Pumpkin Butter = Awesome

Pumpkin Butter is delicious and easy to make.   If you like apple butter, then you should try it!  If you google pumpkin butter, pay no attention to the pictures.   Somehow photos make this wonderful food product look totally disgusting.

I used an online recipe last year, which can be found here or below.

• 1 (29 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 3/4 cup apple juice
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg    

Combine pumpkin, apple juice, spices, and sugar in a large saucepan; stir well. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes or until thickened. Stir frequently.  Transfer to sterile containers and chill in the refrigerator until serving. 

Besides using pumpkin butter as a spread for bread or as a topping for desserts, you can make pumpkin martinis.   A very nice bartender in Houston gave me this recipe - they do require a bit of work, but they are well worth it and perfect for Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Martinis
1 part pumpkin butter
1 part vodka
2 parts apple juice
Cinnamon-infused simple syrup to taste

Mix all ingredients together, then chill. 


NOTE:  To make cinnamon-infused simple syrup, combine two cups of water and four cinnamon sticks.  Bring the mixture to a boil.  Simmer for ten minutes then remove the cinnamon sticks.  Bring water back to a boil, add one and a half cups of sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved.  Let it cool then refrigerate.  This recipe can be found here.

I hope you enjoy!