Clove Ground 50g

Recipes & Uses

Clove Ground Recipe

 Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cake

 Signature Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2½ cups (300g) flour

• 1 tbsp ground cloves (star spice)

• 2 tbsp ground ginger

• 1 tbsp cinnamon

• 1 cup molasses

• 1/2 cup butter

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 cup hot water

Key Steps:

1. Bloom spices: Whisk cloves + ginger + cinnamon with flour

2. Molasses mix: Dissolve baking soda in hot water + molasses

3. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45 mins

Pro Tip:

• For extra moisture, soak baked cake with orange syrup

 Other Top Ground Clove Recipes:

1. Pumpkin Pie Spice (clove + cinnamon + nutmeg)

2. Chinese Five-Spice Powder (clove + star anise blend)

3. Jamaican Jerk Rub (clove + allspice + Scotch bonnet)

Science Bit:
Cloves' eugenol:
→ Numbs pain (used in dentistry)
→ Best released in fat (butter/oil)

Why Keep Ground Cloves in the Pantry?

A little creates a lot of flavour
Ground Cloves are highly concentrated, so one small amount can season an entire recipe.

Essential for classic spiced baking
Gingerbread, fruit cakes, spice cakes and biscuits all benefit from their distinctive warmth.

Perfect for warming drinks
Use in chai, mulled drinks and spiced cider.

Works in savoury cooking too
Cloves are an important component of many curries and international spice blends.

Already ground and ready to use
No crushing whole cloves or removing them before serving.

What Do Ground Cloves Taste Like?

Cloves are intensely aromatic, warm, sweet, pungent and slightly peppery.

They have a much stronger flavour than many everyday baking spices.

That's why they're normally used in smaller quantities and often combined with spices such as:

Cinnamon
Ginger
Nutmeg
Cardamom

When balanced properly, cloves add depth.

Use too much and they can quickly overpower everything else.

How to Use Ground Cloves

Gingerbread

Ground Cloves are one of the classic warming spices in gingerbread.

Combine with ginger and cinnamon for a deep, traditional spice profile.

Apple Pie

Add a very small amount alongside cinnamon and nutmeg.

The clove shouldn't dominate — it should make the other warming spices taste more complex.

Chai

Use a pinch with cinnamon, ginger and cardamom when making masala chai.

Mulled Drinks

Add a small amount to mulled wine, cider or warm apple juice.

Baked Ham Glaze

Combine Ground Cloves with:

Brown sugar
Orange juice
Mustard

Brush over ham before baking for a classic sweet-spiced glaze.

Curries

Use sparingly alongside cumin, coriander, cardamom and cinnamon in Indian-style dishes.

Why Do You Need So Little?

Ground Cloves are particularly potent because the whole spice has already been finely ground.

That means the aromatic compounds are immediately exposed and spread quickly through the food.

A good rule is:

Start very small.

For many recipes, ¼ teaspoon or less can be enough for an entire dish.

You can always add a little more next time.

Once you've used too much clove, it's extremely difficult to hide.

Ground Cloves vs Whole Cloves

Choose Ground Cloves when you want:

• Even flavour throughout a recipe
• Baking
• Spice blends
• Quick incorporation into drinks and sauces
• No whole cloves to remove later

Choose Whole Cloves when you want:

• Slow infusion
• Mulled drinks
• Poaching liquids
• Whole-spice curries
• Pickling
• Decorative studding for ham

Ground cloves are about convenience and even distribution.

Whole cloves give you slower release and easier removal.

Why Cloves Work So Well in Winter Food

Cloves have an intense warming aroma that naturally complements ingredients such as:

Apple
Orange
Pear
Pumpkin
Molasses
Brown sugar

That's why they're so closely associated with:

Gingerbread
Fruit cake
Mulled drinks
Spiced cider
Baked fruit

A tiny amount makes these foods feel richer and more aromatic without needing a complicated ingredient list.

Use Them in Savoury Cooking Too

Cloves aren't only a baking spice.

They play an important role in many savoury spice blends and dishes.

You'll find them alongside other spices in:

Garam Masala
Baharat
Chinese Five Spice
Curries
Slow-cooked meat dishes

In savoury food, the objective usually isn't to identify the clove flavour specifically.

It becomes one of several warming spices working together in the background.

Try It This Way

For an easy spiced apple crumble filling, combine sliced apples with:

Ground Cinnamon
A tiny pinch of Ground Cloves
Brown sugar
A squeeze of lemon

Taste the balance before adding more clove.

The cinnamon should still be the familiar main spice while the clove gives the mixture extra depth.

Top with your favourite crumble mixture and bake.

Make a Simple Warming Spice Mix

Combine:

Cinnamon
Ground ginger
Nutmeg
A much smaller amount of Ground Cloves

Use the mixture in:

• Muffins
• Cakes
• Porridge
• Pancakes
• Apple desserts
• Hot drinks

The important part is keeping the cloves in proportion.

They should support the other spices rather than overwhelm them.

Beyond Gingerbread

Once you've opened the pack, try Ground Cloves in:

• Gingerbread
• Spice cake
• Fruit cake
• Apple pie
• Pumpkin pie
• Biscuits
• Poached pears
• Stewed fruit
• Chai
• Mulled wine
• Spiced cider
• Hot chocolate
• Ham glaze
• Curries
• Garam Masala
• Baharat
• Meat rubs
• Homemade spice blends

Ground Cloves are one of the strongest spices in the cupboard — which means a single 50g pack can go a surprisingly long way.

Start Small

Ground Cloves are extremely potent.

For many dishes, begin with ¼ teaspoon or less, especially if the recipe contains other warming spices.

Taste where practical and adjust carefully.

Storage

Store Ground Cloves in an airtight container in a cool, dark and dry place to help protect their strong aroma and flavour.