Easy Pumpkin Butter Recipe

Pumpkin butter is one of those seasonal favorites that isn’t always easy to find. This easy pumpkin butter recipe, however, will show you just how easy it is to make homemade pumpkin butter (whenever you want).

Pumpkin butter is a wonderful mix of sweet, warmly spiced, and surprisingly savory-friendly. It isn’t sugary or overly sweet and it pairs beautifully with a wide variety of flavors, including cheeses and even cured meats!

Easy Pumpkin Butter Recipe

Pumpkin butter is a delicious combination of pumpkin puree cooked down with spices and ginger ale. It creates a thick, jam-like spread that is delicious with crackers and cheese, layered into a grilled cheese, or spread on a breakfast toast. It’s quite a versatile condiment that too easily gets overlooked.

What is pumpkin butter?

Pumpkin butter is a spiced pumpkin mix that’s cooked down to get a thicker, easily spreadable condiment. By cooking it down, moisture evaporates, leaving you with a concentrated flavor.

Despite the name, there’s no butter in the recipe—it’s completely dairy-free. It is, however, delicious on buttered toast!

It’s important to note that pumpkin butter is different than pumpkin puree (just steamed and pureed pumpkin flesh) and pumpkin pie filling (a canned mix that goes straight into a pie shell).

	Pumpkin Butter	Pumpkin Puree
Texture	Thick & spreadable	Thick but softer
Flavor	Sweet + spiced	Mild pumpkin
Ready to eat?	Yes	Usually an ingredient
Best for	Spreading, topping, snacking	Baking & cooking

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Besides pumpkin butter being delicious, it’s actually really quite easy to make. In just a half hour, you’ll have fresh, homemade pumpkin butter—and look (and feel) all the fancier for it.

This recipe uses canned pumpkin puree (yes, you can make your own pumpkin puree). It’s combined with warm fall spices for that quintessentially fall flavor—one that actually has pumpkin in it!

I also love that this recipe can be made ahead of time. Then just enjoy it whenever and wherever your heart desires!

Pumpkin Butter Ingredients

Pumpkin Puree

Pumpkin puree is the star of this show. While it doesn’t have a strong flavor itself, it’s a perfect canvas for warm spices and other fall flavors! Use canned pumpkin puree or homemade pumpkin puree made from cooked and pureed pumpkin flesh.

Ginger Beer/Ale

Ginger beer (or ginger ale for a lighter ginger flavor) provides a bit of liquid, ginger flavor, and some sweetness. Ginger beer is non-alcoholic and my preferred option in this recipe but either is fine.

Sugar

Earthy spices are balanced out with the addition of a bit of sugar.

Spices

Ground cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg give this homemade pumpkin butter recipe its warm, classic fall flavor. As you make it more often, you can adjust the amounts of each to suit your taste.

How to Make Pumpkin Butter

Combine Ingredients

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan over high heat. Stir to mix spices throughout pumpkin.

Cook Until Thickened

Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer for 30 minutes until thickened, stirring very frequently to avoid burning and sticking to the bottom of the pan. Mixture will thicken a little as it cools.

Cool and Store

Cool pumpkin butter completely and store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

How to Know When Pumpkin Butter is Done

Pumpkin butter is done cooking when the color has deepened to brown rather than bright orange and the consistency is thick. The pumpkin butter should be smooth and easily stirred. The darker color happens as water evaporates.

How to Store Pumpkin Butter

Pumpkin butter should be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

You can freeze it in a sealed container up to 3 months for the freshest flavor.

Preserving pumpkin butter isn’t recommended because pumpkin is a low-acid food, and thick purees can be difficult to process safely at home.

How to Use Pumpkin Butter

Pumpkin butter is about to become your new favorite thing—not just for how delicious it is but for how versatile it is. Ideas for using pumpkin butter include:

• Toast
• Oatmeal
• Yogurt
• Pancakes and waffles
• Muffins and quick breads
• Grilled cheese
• Prosciutto toast
• Crackers
• Charcuterie and cheese boards
• Crostini
• Sandwiches

Our favorite recipes with pumpkin butter are Pumpkin Butter Grilled Cheese and Pumpkin Butter Prosciutto Toast. It’s also delicious with these Cornbread Crackers and on a Fall Charcuterie Board!

FAQs

Is pumpkin butter actually made with butter?

No. There is no butter or dairy of any kind in pumpkin butter.

What does pumpkin butter taste like?

Pumpkin butter tastes like a spice-forward pumpkin pie filling. It has the same spices, no cream or milk, and it’s cooked down for a more concentrated flavor.

Is pumpkin butter the same as pumpkin puree?

No. Pumpkin puree is simply cooked and pureed pumpkin flesh. Pumpkin butter is cooked down with sugar, spices, and juice.

Can I make pumpkin butter with canned pumpkin?

Absolutely. This recipe calls for canned pumpkin puree, but you can also use homemade pumpkin puree made from fresh pumpkin.

How long does homemade pumpkin butter last?

Homemade pumpkin butter can last up to two weeks in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Can pumpkin butter be frozen?

Yes. Place completely cool pumpkin butter in a freezer-safe containers, leaving about ½ to 1-inch of space at the top to allow room for expansion as it freezes. Freeze for up to 3 months for freshest flavor.

What can I eat pumpkin butter with?

Pumpkin butter is delicious with cheeses, crackers, and breads. We love pumpkin butter grilled cheese and it’s a favorite addition to cheese platters and charcuterie boards in the fall and winter seasons.

More Fall Recipes You’ll Love

You can see all my fall recipes, including these delicious, seasonal fall appetizers and this collection of fall squash recipes.

• pumpkin quesadillas
• cinnamon sugar baked butternut squash
• fall salad
• kale and quinoa salad with butternut squash

This pumpkin butter recipe is sure to become a favorite in your house. I’d love to hear how you use it! Leave a comment or review and share your favorite way to enjoy it.