This article explores how to make a delicious and healthy keto-friendly pumpkin butter. This homemade, sugar-free spread is perfect for adding a touch of fall flavor to your favorite treats. It's easy to make and can be customized to suit your taste preferences.
What is Pumpkin Butter?
Pumpkin butter is a fruit butter made by reducing pumpkin puree with sweeteners and spices like cinnamon. Many recipes use apple juice, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice, and some opt for natural sweeteners like maple syrup instead of white or brown sugar. Pumpkin butter is sweeter with hints of maple, where apple butter has a bit more tang and isn't quite as smooth.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: You only need a handful of ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry.
- Easy to Make: The entire recipe comes together in just 30 minutes.
- Allergen-Friendly: It's naturally gluten-free, sugar-free, and vegan.
- Low Carb/Keto Friendly: With no added sugar, the total carb count is low, making it perfect for keto diets.
- Versatile: There are tons of ways to enjoy pumpkin butter.
- Homemade: You get to make the best pumpkin butter at home!
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make this keto pumpkin butter:
- Pumpkin Puree: Use canned pumpkin puree, ensuring it's 100% pumpkin and doesn't contain any added sugar or fillers. Fresh pumpkin puree can also be used.
- Sugar-Free Sweetener: Choose your favorite granulated sugar-free sweetener like Lakanto Monkfruit, Swerve or Stevia.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: A blend of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice is preferred, but bottled lemon juice can be used in a pinch. It helps to prevent browning and enhances the flavor.
- Water: To help achieve the perfect consistency. Apple juice or apple cider can be substituted for even more fall-inspired flavor.
- Almond butter: Use natural creamy cashew butter or natural creamy sunflower butter.
- Sugar free maple syrup: Adds flavor, texture, and substance to the pumpkin butter without any sugar or calories.
- Stevia: Balances the creamy consistency of the pumpkin and warm spices.
- Pinch of salt: Enhances the flavors of the pumpkin butter.
Instructions
Here are two methods for making keto pumpkin butter:
Stovetop Method
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.
- Heat over medium heat until the mixture starts to bubble.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Allow to cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Slow Cooker Method
- Add pumpkin puree to the crock of a slow cooker.
- Add the granulated sweetener, water, vanilla extract, and spice blend.
- Stir well to combine.
- Set your crockpot to LOW and set a timer for 1 hour.
- Once the time is up, give it a good stir and cook on LOW an additional 2 hours with the lid vented.
- After the last 2 hours of simmer time, give it a taste. Adjust the sweetness and seasoning to your liking by adding more spice or sweetener.
- Transfer to a mason jar and allow to cool.
Tips for Perfect Pumpkin Butter
- Consistency: Cook until the mixture has thickened and darkened in color. It should be like baby food when it’s all done.
- Sweetness: Adjust the sweetness and spice levels to your preference.
- Burning: Stir frequently to prevent burning, especially when using the stovetop method.
- Fresh vs. Canned Pumpkin: Fresh pumpkin puree can be used in place of canned pumpkin. Roast your pie pumpkins cut side down on a baking sheet with sides at 450F for 90 minutes. Cool then process in a food processor or blender.
Creative Ways to Use Pumpkin Butter
Pumpkin butter is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes:
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- Spread on keto bread, toast, or English muffins
- Swirl into oatmeal or yogurt
- Use as a filling for cookies or cakes
- Top pancakes, waffles, or ice cream
- Add to keto pumpkin pie spice latte
- Mix in pumpkin bread or pumpkin muffins
- Fold into homemade ice cream or frozen yogurt
- Stir into your favorite chili recipe or homemade mac and cheese
- Use as a dip for graham crackers or pretzels
- Blend into a protein shake or breakfast smoothie
- Spread on crostini with whipped cheese
- Add a dollop in your Greek yogurt for a sweet snack
- Swirled into vanilla ice cream with a few pecans sprinkled on top!
- Make up my 5 Ingredient Gluten Free No Bake Cheesecake and pour into dessert dishes, then top with a layer of sugar free pumpkin butter.
Variations and Substitutions
- Maple Pumpkin Butter: Omit the brown sugar and rely on other sweeteners like Lakanto Sugar-Free maple syrup or my Easy Keto Maple Syrup Substitute Recipe to create a Maple Pumpkin Butter!
- Spices: Customize the spices to suit your taste preferences. You can use cinnamon sticks for a warm, cozy flavor, or experiment adding in other warm spices like ginger, ground cloves, or nutmeg. I prefer to make my own pumpkin pie spice. 1 1/2 t. 3/4 t.
- Sweeteners: You’ve got a couple options here, and know that the recipe was thoroughly tested with allulose, xylitol, and erythritol. Allulose and xylitol work equally well. The resulting keto pumpkin butter is luscious and sticky, with no thickener required. Now, erythritol is a bit tricker guys as it tends to crystalize once cool (you can always reheat it, but then again pumpkin butter isn’t really served warm…). And if not restricted by carbs, maple syrup would be my top choice all around but regular sugar would work too.
Storage Tips
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- For long-term storage, consider freezing your pumpkin butter in airtight containers.
Is Pumpkin Butter Healthy?
This sugar-free pumpkin butter recipe is a great way to get dietary fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin K in your diet. One serving of this recipe has 25% of the daily value of vitamin A!
FAQ
- Can I use fresh homemade pumpkin puree instead of canned pumpkin? Yes, absolutely! Fresh pumpkin puree can be used in place of canned pumpkin in this recipe. To prepare the puree, simply roast your pie pumpkins cut side down on a baking sheet with sides at 450F for 90 minutes. Cool then process in a food processor or blender. If it is dry add a little bit of water. If it is very watery, pour through a cloth covered sieve to drain off excess moisture.
- Can I make pumpkin butter in an Instant Pot? While it’s possible to make pumpkin butter in an Instant Pot, the slow cooker method produces the great results like I had.
- Can I customize the spices in pumpkin butter? Absolutely! Feel free to adjust the spices to suit your taste preferences. You can use cinnamon sticks for a warm, cozy flavor, or experiment adding in other warm spices like ginger, ground cloves, or nutmeg.
- What’s the difference between pumpkin butter and apple butter? While both pumpkin butter and apple butter are fruit-based spreads, they differ in their texture.
- Can I use pumpkin butter as a substitute in baking? Yes, you can actually replace 1 egg with 1/4 cup pumpkin butter. Eggs provide lift in a recipe, other than moisture, so only substitute half of the eggs called for in the original recipe with the pumpkin butter for the best results.
- How long does homemade pumpkin butter last? When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, homemade pumpkin butter can last for up to 2 weeks.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto