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This Pumpkin Butter Spread is about to change your life. It is so yummy and easy to make! Perfect for spreading on dinner rolls hot out of the oven.
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Pumpkin Butter is undeniably sweet, creamy, and brimming with the inviting warmth of pumpkin flavor! Considering how easy it is to make, there is truly no reason not to whip up a batch of this delightful spread right now. Moreover, the best part about this recipe is that you can prepare it in your slow cooker! Throw all the ingredients in your CrockPot in the morning and your house will smell like there is a pumpkin pie cooking all day. Who needs scented candles when you can have the amazing smell and something tasty to eat afterwards?
What is Pumpkin Butter?
Homemade Pumpkin butter is a fragrant, smooth, and sweet spread, reminiscent of apple butter or other fruit preserves, and it maintains the consistency of jam or jelly. In addition, this pumpkin butter recipe exudes a warm, comforting aroma that instantly transports me to the pumpkin season. Enhanced by cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, it captures all the delightful flavors of fall within this deliciously easy spread. Furthermore, it’s perfect for spreading on breads, muffins, pancakes, or waffles.
Ingredients
With these simple ingredients, you can easily blend them together and let them simmer in a saucepan or crockpot throughout the day. Afterwards, add a tablespoon onto your rolls and savor the perfect savory combination!
- Pumpkin puree – Make this with fresh pumpkin puree or canned pumpkin puree. Do NOT use pumpkin pie filling. Try this pumpkin purée for a homemade recipe.
- Sugar – Sweetness added into the butter. For a deeper color and flavor, you can substitute half or all of the white sugar for brown sugar.
- Mapleine maple flavoring – Add in some extra flavoring! This is similar to vanilla extract.
- Apple cider – Brings in a sweet, crisp taste that adds flavoring to the butter.
- Lemon juice – Use fresh lemon juice from a medium sized lemon. This helps counter the sweetness and creates a delicious and smooth butter-like texture.
- Pumpkin pie spice – Favorite fall seasonings blended together. It has everything from ground cloves, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, all the flavors of fall in one spice jar.
- Kosher salt – Just a pinch to balance out the flavors!
How Can I Use Pumpkin Butter?
I typically use pumpkin butter as a spread on toast, bagels and rolls but you can use it in so many other ways!
- Add a scoop of sweet pumpkin spread to your oatmeal, Greek yogurt, pancakes, French toast, or waffles. This will give your breakfast a tasty pumpkin flavor. Also, you can also use it on English muffins to create pumpkin-flavored breakfasts.
- Swirl it into cream cheese and use it as a dip for bagels, crackers or fruit.
- Throw some into a smoothie.
- Make your sandwiches and wraps extra special by spreading pumpkin butter on them. This adds a yummy sweet flavor. Plus, it nicely balances out the taste when you have ham, turkey, or other meats in there. So, try it out and enjoy the delicious blend of flavors!
- Use it plain as a dip for apples or other fruits.
- You can also pipe it into doughnuts, scones, or pastries to use as pumpkin filling. This creates a truly tasty treat!
- You can use it instead of jam in a peanut butter sandwich.
- Additionally, you can spread it on cookies and crackers. What’s more you can stir it into hot chocolate for a delightful twist.
- Pumpkin Butter makes a fantastic gift for holidays or birthdays. With this in mind, I put some in little jars and took it around to share with my friends. They all loved it!
Health Benefits of Pumpkin
There truly are great health benefits that come from eating pumpkin, and this recipe uses the real thing. Additionally, pumpkin has a butternut squash-like taste and texture, and it adds tons of flavor to recipes. Consequently, it’s worth giving it a try to get the boost of vitamins and antioxidants that pumpkin provides. By incorporating pumpkin into your diet, you’ll benefit from better eyesight, increased energy, and even weight loss too!
Tips and Add-Ins for Making the Best Pumpkin Butter
The butter is similar to jelly but thicker and has a great spreadable texture. Try some of these add-ins for extra flavor.
