Pumpkin Butter

5 from 4 votes
15 Comments

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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.

Small bowl of Pumpkin Butter on a cutting board with toasted bread.
Featured with this recipe
  1. What is Pumpkin Butter?
  2. Ingredients
  3. How Can I Use Pumpkin Butter?
  4. Health Benefits of Pumpkin
  5. Tips and Add-Ins for Making the Best Pumpkin Butter
  6. Frequently Asked Questions
  7. Storing Pumpkin Butter
  8. More Pumpkin Recipes
  9. How to Make Pumpkin Butter
  10. Pumpkin Butter Recipe

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.

Side view of Pumpkin Butter in a bowl next to bread and jars of Pumpkin Butter.


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!
Ingredients to make Pumpkin Butter including pumpkin, Mapleine, apple cider, salt, lemon, pumpkin pie spice and sugar.

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
Knife with Pumpkin Butter for spreading on toast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you use pumpkin butter for?

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!

What does pumpkin butter taste like?

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!

Is canning pumpkin butter safe?

No, you can’t properly seal this type of butter, mostly because of the low pumpkin acid.

How long does pumpkin butter last after opening?

Pumpkin butter will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for 2 to 3 months, or frozen for up to a year.

Is Pumpkin Butter gluten-free?

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

Bowl of Pumpkin Butter next to a jar of Pumpkin Butter and bread.

Pumpkin Butter

5 from 4 votes
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.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10 servings

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. 
    Close up of crockpot with ingredients for Pumpkin Butter.
  • Use a rubber spatula to clear anything from the sides of the slow cooker before putting on the lid to cook.
    Crockpot with combined ingredients for Pumpkin Butter.
  • 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.
    Cooked Pumpkin Butter in a crockpot.
  • Serve on bread, crackers, pancakes, waffles, or rolls.
    Knife with Pumpkin Butter for spreading on toast.

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

Calories: 131kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 101mgPotassium: 194mgFiber: 3gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 12795IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg

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About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

More about Emily Walker
5 from 4 votes

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love making pumpkin butter and I really enjoyed the addition of maple! This is SO good on my morning toast!

  2. 5 stars
    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!

  3. 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!

    1. I have the same question. I have not been able to find Mapleine for the last several years. Is it being made anymore?