20-Minute Pumpkin Butter

Oct 11, 2021, Updated Feb 23, 2022

If I’m being 100 percent honest, pumpkin things are not my thing! Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin this and that are ehhh, just okay! But one weekend, Eric and I went to a local farm stand that served brunch with locally sourced ingredients, like pumpkins and maple syrup. They served homemade pumpkin butter with their toast, and I fell in love.

This pumpkin butter recipe brings me back to that moment! It takes 20 minutes to make and keeps well in the fridge. It can be used in so many ways, from layering warm on toast, to mixing into chilled yogurt, or as the base for a fall salad vinaigrette.

Whether you’re a pumpkin lover or a pumpkin skeptic, this recipe is worth the make.

P.S. Pumpkin butter has no butter in it, just in case you thought it did! 😉

My STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO below will help guide you through the recipe. Subscribe to my YouTube channel for recipe videos every week!

Makes: about 2 cups

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Total time: 30 minutes

The Ingredients

1 can (15 ounces) plain pumpkin purée

1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup real maple syrup

1/4 cup apple cider

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice*

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

*To make your own pumpkin pie spice: 2 tbs cinnamon, 1 tsp allspice, 1 tsp ground cloves, 1 tsp ground nutmeg mixed together. Use 2 teaspoons of the spice mix in this recipe!

The Steps

In a heavy bottomed medium pot, add all ingredients. Stir. Mixture should be relatively thick! Bring mixture to a boil (big bubbles often) over medium-high heat.

Then turn heat to medium-low, cover, and let simmer (small bubbles occasionally) for 20 minutes. Stir every few minutes.

Mixture should thicken slightly and become glossy and darker in color. Add a splash more apple cider if mixture thickens too much for your taste!

To store: store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Serve chilled or warm. Heat in microwave or on the stovetop as needed.

How to use pumpkin butter? On toast, waffles, pancakes, mixed into oatmeal or yogurt, in coffee, in a salad dressing with apple cider vinegar, or mixed in sweet potato. The options are endless!