5 Minute Pumpkin Butter (better than Trader Joe’s)

There is nothing that’s more quintessential to Fall for me than pumpkin butter. Sorry pumpkin spice latte fans, but for me, pumpkin butter is where it’s AT. And my 5 Minute Pumpkin Butter is so delicious, so simple, and so easy to make! Prep this ahead of time and keep it in your fridge for whenever you need an extra dose of pumpkin-y goodness! And if you are a die-hard Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Butter fan, well…you are in for a real treat. My version is BETTER.

My friends, it is official Fall, and I am SO excited about it this year. After a very uncertain season last year (thanks, pandemic!) I am so excited to be back in full celebratory mode. More time with family, more time with friends, and more time cooking up my favorite recipes for my favorite people. What could be better than that?!

But before we get into all of the holiday recipes this year, I have to share more pumpkin recipes with you, because how could I not?!

One of my favorite pumpkin treats in the entire world is pumpkin butter. I fell in-love with it after getting it at Trader Joe’s a few years ago, but let’s be honest, the Trader Joe’s version is loaded with processed cane sugar, which isn’t the best for us. So, as always, I knew there had to be a healthier way, and hence, my Healthy Pumpkin Butter was born!

What Makes My Pumpkin Butter Healthy?

So you may be wondering, what is it that makes my pumpkin butter healthier than Trader Joe’s? Well my friends, the answer is simple. Rather than using cane sugar in our recipe, we’re getting our sweetness from honey. I like using a local honey (local honey has been shown to help with inflammation levels and boost your immune system!), but any honey will work.

What You Need to Make This Healthy Pumpkin Butter

• Pumpkin Puree: After all, how can we make pumpkin butter without the pumpkin? Canned pumpkin puree is my favorite, and I always stock my pantry full of it, during this time of year.
• Honey: Again, I love local honey, but any honey works here. 
• Vanilla Extract: A little vanilla extract goes a long way, and helps give this pumpkin butter the perfect flavor.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice: Pumpkin pie spice gives the pumpkin butter that classic Fall flavor. It’s a little cinnamon-y, a little nutmeg-y, and absolutely delicious. And if you don’t have any, don’t skip this! You can easily make your own, at home, in just a pinch.
• Lemon: I like using fresh squeezed lemon juice, for more of a fresh flavor!

How to Make This Healthy Pumpkin Butter

1. Heat a saucepan on the stove over low heat.
2. Add all of your ingredients to the pan and stir until everything is well-incorporated.
3. Let cook for about 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pumpkin butter changes colors from a bright orange to a light brown.
4. Remove the pan from heat, and let your pumpkin butter cool.
5. Serve on toast, with fruit, or however you’d like. Store in a jar in the fridge for up to one week, and enjoy!

How to enjoy your 5 Minute Pumpkin Butter

I mean it when I say that this pumpkin butter is so delicious, you could eat it by the spoonful. But in case you’re looking for a serving method that’s slightly more substantial, here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy it:

• On toast with cheese! Here, I’m pairing it with some dairy-free cream cheese, but regular cream cheese, or even a softer cheese (like brie) would go really well here.
• Mix it into yogurt for a pumpkin-y yogurt bowl, or incorporate it into your smoothies.
• Eat it on crackers (Trader Joe’s has some pumpkin crisp crackers that would go great with this!)
• Or go ham and eat it by the spoonful! This may or may not be my favorite way to eat it, so no judgement here.

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment/rating below. And, since I practically live on Instagram, be sure to tag me in your creations, so I can see them and repost on my IG stories! Enjoy! xx