This copycat Old Bay seasoning recipe tastes just like the famous original!
Made with aromatic and savory spices like celery salt, paprika, cayenne, and a handful of others, Old Bay seasoning brings out the best in all your seafood recipes.
Homemade Old Bay Seasoning
- In 1939, a German spice maker named Gustav Brunn created Old Bay to accent the flavors of the fresh seafood available off the coast of Maryland. Today, Old Bay comes in a variety of seasoned blends, but this recipe is the classic!
- Making Old Bay seasoning from scratch allows you to change up the ingredients to create your own favorite flavor!
- Unlike Cajun seasoning, Old Bay leans more toward the tangy flavors of celery salt, while Cajun seasoning has spicier, more peppery flavors.
What’s in Old Bay Seasoning?
Savory: Celery salt is a must-have with a bright, herbal flavor, which complements the delicate flavor of seafood. This recipe also uses ground bay leaves, which I make by crushing them in a spice grinder to make a powder or using a mortar and pestle.
Earthy: Warming spices like paprika, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon infuse recipes with aromatic and earthy flavors.
Spicy: Cayenne gives Old Bay seasoning a little kick. Turn up the heat by adding more, or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
Variations – Dried lemon peel or lemon pepper seasoning adds a brighter flavor to Old Bay seasoning. Feel free to substitute any of the ingredients as long as the basic celery salt, sweet paprika, and dry mustard are present.
How to Make Old Bay Seasoning
This copycat recipe is the perfect blend.
- Whisk all ingredients (per recipe below) in a bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Transfer to a jar or other container with a tight-fitting lid.
Storing Homemade Seasoning
Store Old Bay seasoning in a jar for up to 6 months. After that, it will still be good, but the aroma and flavor may be somewhat faded. A small desiccant packet added to the container will help prevent clumping.
Ways to Use
- Old Bay is a must-have for classic crab and shrimp boils, baked salmon, or add it to crab cakes.
- Old Bay seasoning is amazing sprinkled on popcorn, French fries, blended into deviled eggs, or added to a classic Bloody Mary.
- Mix it into melted butter and brush it over grilled corn on the cob or cheddar bay biscuits.
What’s your favorite way to use Old Bay Seasoning? Leave a comment below.
Old Bay Seasoning
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons celery salt*
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground bay leaf*
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon white pepper or additional finely ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/16 teaspoon cayenne or to taste
- 1/16 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/16 teaspoon cardamom optional
- 1/16 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
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Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
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Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Notes
- Celery salt can be replaced with 2 teaspoons Kosher salt and 1 teaspoon ground celery seed.
- If you don’t have ground bay leaf (which I never have!) place 4 bay leaves in a spice grinder and grind until they form a fine powder.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Pantry, Seasonings
Cuisine American
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