5 Ways To Spice Up Your Holiday Apple Pie

One way to quite literally spice up your apple pie is to use cardamom. Cardamom is a spice that is largely used in Indian, Middle Eastern, and Arabic cooking (via Medical News Today). It comes from the ginger family and can be used in both savory and sweet dishes — it can be substituted for cinnamon in an apple pie.

Cardamom has a bit of a kick to it, so it tastes slightly sweet yet the flavor is strong. Some compare the taste to mint. You can purchase cardamom seeds and grind them yourself or you can simply buy ground cardamom at the grocery store. In addition to the taste, cardamom has been used for years for medicinal purposes. It has been used both as an ingredient in cooking and as a medicine for centuries.

According to Healthline, the health benefits of cardamom include lowering blood pressure and blood sugar, and also improving breathing. The spice is thought to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and may also aid in fighting cancer cells.