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    Home » Dips, Dressings, and Sauces » Pumpkin Butter Recipe

    Pumpkin Butter Recipe

    Published: Oct 13, 2021 by Linda Warren

    Jump to Recipe

    This easy Pumpkin Butter recipe is a fall staple. A sweet, creamy, thick spread that's full of autumnal spices, ready in 30 minutes, and tastes like pumpkin pie in a jar!

    It's perfect for your breakfast toast or muffin, as a topping for oatmeal, yogurt, or ice cream, and a great addition to baked goods. If you're into pumpkin, this is for you!

    Jar of pumpkin butter with spreader inside.

    If you're anything like me, one of the best parts of fall is all the yummy goodies flavored with pumpkin. Delicious baked goods like Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Dump Cake, and Pumpkin Pie as well as drinks like Pumpkin Lattes and Pumpkin Spice White Russians.

    But the first I heard of Pumpkin Butter was when I bought a jar of Trader Joes' Pumpkin Butter and fell head over heels in love with it. That's when I knew I had to try making it myself. And it turned out homemade pumpkin butter was as easy as pie and even more delicious.

    Table of contents

    • What is Pumpkin Butter
    • Homemade Pumpkin Butter Uses
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Variations
    • How to Make
    • More Pumpkin Recipes
    Closeup overhead of pumpkin butter in jar.

    It's just a matter of mixing all the simple ingredients together in a saucepan and boiling it down so that it thickens and becomes spreadable. The entire process takes only 20-30 minutes and the aromas wafting through the kitchen are an added bonus.

    What is Pumpkin Butter

    It's a condiment made from pumpkin puree, fall spices, and a sweetener. It has a creamy, thick consistency and is a pumpkin's version of apple butter. The spread is great on toast or muffins as well as a topping for oatmeal or yogurt. Oh heck, you can even eat it by the spoonful right from the jar!

    Overhead of pumpkin spread on muffin on brown plate with jar next to it.

    Homemade Pumpkin Butter Uses

    Imagine a spread that tastes like fall in a jar. Now think about all the things this pumpkin spice butter would taste great on.

    Think breakfast with toast, oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, and French Toast. Not to mention pumpkin lattes, as a topping for ice cream or a filling for cakes. You can even mix it with mascarpone or cream cheese to use as a dip for apples and pears. I even have a new love - Pumpkin Sauce for pasta! Yep, it's even for dinner!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is pumpkin butter made of?

    Pumpkin Butter is not a dairy product. It primarily consists of pumpkin puree, warm autumnal spices, and a sweetener such as sugar or maple syrup.

    What is pumpkin butter used for?

    Use it as a spread on toast, muffins, pancakes, waffles, and French Toast. Use as a topping for ice cream, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, and yogurt. Bake with it as a swirl or filling or turn it into a pasta sauce.

    How long does pumpkin butter keep?

    Homemade Pumpkin Butter will keep 3-4 weeks in the refrigerator.

    Can I freeze pumpkin butter?

    Yes, you can. If you are going to keep it longer than a few weeks, put it into an airtight container (with some room left for expansion) or even a resealable plastic bag and freeze. It will keep for up to a year.

    Is pumpkin butter healthy?

    This totally dairy-free butter has a lot to offer. It is high in fiber and rich in beta-carotene which converts to Vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is good for eye, skin, and immune health. Lessening the sugar content will up the health quotient as well.

    Is it OK to can pumpkin butter?

    It is not recommended to can pumpkin butter due to its low acidity level. Store it in the refrigerator or freeze it.

    Closeup holding a muffin spread with pumpkin butter.

    Variations

    This pumpkin butter recipe is easily adaptable to your family's tastes. Just look at what the addition of a few different ingredients can do.

    Maple Pumpkin Butter - increase the maple syrup to ⅓ cup and omit the apple cider

    Apple Pumpkin Butter - add 1-2 lbs of apples to pumpkin puree along with spices and apple cider and cook in a crockpot for 6 hours on low.

    Spicy Pumpkin Butter - just ups the nutmeg or ground cloves in the mixture. Try adding ⅛ teaspoon of either and adjust seasoning at the end. It will actually make the butter sweeter and give it a slight bite. Use these spices sparingly.

