Pumpkin Butter

Pumpkin butter is an autumn fruit spread (yes, pumpkin is a fruit!) made from canned pumpkin and other sweet and spicy ingredients, like apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. The mixture is simmered over low heat until the flavor is concentrated, and tastes like the richest, most delicious pumpkin pie filling you can imagine. Similar to apple butter, there is no actual dairy butter in pumpkin butter; the term butter refers only to its butter-like, soft consistency and its use as a spread. 

Wondering how to use your pumpkin butter? Here are some of my favorite ways:

• Spread it on salty crackers

• Dollop it on waffles or pancakes with maple syrup

• Spread it on toast, biscuits, English muffins, or scones with cream cheese

• Mix it into Greek yogurt and top with granola

• Use it as a filling for crepes

• Whisk a few spoonfuls into egg/milk custard for French toast

• Spoon some into oatmeal

• Add it to vanilla milkshakes or smoothies

• Stir a spoonful into a latte

• Whip a few spoonfuls with softened butter to make whipped compound pumpkin butter (this is delicious on rolls, biscuits, or cornbread)