Fall is in the air and that means pumpkin everything! This recipe for spiced pumpkin butter is a great way to enjoy the taste of pumpkin spice season all year long. It's perfect for spreading on toast, Old Fashioned Crisco Biscuits, or using in recipes.
Why You'll Love This Fresh Pumpkin Butter Recipe
Pumpkin butter is a condiment made from pumpkin puree, sugar, spice, and apple juice. It has a spreadable consistency and a flavors that are reminiscent of pumpkin pie, or pumpkin spice.
Pumpkin butter can be used in place of normal apple butter, or just eaten plain as a dip for apples or pears. It also makes a great addition to your morning oatmeal or yogurt.
If you're looking for a delicious and easy way to get your pumpkin spice fix, try it on top of our Pumpkin Pecan Waffles or Air Fryer Frozen Waffles for a real treat!
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What Is Pumpkin Butter?
Pumpkin Butter is pretty much the same thing as Apple butter, or Pear butter. It's a fall fruit or vegetable that's pureed and stewed with spices and sugar until it is a thick, spreadable 'jam' condiment.
I use Pumpkin Butter for the filling in my copycat Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights. You can use it to make cookie bars, or just simply use it on pancakes, or toast just like any other fruit spread.
Pumpkin butter is just perfect in the autumn when that cozy pre holiday atmosphere has use looking for everything pumpkin spice.
Pumpkin Spread Ingredients
You probably already have everything on hand to make this recipe sitting in your pantry for this pumpkin butter recipe! Regular canned pumpkin puree, individual spices or a jar of pumpkin pie blend, sugar, and apple juice.
- Pumpkin puree
- Sugar (white, brown, or a mixture of the two)
- Apple juice
- Ginger, ground
- Cloves, ground
- Cinnamon, ground
- Nutmeg, ground
- Pinch of salt
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make This Spiced Pumpkin Spread
Just like when making a pumpkin pie, you can adjust the seasoning in this pumpkin spice flavored pumpkin butter recipe. Adjust the levels of cinnamon, clove, and ginger according to your taste. Keep in mind that the spices do make the pumpkin butter darker the more you add.
Be sure to see in the variation section of this post, our instructions for Crock Pot Pumpkin Butter also!
Pumpkin Puree, Apple Juice, And Spices
- Open the can of pumpkin puree, apple juice, pinch of salt, and spices into a dutch oven pot or a heavy bottomed saucepan. Stir to blend.
Add The Sugar
- You can use regular white sugar, brown sugar, or a combination of the two for the total amount of sugar in the recipe.
Boil And Then Simmer The Butter
- Bring all the ingredients to a quick boil, stirring constantly. Then, reduce the heat to a simmer, on low.
Use a whisk to stir it constantly until the pot stops boiling and settles down to a low simmer. Stir periodically until thickened, about 10 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Pour the Pumpkin butter into Ball canning jars, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
You can also use the Ball Hot Water Canning method to process your jars of pumpkin spice Pumpkin butter. The Water Canning method will seal the jars and let you store them in your pantry for up to 18 months.
If you like making your own jams and condiments, be sure to see our Blackberry Preserves and Fig Preserves recipes.
Related Recipes
Substitutions and Variations
- If you are too busy to stand and stir the boiling and simmering pot, you can also make a Crock Pot Pumpkin Butter. Just put everything into the crockpot, stir well. Then, set the crock pot on high for 3 hours.
- Check to see that the pumpkin butter has thickened. If it is too thick, just add a small amount of liquid (apple juice or water) to thin it down to that nice spreadable texture.
- You can make fruit butter out of a lot of the Fall produce. We have a recipe for Cinnamon Stewed Pears that you can alternatively cook in a crockpot until soft and tender to make Pear Butter.
- Just use a food processor to puree the pears after cook, then follow the recipe in this Pumpkin Butter recipe. Here are a few other ideas for this delicious, spreadable butter type of preserve:
Equipment
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Storage
Store your Pumpkin Butter in your refrigerator for up to 3 months, covered. If you want to store outside of the refrigerator, use the Ball Water Bath Canning Method to process your jars of blackberry preserves.
Tips for Success
- You can use a canned pumpkin pie mix, but you will not need any sugar or spices, as the pumpkin pie mix has that in it already. Instead, just simmer it in a pot until it reduces and becomes thick. You can add more spices also, if you like it to be more pumpkin pie tasting.
- Stir constantly during the boiling stage, so the preserves do not stick or scald.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, just put it in a freezer safe container.
More Delish Ideas
Pumpkin Butter
Ingredients
- 15 oz can of pumpkin puree
- ¾ cup apple juice
- 2 teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon cloves
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon use Ceylon, it is sweeter than Saigon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1½ cup sugar white or brown, or a combination
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- In a medium heavy bottomed sauce pan add the pumpkin puree, apple juice, pinch of salt, and spices. Stir to mix.15 oz can of pumpkin puree, ¾ cup apple juice, 2 teaspoon ginger, ½ teaspoon cloves, 2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, pinch of salt
- Add the sugar, any combination of all white, all brown, or a mixture. Stir to mix in.1½ cup sugar
- Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat.
- Allow to simmer for 20 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened.
- Place in Ball canning jars, and store in the refrigerator.
- You can use the Ball Water Process canning method or a Pressure Canning method to store long term in your pantry also.
Crock Pot Pumpkin Butter
- Put all the ingredients into the crock pot or slow cooker, stir well. Then, set the crock pot on high for 3 hours. Check to see that the pumpkin butter has thickened. If it is too thick, just add a small amount of liquid (apple juice or water) to thin it down to that nice spreadable texture.
- Ladle into mason jars and store in the refrigerator.
Video
Notes
- Try to find Ceylon cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is a little more expensive, but is actually 'true' cinnamon. The other cinnamon commonly sold is Saigon cinnamon, which is actually Cassia, a relative of cinnamon. Most of the cinnamon sold in the spice jars in our grocery stores is NOT Ceylon cinnamon, but instead the less expensive Cassia (Saigon).
- Ceylon cinnamon (true cinnamon) is best for baking and sweet dishes. It has a more pronounced cinnamon flavor.
- Cassia cinnamon (Saigon cinnamon) is best for savory dishes, like biryani, stews, rice pilaf, ect. Cassia requires more to get that great cinnamon flavor, but it also has a slightly bitter after taste the more you add. Cassia also has higher levels of Coumadin, a blood thinner, naturally in it.
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