    Nutty Pumpkin Butter - for a little crunch add chopped toasted pecans or almonds.

    Ingredients

    Overhead of ingredients for butter on white table.
    • Pumpkin Puree - is the base of this pumpkin butter. Make sure to use pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling. However, you can make it with fresh pumpkin but why bother as the puree is easier to use and tastes even better.
    • Brown Sugar & Maple Syrup - are the sweeteners for the butter. The brown sugar imparts a molasses-y flavor while the syrup rounds it out with maple undertones.
    • Apple Cider - adds more depth of flavor as well as bringing some added sweetness.
    • Lemon Juice - brightens up all the flavors
    • Pumpkin Pie Spice - brings the warm autumnal flavors most associated with pumpkin pie. I like to add extra cinnamon for added sweetness.
    • Vanilla Extract - helps blend all the flavors together for a smoother taste.
    • Salt - just a pinch will take this pumpkin butter from bland to grand!

    How to Make

    Collage of how-to steps for making homemade pumpkin butter.
    1. Place a can of pumpkin puree a large saucepan.
    2. Add reamining ingredients - brown sugar, apple cider, maple syrup, lemon juice, pumpkin pie spice, salt and vanilla extract.
    3. Stir together, bring to boil and cook for about 20 minutes.
    4. Notice how thick the butter is at the end of cooking. You should be able to make a path with it. It will also continue to thicken as it cools so no need to overcook it.
    Scoop of pumpkin butter above full jar.

    Wait until you taste the deliciousness with your first bite. You'll wonder why you waited so long to make this homemade pumpkin butter recipe a part of your fall routine.

    This spread will not only be a new family favorite but makes great gifts for the holidays too. It's both gluten-free and vegan and, by omitting the brown sugar and upping the maple syrup, is also paleo-friendly. Don't wait any longer, power walk to the kitchen and dive into this sweet treat. Enjoy!

    More Pumpkin Recipes

    Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins are moist, delicious muffins, full of pumpkin flavor, stuffed with chocolate chips and topped with loads of crumbs. 

    Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal is a healthy, easy to prepare breakfast, full of pumpkin flavor, fall spices, and plenty of protein and fiber, 

    Turkey Pumpkin Chili from Everyday Delicious is a stew packed with pumpkin and fall flavors.

    No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake is a light and fluffy dessert with a delicious spiced pumpkin cheesecake filling set on a chocolate cookie crust.

    Find more fall recipes on 2CM!

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    Overhead of butter spread on muffin with pumpkin and fall berries around it.

    Pumpkin Butter

    This easy Pumpkin Butter recipe is a sweet, creamy, thick spread that's full of autumnal spices, ready in 30 minutes, and tastes like pumpkin pie in a jar!
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    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16 2 T. servings
    Calories: 33kcal
    Author: Linda Warren

    Ingredients

    • 1 can pumpkin puree, 15-ounces
    • ¼-⅓ cup brown sugar
    • 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
    • ⅜ cup apple cider
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Instructions

    • Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.
    • Bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes, stirring frequently. It will start to thicken as it simmers.
    • Let cool then store in covered jar.
    • Makes approximately 2 cups.

    Notes

    VARIATIONS
    Maple Pumpkin Butter - increase the maple syrup to ⅓ cup and omit the apple cider
    Apple Pumpkin Butter - add 1-2 lbs of apples to pumpkin puree along with spices and apple cider and cook in a crockpot for 6 hours on low.
    Spicy Pumpkin Butter - just ups the nutmeg or ground cloves in the mixture. Try adding ⅛ teaspoon of either and adjust seasoning at the end. It will actually make the butter sweeter and give it a slight bite. Use these spices sparingly.
    Nutty Pumpkin Butter - for a little crunch add chopped toasted pecans or almonds.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 33kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 73mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 4135IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Hey, I’m Linda, the recipe creator, photographer and cocktail lover at 2 Cookin Mamas. Here you’ll find easy recipes that are not only delicious but can get you out of the kitchen ASAP. Come and join me and let me take you on a tasty trip through your kitchen. Thanks for stopping by! Learn more about me

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