It's The Great Pumpkin (Shortage): Spiced Pumpkin Butter Recipe

Did you know that there is a pumpkin shortage this year? Not good news for people like me, who look forward to pumpkin scones with the wide-eyed anticipation of a six-year old on Christmas morning. Not good news for people like Erin, either, the only person I've met who seems to like pumpkin more than I do.

I found this recipe on the Internet one year in a fervent effort to find something pumpkin that wasn't all cream cheese, cheesecake or cookie. Contrary to its ubiquitous presence in autumnal desserts, pumpkin is actually quite nutritious. Low in fat and calories, high in beta-carotene (which converts to Vitamin A) it's the added butter, eggs and sugar that that give pumpkin desserts a bad rap.

If you like apple butter, you'll probably like pumpkin butter just as much. Despite its name, there is no butter in pumpkin butter and it's a great spread on toast, muffins, scones or even sandwiches. The fun part about this is that you can make it in the microwave and the only dish you'll have to wash is your measuring cup. The added bonus is that the aromatic scents of allspice, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon will linger in your kitchen for hours.

Spicy Pumpkin Butter

Ingredients:
Makes 2 cups

1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons white sugar
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teapoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cup pumpkin

Directions:

Combine the two sugars, water, allspice, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon in a 4-cup glass measure. Microwave on HIGH 3 minutes; stir. Add pumpkin and microwave on HIGH 5 minutes. Let cool and refrigerate. Keeps several weeks in refrigerator or can be frozen.

Comments

[elra]

Oh my, couldn't be more easier then this.

[Daryl]

What a beautiful picture you have presented as well as a fabulous recipe. Anything with the word butter in it has to be good!

[VeggieGirl]

Hope the pumpkin shortage is temporary - eek!

Mmm, scrumptious spiced spread!

[Sophie]

What a neat idea, maris!! Great for all sort of uses,...

MMMMMMMMMM!!!!

[beyond]

seriously, a pumpkin shortage? i had no idea. now i feel like running out to get some. (it's a good thing there are similar squashes to use, butternut, acorn...)

[kat]

We bought some pie pumpkin at the farm last weekend to make some pumpkin butter too.

[Laurie]

I can't wait to go home and make this!

[thatShortChick]

yay!! and I can actually do this one!! (so sad, I know).

I've been an avid apple butter fan during this time of year for quite some time and have never thought of the brilliance of pumpkin butter. can't wait to try it.

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

Come to the country; there's no pumpkin shortage here!

[Christina]

I hope the pumpkin shortage ends soon - I love pumpkin butter but have never had homemade. Great recipe!

[Christina]

I hope the pumpkin shortage ends soon - I love pumpkin butter but have never made it homemade. Great recipe!

[Kate @ Savour Fare]

This might negate the anti-cream cheese healthy bit, but one of my favorite mix ins for oatmeal this time of year is a spoonful of pumpkin butter and a spoonfull of whipped cream cheese.

[Jessica]

In light of this shortage, you can have any pumpkin assigned to me :)

[Erin]

Haha... thanks for pointing me out! I am a pumpkin-head what can I say? I actually have a pumpkin recipe I need to blog....

Anyways, can you believe I haven't made pumpkin butter? Thanks for sharing this recipe, maybe soon I actually will! Currently I've been eating the Trader Joe's Pumpkin Butter. It's AMAZING mixed in Oikos vanilla or plain yogurt! Seriously. Holy Cow. Try it with your pumpkin butter!

[Laurie]

I made this on Saturday -- it was ridiculously easy & tastes ridiculously delicious! I put it on a 16 calorie "cocopop". Since the cocopop is basically tasteless, you can really savor the taste of the pumpkin butter. Do you have any other fruit "butter" recipes?

[patricia Holder]

So-o-o easy, so FABULOUS tasting. Thank you Ina!