20-Minute Maple Pumpkin Butter

Cooked down to a caramelized, silky spread, Maple Pumpkin Butter adds the cozy flavors of fall to your meals with one smear or dollop!

Use pumpkin butter on toast, stirred into oatmeal or yogurt, as a dip for apples, and so much more! Heck, I finished off my jar by eating it right from the jar... for a pumpkin lover, it's a cold-season must have.

Pumpkin season is here, and that means making pumpkin treats! Whether it's classic gluten free pumpkin pie, gluten free honey pumpkin bread, or this easy pumpkin butter, I'm bound to whip up something pumpkin-themed this season.

You can use this pumpkin butter as a dip with gluten free Graham Crackers, a spread with my favorite gluten free Pumpkin Pancakes, or stir into porridge, yogurt, or High Protein Overnight Oatmeal.

Key Ingredients for pumpkin butter

Pumpkin Puree: Use either fresh pumpkin puree or store-bought pumpkin puree! Just make sure you aren't using pumpkin pie mix, but instead pure pumpkin puree.

Obviously using pre-packaged puree makes the whole process go faster, but this recipe is a great way to use up fresh pumpkin puree (say, after carving pumpkins!) if you have it.

Maple Syrup: Use pure maple syrup, not maple-flavored syrup, to add some sweetness and a kiss of maple flavor to this pumpkin butter!

Pumpkin Pie Spice: The spice blend that lends the flavor of fall to most pumpkin recipes - use store-bought or my go-to blend:

• 4 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ginger
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon allspice (optional)

Lemon Juice: A little lemon juice helps with coloring and adds a little acidity to help the pumpkin butter store well.

How to make fresh pumpkin puree

In case you're like me and prefer the from-scratch route because you always end up with pumpkins and squash in the fall, here's how you can make fresh pumpkin puree at home.

Start with a small pumpkin, such as a sugar pie pumpkin. The big carving pumpkins have been grown specifically for carving and have tougher, stringier insides that don't lend to actual baking and consumption.

Cut your pumpkin in half and scrape out all the seeds (save those to roast later) and stringy "guts". Then bake the halves, placed cut side down on a baking sheet, at 350 degrees for about an hour depending on the size of your pumpkin.

Then, let the halves cool enough to handle. Scrape out the pumpkin flesh and puree using a blender, food processor, or immersion blender.

And there you have it - fresh pumpkin puree for this recipe or others, like Dairy Free Pumpkin Custards or Gluten Free Pumpkin Banana Bread.

How to make pumpkin butter at home

Pumpkin butter is SO easy, just like Stovetop Apple Butter! You're going to love how easy it is to make a huge batch of warming pumpkin butter.

Simply add all the ingredients to a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes or until the butter reaches your desired thickness.

Yeah. That's really it! Didn't I say it was easy?

If you're using fresh pumpkin puree, which is often not as thick as canned pumpkin puree, you may need to simmer a little longer to reach a good spreadable texture.

If you're looking for super-smooth pumpkin butter, you may also want to use an immersion blender to blend everything together before adding to the pot.

How to customize this stovetop pumpkin butter

The best part about simple recipes like this one is that they're easy to customize.

So, here are a few ways you can adjust this recipe and make it your own!

• Use 100% apple juice instead of water for a sweeter pumpkin butter without adding sugar
• Adjust the spice levels to suit your tastes. This recipe uses a pumpkin spice blend, but you could always use only cinnamon, add a little more clove, etc.
• Use other types of squash puree (yes, pumpkin is a squash) instead of pumpkin!
• Stir with peanut butter for a pumpkin peanut butter spread, similar to SunButter Pumpkin Butter!

Ideas for using pumpkin butter

When most people see jams, butters, and other spreads, their thoughts tend to immediately gravitate towards toast.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg, my friend. I'm going to challenge you to think outside the box with this maple pumpkin butter!

Here are just a few ideas on how you can use it:

• Spread it on pancakes, waffles, biscuits, or quick bread
  (bonus points if you spread pumpkin butter on gluten free pumpkin bread!)
• Stir into oatmeal, yogurt, cottage cheese, grain-free porridge, or high protein overnight oats
• Swirl it into ice cream just before it's done churning
• Spread a little on a square of dark chocolate
• Use as a dip for apples, pears, or crackers

More gluten free pumpkin recipes

Still have pumpkin puree to use? Try these gluten free pumpkin favorites this fall or winter!