Homemade Pumpkin Butter
One of my favorite things to make, this Homemade Pumpkin Butter is a great way to use those pumpkins from Halloween and is a delicious blend of pumpkin, maple syrup, molasses, brown sugar and the spices we love in the Fall.
As much as I love making this Homemade Pumpkin Butter, I also refuse to jump the gun on pumpkins.
When pumpkin season starts rearing it’s head in August, I’m yelling ‘STOP the Madness’ since there is not one fresh pumpkin to be found at the market.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve used canned pumpkin for years too but I still know that it’s not garden produce that is delivering yield in August so it just doesn’t fit.
No one goes nuts for canned tomatoes EVER much less in May before good garden tomatoes are available and I suppose I feel the same about pumpkins; they have to be available fresh for me to wax poetic about them.
That my Food Network #FallFest group waits until now to feature them affirms my belief. Whew…good to know I’m not alone!
Beyond that I’m more into apples and pears for the most part but I do have some pumpkin favorites and this homemade pumpkin butter is one of them.
I made apple butter last week, this weeks offering is pumpkin butter and now wondering if I should apologize in advance for my fall butter obsession because there is a good chance the pears on the counter may meet the same fate.
I just LOVE using fall fruits for one of my favorite breakfast condiments; can you blame me?
Baking and cooking with fresh pumpkin is easy; you simply cut open the pumpkin and scrape out the seeds and then cut it into sections that will fit on a cookie sheet.
Bake in the oven at 350 degrees until the flesh is soft; about 45 minutes.
Cool, scrape the flesh from the rind and then process it until smooth. Fresh pumpkin has quite a bit of water so after I process it I let it drain in some cheesecloth and/or simmer it if it still needs to thicken.
I want it as thick as the pumpkin puree you get in a can (and certainly use canned product for this recipe if you prefer).
Since I don’t cook my pumpkins until after Halloween where they sit on my porch for decoration, I always freeze a bunch so that I have some puree to work with during October.
My FoodSaver appliance has paid for itself over and over; I can take that package out of the freezer almost a year later and not have one bit of freezer burn!
I took photos of this process last year so I could give you a pictorial so of course I can’t find them.
Hop on over to my friend Ree’s page if you want to see her step by step process of making pumpkin puree; it’s really easy, promise!
The difference in taste between a canned product and a fresh product is not unlike any other vegetables that are fresh versus processed.
The real key is getting the right pumpkin; many are grown just for cutting for Halloween so make sure you get ones that are meant for baking and cooking. Their flavor is remarkable.
I LOVE Cinderella and Fairytale Pumpkins; they are so pretty and taste so good…so of course they can be hard to find; my most reliable resource is Sprouts Farmers Market.
Look for pumpkins with heavy ridges like in the Cinderella and Fairytale; Cinderella pumpkins are typically a bright orange and the Fairytale pumpkins can have a brown to blueish hue.
More readily available at grocery stores is a smaller variety called Sugar Pie Pumpkins; those work well too.
This pumpkin butter is so perfect; a friend told me it’s the best she has ever had. You all know how much I love maple EVERYTHING right?
I know that including the syrup in this recipe is what makes it so very special; I hope you will try it too!
Love all Things Pumpkin? Here is a list from some amazing recipes sure to satisfy your craving from my friends who also create recipes for The Food Network!
The Hungry Traveler: Pumpkin Brown Butter Madeleines
Bacon and Souffle: Pumpkin Lasagna with Sausage, Kale and Parmesan
Homemade Delish: Warm Pumpkin Salad
Creative Culinary: Pumpkin Butter (You’re Here!)
The Lemon Bowl: 20 Healthy Pumpkin Recipes
Virtually Homemade: Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
Dishin & Dishes: Homemade Pumpkin Chai Tea Latte Concentrate
The Heritage Cook: Roasted Pumpkin, Potato, and Sage (Gluten-Free)
Swing Eats: Pumpkin Panna Cotta with Pumpkin Seed Brittle
Taste with the Eyes: Sultry Pumpkin Soup – Southwest Flavors, Dressed To Kill
FN Dish: 8 Ways to Eat Pumpkin All Day Long
‘PIN ‘Homemde Pumpkin Butter’
Pumpkin Butter
Ingredients
- 3 cups pumpkin puree fresh or canned
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp molasses
- ¾ cup apple juice
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Juice of half a lemon
Instructions
- For morning breakfast, read reCombine pumpkin puree, maple syrup, molasses, apple juice, sugar and spices in a large saucepan; stir well. Bring mixture to a boil.
- Reduce heat, and simmer for at least 30 minutes or until thickened and reduced by about half. Stir frequently.
- Adjust spices to taste. Stir in lemon juice.
- Process for canning if desired or once cooled, store in the fridge in an airtight container.
Can this recipe be canned using a water-bath?
do you think I could put this in the crock pot for a few hours
You can Monica but I would do it on low; there is a lot of sugar and I wouldn’t want it to burn. Not sure how long, maybe try 2 hours to start?
Wow that list of ingredients is fabulous and I can only imagine the flavor! I haven’t used canned pumpkin since after college (can’t buy it in europe) but I always steam it… and I know I should be doing it your way. But that pumpkin butter… no I would not serve it to my guests. I’d keep it all for myself.
Thank you from the bottom of my stomach. For all of your readers who haven’t tried your pumpkin butter you need to make it immediately. Barb gave me a jar probably 2-3 years ago and I fell in love with it. Since then, I’ve been asking, pleading, and pretty much nagging Barb to share the recipe.
This is a keeper of a recipe…your family will enjoy it and I suggest hiding a jar for yourself:)
I didn’t mean to withhold, you know I would share with you. But it is good to have such a fantastic endorsement, thanks Jane!
I made mine today. I’m planning to take some to my sister in Florida when I visit her this week. Still my favorite of all time recipe. Thank you!!
Good to hear Jane!
I didn’t grow up eating pumpkin butter. It wasn’t a French thing so it didn’t happen at our house. I only had it after moving to Tennessee for college. There all things pumpkin were akin to religion. I enjoyed heaps but I never made my own. Yours looks irresistible.
Barb, I’ve never made pumpkin butter before and I know my family would absolutely love it. With the maple syrup, spices and molasses, it’s got to taste fantastic!
I love pumpkin butter! I also love your addition of maple syrup and molasses!
I do like pumpkin, but am more an apple and pear person myself. Never had pumpkin butter — like the idea. And your recipe looks really nice. Thanks!
Thank you for the info on making your own pumpkin puree! I had no idea – beginning with how to pick the right kind of pumpkin for the task. I am adding this to my fall to-do list!
I have heard of and used apple and other fruit butters, but never pumpkin butter. I’m cured of that now! I love pumpkin, and I agree that when it starts getting “pushed” too early in the season I want to scream “STOP! It’s too early!” But now that October is upon us, I’m ready, and this recipe is just the thing I need to throw myself headlong into the pumpkin rush.
Love the idea of making my own pumpkin butter! But I hate cutting those gorgeous pumpkins!
This looks so good Barb! My recipe includes citrus as well and it is so tasty. Cheers to fresh pumpkin!
Oh my, but isn’t this just the perfect thing for fall. I love the taste of fresh pumpkin too. Yes, I get the convenience and reproducibility of results when canned pumpkin is used, but fresh can’t be beat for flavor punch. This Pumpkin Butter sounds so inviting, so comforting. It’s now on my “must make”list. Best wishes for a wonderful fall season to you and yours!