This silky, spicy pumpkin butter tastes like pumpkin pie and is ready in 15 minutes. It is a wonderful fall treat on muffins, toast, and pancakes! The recipe makes 8 cups total so you will have plenty to share as hostess and Christmas gifts (if you can part with it).
If you could smear pie on your toast and get away with it why wouldn’t you? Pumpkin butter tastes like creamy, sweet, spiced pumpkin pie! It has the lovely sweet spiciness and soft silky mouth feel of pumpkin pie but is dairy and egg free and you can smear it on anything that comes into your head!
How to Make Pumpkin Butter
Store bought pumpkin butter usually comes at a premium price. I’m also less than impressed with the flavor of store bought options! I’ve tried Trader Joes pumpkin butter but it just doesn’t taste that amazing… Kind of funny since they are famous for it but some things are just better if you make them yourself!
I would rather save the money and make pumpkin butter at home because it is SO easy and fast. It also makes lovely homemade gifts. Give it out to friends just because, or tuck it into Christmas stockings, bring it as a hostess gift or give tiny jars of it out to your Thanksgiving guests!
It takes five minutes to open the cans of pumpkin and stir it together with the spices. It takes 10 minutes to cook in the microwave! I only had one Pyrex bowl to toss in the dishwasher after and I had treats for us plus gifts! And of course the kitchen smells amazing when you are done!
If this recipe is TOO simple for you (or you have some yummy pie pumpkins to use) then you can certainly make your own pumpkin puree! I’ve got an easy tutorial on doing that here for homemade pumpkin pie.
Ways to cook this pumpkin butter recipe
There is more than one way to cook pumpkin butter! I have a microwave and find that method to be fast and easy but there are other options for those who don’t have a microwave!
Stovetop: Combine everything in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Once the pumpkin butter starts to bubble reduce the heat until it is just simmering and cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes stirring frequently. If you want a deeper flavor and thicker butter cook for an additional 5 minutes but no more than 10 more minutes.
Crock Pot: Combine everything in the crock pot and cook on low for 3-4 hours until thick.
Pumpkin Butter Uses
So many ideas, so little pumpkin butter! You might need to make another batch!
- Toast or biscuits
- Swirl into yogurt
- Filling for crepes
- On oatmeal muffins
- Stir into oatmeal
- Add to a smoothie
- Stir into your latte
- Pumpkin pie milkshake
- Gifts
- Waffles
- Pancakes
- Condiment like jam, sauce or chutney
- Dip for apple slices
- Stir it into overnight French toast
- Baked into cookies, muffins or cakes
- On brie
Tips for Storing Pumpkin Butter
Pumpkin butter will keep in the refrigerator for 3 weeks or in the freezer for up to a year. I use a canning funnel to put my pumpkin butter into mason jars. I cap the jars with screw top plastic mason jar lids which are a super easy reusable lid. I do this for all my jam, applesauce, homemade broth. These lids are lifesavers!
If you plan to freeze your pumpkin butter make sure to leave some space at the top of the jar because pumpkin butter does expand when frozen. I also suggest freezing it in plastic containers instead of glass. I have had one two many jars “jump” out of the freezer and smash on the concrete garage floor.
Can you can pumpkin butter?
The general food safety recommendation is NOT to can pumpkin butter or pumpkin puree. I’ve seen recipes where people use litmus paper to test the PH of their prepared pumpkin butter and then pressure can it. However, I don’t feel comfortable recommending that method since it is not endorsed by any of the agencies that provide safe, scientifically tested home canning information.
MORE PUMPKIN RECIPES TO LOVE
Can’t get enough pumpkin? I’ve got the good stuff for you!
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
- Easy Pumpkin Cake Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
- How to Make a Pumpkin Pie From Fresh Pumpkin
- Spiked Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
15 Minute Microwave Pumpkin Butter
Ingredients
- 2 cans of pumpkin 29oz each, or 6 cups pumpkin puree - NOT canned pumpkin pie filling mix
- 2 cups packed brown sugar light or dark
- 1 cup pure maple syrup not imitation
- 1 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
This pumpkin butter recipe is for the microwave. See recipe notes for crock pot and stove top directions.
- In a large microwave safe bowl combine all ingredients. Stir.
- Microwave on high for 10 minutes, stirring once after 5 minutes.
- Decant into containers and freeze to use or gift. A jar can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 weeks.
- Please note that this recipe does not contain enough sugar to meet food safety guidelines for best practices for safe water bath canning or pressure canning.
Helpful Recipe Notes
Your Rating Matters
When you leave a comment or star rating, it means more than you might think. It helps me understand what you’re enjoying, builds trust for other readers, and supports real, tested cooking content. If you have a moment, I’d truly appreciate you sharing your experience. - Mirlandra
Nutrition Estimate
A Note on Nutrition
Nutritional info is an imperfect estimate. Please take it with a grain of salt.
I read each and every comment and I try to respond to questions asap, so ask away! If you’ve made a recipe, I would love to hear about it! Please come back and share your experience and give the recipe a 5-star rating so other people will know how much you loved it!
This post was originally published in 2014 and updated in 2020.
Linda James says
How many jars will you need for the pumpkin pie filling?
Mirlandra Neuneker says
It makes 8 cups so 8 jars if they are 8oz or 1/2 pint jars or 4 pint jars which hold 16oz. I hope that helps 🙂