. Mace
• 9. Peppercorns
• 10. Star Anise
• 11. Fennel
• 12. Five-Spice Powder
• 13. Cumin
• 14. Spice combinations
• What is the best ground cloves alternative?
• Best ground cloves substitute for baking
• What can I use instead of clove in gingerbread?
• Ground Cloves Substitute FAQs
• What can I use ground cloves for in baking?
• More Substiute Guides
• The BEST Ground Cloves Substitute

What are cloves?

Cloves are the dried flower buds of an Indonesian tropical tree in the Myrtaceae family, Syzygium aromaticum. They are very aromatic and commonly used to spice up and deepen the flavor of a variety of sweet and savory foods such as baked goods, curries, meats, and sauces.

However, they are also used as a fragrance in products such as soaps, toothpaste, and cosmetics. In their whole form, cloves have the appearance of a small dark red-brown pod with a rounded, spiky top. They also come in a ground powder. 

What do cloves taste like?

Cloves have a warm yet intense flavor and aroma with a woody foundation. Its flavor is often described as a strong mix of sweet, bitter, spicy, and astringent. That said, it pairs very well with other spices, such as allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, and citrus flavors.

What spice is closest to cloves?

Although many spices pair well with cloves, allspice is probably the closest spice in terms of flavor. Allspice is another warm spice with peppery notes like clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper. It also comes in whole and ground forms.

Whole cloves vs. ground cloves

The only differences between whole and ground cloves are how you use them and the strength of the flavor they give. Whole cloves have two purposes: To add flavor and to decorate. Their spiky appearance gives a pleasing appearance to hams, rice, curries, and other dishes while adding a mild, peppery flavor and sweet aroma. They are usually removed before the dish is served.

On the other hand, ground cloves are essentially whole cloves that have been put through a spice grinder and turned into a powder. They are typically stirred into batters and fillings and combined with other spices to add flavor. They are an acceptable whole cloves substitute if required in your dish.

Although ground cloves add a more robust flavor than whole cloves, they lose their flavor faster. Therefore, if grinding ground cloves at home, you will want to wait to grind them right before using them in your dish for the best flavor. Keep in mind that ground cloves may also change the color of your dish.

What is the best ground cloves substitute?

When searching for a ground cloves substitute, you want to consider the flavor and aroma of the recipe in which you will use it, as well as the role that cloves play in that recipe. Below are several acceptable substitutes that you can use, as well as which kinds of recipes they are best for:

1. Whole Cloves
2. Allspice
3. Nutmeg
4. Cardamom
5. Cinnamon
6. Pumpkin Pie Spice
7. Apple Pie Spice
8. Mace
9. Peppercorns - white or black
10. Star Anise
11. Fennel
12. Five Spice Blend
13. Cumin
14. Spice combinations

1. Whole Cloves

Whole cloves are essentially the same as ground cloves, except they haven't been ground into a powder. That said, you can easily use them as a substitute for ground cloves in your sweet or savory dishes without worrying about flavor changes. Since whole cloves are somewhat spiky, they may change the texture of your recipe. Depending on the recipe, you may want to remove them from your final dish before serving.

Substitute ground cloves with whole cloves 1:1. However, if you freshly grind whole cloves, you will want to use a bit less since it will have a more aromatic flavor. I recommend a 1:2 ratio of powdered whole cloves to ground cloves. In other words, for every two teaspoons ground cloves called for in your recipe, you will want to use only one teaspoon of freshly ground whole cloves.

2. Allspice

Allspice is the best standalone ground cloves substitute. It mimics the same warm and peppery flavor and aroma that cloves have and often appears alongside cloves in many recipes. That said, using it instead of cloves will not cause that much of a flavor difference since it is already recognized.

Allspice is best as a substitute in baked dishes such as cakes, pies, baked apples, and savory meat dishes. It is also a delicious substitute for cloves in ham glaze. While whole allspice is available, ground allspice is best since it has the same texture as ground cloves. You can substitute ground allspice for ground cloves in a 1:1 ratio.

3. Nutmeg

Nutmeg is warm, sweet, and nutty, making it another excellent standalone ground cloves substitute. You can learn more about nutmeg in my nutmeg substitute guide. Nutmeg a perfect substitute for sweet recipes, beverages, and baked goods such as pies, cakes, and puddings. It is also a great substitute in savory recipes such as soups, sauces, meats, and vegetables.

While whole nutmeg is an option, ground nutmeg is best as a ground clove substitute. You can use ground nutmeg in place of cloves in a 1:1 ratio.

4. Cardamom

Cardamom is a unique spice commonly used in Middle Eastern dishes. There are two different types of cardamom: green cardamom and black cardamom. Green cardamom (traditional cardamom) has a zesty, fragrant, sweet, and spicy flavor resembling ground cloves. On the other hand, black cardamom has an intense earthy, smoky, and minty flavor. You can learn more about the different types of cardamom in my cardamom substitute guide. When seeking a ground cloves replacement, green cardamom is the best choice.

Cardamom comes in both whole and ground form. However, ground cardamom is best as a ground cloves substitute. You can use it in sweet and savory recipes such as baked goods, beverages, desserts, rice, and meat dishes. It is an excellent substitute for cloves in curry.