- Lemon juice is an option. The juice from a lemon can help break down the sugar, and offers a delicious balance of sweet and sour. But if you prefer a sweeter spread, then leave out the lemon altogether. Fresh or from the bottle works great, either way!
- Apple juice or apple cider will work for this recipe.
- If you wish to incorporate additional spices or exclude some, feel free to adjust the seasoning according to your preferences. For instance, a teaspoon of ground nutmeg or dashes of ground ginger and cinnamon make excellent add-ins!
- The acid content is low and not recommended to can the butter.
- For extra maple flavoring, add a drizzle of pure maple syrup .
“I love making pumpkin butter and I really enjoyed the addition of maple! This is SO good on my morning toast!”
-Wilhelmina
Frequently Asked Questions
Use this delicious recipe as a spread for rolls, breads, or muffins. Moreover, pipe it into doughnuts or pastries, or even pumpkin ravioli. Furthermore, consider adding a spoonful into cereals, oatmeal, or granola. With such versatility, the possibilities are truly endless!
It really tastes a lot like pumpkin pie filling. Perfect for a vegan diet, no eggs or cream, and naturally fat free. Super healthy and yummy!
No, you can’t properly seal this type of butter, mostly because of the low pumpkin acid.
Pumpkin butter will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for 2 to 3 months, or frozen for up to a year.
Yes, there is no gluten in this recipe.
Storing Pumpkin Butter
Pumpkin butter will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for 2 to 3 months; consequently, you can make a huge batch and save it for later. Additionally, it stores well in the freezer too! In fact, you can freeze this butter for about a year if you want to enjoy it year-round.
More Pumpkin Recipes
My favorite pumpkin recipes are, of course, desserts, but it’s also delicious in soups and casseroles. If you’re in the mood for more pumpkin, do consider trying out these delicious recipes.
How to Make Pumpkin Butter
Pumpkin Butter
Equipment
- Crock Pot
Ingredients
- 29 ounces pumpkin puree
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon Mapleine maple flavoring
- 3/4 cup apple cider
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Stir all the ingredients together in the slow cooker.
- Use a rubber spatula to clear anything from the sides of the slow cooker before putting on the lid to cook.
- Cook on low for 6 hours, making sure to stir occasionally and remove anything from the sides each time you stir. This simple step is crucial to prevent any burning.
- Serve on bread, crackers, pancakes, waffles, or rolls.
Notes
Storing Pumpkin Butter
Pumpkin butter will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for 2 to 3 months. Make a huge batch and save it for later! Freeze this butter for about a year if you want to keep it year round.Nutrition Information
Absolutely love it!!!
Oh my goodness! There are so many ways to use this awesome pumpkin butter!
I love making pumpkin butter and I really enjoyed the addition of maple! This is SO good on my morning toast!
Would I be able to hot bath this so that it would not need to refrigerated? And it would last longer
I haven’t tried that before, so I’m not sure! Let me know how it goes if you try it!
had never heard of this before, what a wonderful idea! Love the flavors of course, but love how it can be applied to so many things, and even, dare I say, beyond the fall months! Thank you for this recipe!
I love the flavors too and I agree it would be delicious any time of year! 🙂
How long does this keep? And does it hv to be stored in the fridge?
It should last 2-3 months in the fridge. Hope this helps!
Hi Ladies. Every time I come back to copy a recipe & Pin them all & I see your faces I think -They should call this” Three Pretty Ladies Great Recipes!” You are all Beautiful & Boy can you cook! I love all the pumpkin recipes & this one makes a great gift with breads & muffins. Thanks again for the great recipes & for being here. Happy Autumn!
Thanks Karen! You’re comment totally made my day, that’s so nice of you. 🙂
How much (real) maple syrup would you put in this, vs. the maple flavoring?
Thanks!!
Valinohio
I have the same question. I have not been able to find Mapleine for the last several years. Is it being made anymore?
What an awesome idea, my boys would go crazy for this!
Thanks Matt! A huge compliment from THE “Real Food by Dad” 😀 Let us know how you like it!