Homemade Pumpkin Butter Recipe
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Smooth and thick, made with a combination of pumpkin puree, brown sugar, apple juice, and pumpkin spice, this easy recipe for Pumpkin Butter will have you all set for spreading, dipping, or dunking. It’s the perfect addition to your fall menu though you may be tempted to eat it all year round.
Pumpkin Season is here and I for one could not be more excited! I have some amazing pumpkin recipes up my sleeve, so make sure you are checking back often. I decided the best way to kick things off for my pumpkin lovers was with a Homemade Pumpkin Butter Recipe! It is a favorite way to get those warm spices and yummy pumpkin goodness into and onto so many foods!
Think toasted bagels with cream cheese and pumpkin butter for breakfast, or stir it into your oatmeal. Add a little bit of this sweet spread on a buttermilk biscuit or a piece of toast with peanut butter at lunchtime or serve it with your pork tenderloin at dinner. (yes! It’s wonderful in a savory recipe, too!)
You really can’t go wrong with this pumpkin butter recipe. It’s quick and easy to prepare, you can eat it as is, you can bake with it and even cook with it. If you aren’t familiar with using pumpkin butter in recipes, it’s a surefire way to inject a touch of seasonality into your dishes. Try these: Snickerdoodle Thumbprints, Pumpkin Butter Pie Bites, Pumpkin French Toast, or these Pumpkin Butter Crumb Bars!
Homemade Pumpkin Butter Recipe
It’s that time of year, pumpkin time that is, and I’ll never tire of using fresh pumpkin puree in my recipes. The great thing about pumpkin is that it can be used in sweet or savory dishes. I always keep a can on hand in the pantry. You can make your own pumpkin puree using cooked pumpkin as pumpkins are easy to find but I prefer to go for convenience.
If you love this recipe for pumpkin butter, you are sure to love these too: Whipped Cherry Butter, Roasted Garlic Butter, and my Cinnamon Honey Butter!
Pumpkin Butter
Whipping up a batch of this pumpkin butter couldn’t be easier, whether you want to follow these instructions to prepare over the stove, or throw everything in the crockpot and set it and forget it. For detailed instructions on how to prepare pumpkin butter in the crockpot or instant pot, see the FAQ section below.
No matter how you prepare this easy pumpkin butter recipe, you’ll find there are many delicious ways to eat it; in place of apple butter or other fruit butters, on top of ice cream or french toast, swirled into a bowl of yogurt, or slathered on banana bread. I’ve also been known to eat it right out of the jar!
Ingredients for Pumpkin Butter
For complete ingredients and instructions scroll to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe card.
- Pumpkin puree – Make sure to buy canned pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.
- Brown sugar -Light or dark brown sugar adds sweetness and a slight caramel taste. If you’ve run out of brown sugar, white sugar also works.
- Apple juice – Apple juice smooths out the butter and adds some sweetness.
- Maple syrup – Use pure maple syrup for more sweetness.
- Pumpkin pie spice – If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice on hand you can make your own with this pumpkin pie spice recipe. Or use a combination of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ginger, and allspice.
- Salt – A pinch of salt to enhance the flavor.
How to make this easy pumpkin butter recipe
This recipe couldn’t be easier to prepare.
First Step: Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil.
Second Step: Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Final Step: Allow butter to cool before transferring to jars.
Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. Freeze for up to one month.
Love it? Pin it!
If you love this pumpkin butter recipe make sure that you don’t lose it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!
Pumpkin Butter Pictured over Pumpkin Zucchini Streusel Bread
FAQs
- How would I make this recipe in the crock pot? To make it in the slow cooker, combine all the ingredients and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.
- How would I make this recipe in the instant pot? Place all the ingredients in your instant pot, seal, and cook for 4-6 minutes.
- What is pumpkin butter made of? Pumpkin butter is made with fresh pumpkin puree, sweetener, and some spices.
- Is pumpkin spread the same as pumpkin butter? Yes, pumpkin spread is the same as pumpkin butter.
- What is the shelf life of pumpkin butter? Pumpkin butter will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks and up to one month in the freezer.
- Does pumpkin butter have to be pressure-canned? No, you do not need to pressure can the recipe. However, if you do the shelf life is substantially longer.
- Is this pumpkin butter gluten-free? Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free. Always check the labels of your ingredients to make sure they are gluten-free if you have dietary restrictions.
Substitutions
Remember that when it comes to making substitutions in recipes, you don’t need to be afraid to get creative and use ingredients that suit your personal taste and dietary preferences. Make it your own!
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Feel free to omit the sugar and increase the maple syrup for maple pumpkin butter.
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If you don’t have any apple juice, use apple cider, pear, white grape juice, or even water. Note that it will change the flavor of the pumpkin butter.
Tips & Tricks
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For a sweeter taste add a touch of vanilla extract.
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To ensure a super smooth texture, use an immersion blender or food processor.
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Add a bit of bourbon for an adult twist to your pumpkin butter.
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Store leftovers in an airtight container or freeze in an ice cube tray for easy portion-sized servings.
More Pumpkin Recipes to Love
-
Instant Pot Pumpkin Applesauce (pictured above)
- Pumpkin Bread
- Pumpkin Spice Coffee Cake with Brown Butter Glaze
- Savory Pumpkin Cheese Dip with Bacon
I know you will love this easy pumpkin butter recipe! It’s the perfect way to celebrate pumpkin season. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Pumpkin Butter Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup apple juice
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Let the pumpkin butter cool before adding it to jars or airtight containers.
Notes
Nutrition
Adapted from Hyvee Seasons Magazine
This was insanely good. I want to spread it on everything.
I just bought a can of pumpkin puree, and this recipe came up on my feed. Looks amazing! Saving for this weekend.
I’ve never tried pumpkin butter before but I’m really excited to make this! I bet it’s amazing on toast.
This was so good! I put it on banana bread because that’s all I had and let’s just say I’ll never eat banana bread again without it!
Love it!
OOH this looks so yummy and so easy to make too! Can’t wait to try this fall recipe!
This pumpkin butter was so creamy and perfectly sweet!! We spread it on toast for a delicious breakfast!
I didn’t know making my own pumpkin butter was so easy! This was the perfect speed on some warm, fresh bread for breakfast.
This pumpkin butter is INCREDIBLE! I’m finding all sorts of uses for it!
What a great way to have pumpkin butter this season. I use this spread on toasts and dinner rolls. It’s quite addicting!
This looks so wonderfully smooth and luscious – perfect for a fall-flavored toast.