We propose and demonstrate an infrared (IR) absorption spectrometer, made with a spatially variable photonic bandgap (PBG) structure, a blackbody source, and a simple IR detector, to identify the IR molecular fingerprints of analyte molecules. The PBG-based structure consists of thermally evaporated, IR transparent, high-refractive-index chalcogenide quarter-wave stacks (QWS) with a cavity layer. Spatial variation of the very sharp transmission peak due to the QWS cavity mode allows the structure to be used as a variable IR filter. Our proposed IR-PBG spectrometer can be used for detection and identification of volatile organic compounds.