Use ground cardamom as a 1:1 replacement for ground cloves.

5. Cinnamon

Along with nutmeg, cinnamon is one of the spices often used with cloves in recipes. Therefore it is also an excellent option when needing a ground cloves substitute. It has a warm and sweet yet spicy flavor that complements the flavor profile of cloves, especially when used with nutmeg. It is an excellent alternative for ground cloves in baked goods, desserts, drinks, and spice blends.

You can substitute cinnamon for ground cloves in a 1:1 ratio when used as a standalone spice.

6. Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin pie spice is a blend of multiple spices, including cloves, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. Since ground cloves are already a part of the blend, it is a great option when you need a substitute. It is ideal when used as a substitute for ground cloves in pumpkin pie and in desserts and sweet dishes that have warm, fall flavors, such as cookies, cakes, and bread. However, you can use it in savory dishes such as lamb or curry.

Substitute pumpkin pie spice for ground cloves in a 1:1 ratio.

7. Apple Pie Spice

Apple pie spice is another spice blend with warm fall flavors that mimic that of ground clove. Some apple pie spice blends include ground cloves alongside allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, and sometimes ginger. Apple pie spice is an excellent ground cloves substitute in sweet desserts such as pies, cookies, cakes, and bread.

Substitute apple pie spice for ground cloves in a 1:1 ratio.

8. Mace

Mace comes from the same tree as nutmeg and has a similar flavor profile: Warm, woody, sweet, and slightly spicy. Therefore, it also makes a great substitute for ground cloves in sweet and savory recipes such as baked desserts, spice mixtures, soups, sauces, and meat and seafood dishes.

Mace comes in both whole and ground forms. However, when using it as a ground cloves substitute, it is best to use ground mace. Use ground mace in place of ground cloves in a 1:1 ratio.

9. Peppercorns

White and black peppercorns come from the same plant as clove. Although they do not taste the same, their earthy, spicy flavor profile makes them an acceptable substitute. Whether to use white or black peppercorns as a substitute depends on the dish: Black peppercorns have a stronger flavor, whereas white peppercorns have a milder aroma and flavor and are typically used in dishes with lighter colors. They are ideal when used as a substitute in marinades, soups, and sauces.

Substitute whole or ground peppercorns for ground cloves in a 1:1 ratio.

10. Star Anise

Like cloves, star anise is fragrant and has an intensely warm, sweet, and spicy flavor with hints of licorice. It is a good substitute for cloves in sweet and savory dishes such as baked goods, soups, sauces, and marinades.

You can use both whole and ground star anise as a substitute for ground cloves in a 1:1 ratio.

11. Fennel

Although fennel is a part of the carrot family, it has a bold presence and a sweet flavor with hints of licorice similar to cloves and star anise. It is a delicious substitute in sweet and savory dishes, although it is often used in soups and stews.

Fennel comes in various forms, including leaves, whole seeds, and ground fennel. Use ground fennel seeds in a 1:1 ratio as a ground cloves substitute.

12. Five-Spice Powder

Five-spice powder is a blend of various warm-tasting ground spices, including cloves, cinnamon, peppercorns, star anise, and fennel. Although its flavor doesn't match the exact taste of cloves, it is very similar, with a bold, sweet, spicy, nutty, and licorice-like flavor. It is an acceptable ground cloves substitute in desserts and savory recipes such as curry, rice, marinades, and dry rubs.

Use five-spice powder as a substitute for ground cloves in a 1:1 ratio.

13. Cumin

Cumin isn't exactly a substitute for ground cloves, but it is an alternative if you don't mind trying a slightly different flavor profile in your dish. It has a mild yet warm and bittersweet flavor to sweet and savory dishes, including baked goods.

You can substitute ground cumin for ground cloves in a 1:1 ratio to start, then add more as desired.

14. Spice combinations

Spice combinations are often the way to go depending on the recipe you are trying to substitute ground cloves. Some of the alternatives are:

Nutmeg + Allspice: Use ½ teaspoon of nutmeg and ½ teaspoon of allspice in place of each teaspoon of ground cloves.

Cinnamon + Nutmeg: Use ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and ½ teaspoon of nutmeg in place of each teaspoon of ground cloves.

Nutmeg + Cardamom: Use ½ teaspoon of nutmeg and ½ teaspoon of cardamom in place of each teaspoon of ground cloves.

What is the best ground cloves alternative?

As you can see, many spices have a flavor profile similar to ground cloves and can serve as an acceptable substitute in your sweet and savory recipes. However, when you don't have access to cloves (whole or ground), allspice is the closest match.

Best ground cloves substitute for baking

You can use many spices in place of ground cloves for baking. However, ground allspice is the best choice since it has a similar flavor profile and appears alongside cloves in many recipes.

What can I use instead of clove in gingerbread?

Gingerbread has a warm, spicy flavor that sometimes has hints of molasses or brown sugar. Therefore, when searching for a substitute for ground cloves in gingerbread, it is best to use spices with similar tastes, such as ground allspice or a combination of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Ground Cloves Substitute FAQs

What can I use ground cloves for in baking?

Here are a few recipes where ground cloves come in handy, either as the main star of the recipe or as a substitute for other spices:

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