Pumpkin Butter Spread
When the air is chilly and the grass is blanketed by beautiful red and orange leaves I automatically start to crave cozy seasonal things, gingery roasted butternut squash soups, tea hangs and pumpkin everything!
I keep seeing recipes for pumpkin butter and been curious to try them, today I tested a really quick short cut version that I want to share with you. Any non-cooking pumpkin lover could master this recipe. This stuff is like spreading pumpkin pie on your toast, its so yummy, packed with vitamin A rich pumpkin and naturally sweetened! A perfect treat for the fall season that takes less than 5 minutes to prepare!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of pureed pumpkin (I usually like to roast my own and stock up the freezer, but in a pinch I used organic BPA-free canned pumpkin puree, be careful not to get pie filling - that would be gross)
1/2 cup of raw almond butter (for allergies an alternative nut or seed butter would also good, I'm thinking for next time coconut butter would be amazing!)
3-4 tbsp of pure natural maple syrup to sweeten (could be substituted by sweetening with stevia drops for a sugar free option)
1 tbsp of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice blend
Optional Additions:
-sub 1 tbsp of the maple syrup for black strap molasses (gives it a ginger bread taste + additional minerals from molasses)
-if using only cinnamon and you want to add a kick of more spice add a 1/4 tsp of clove powder, 1/4 tsp of nutmeg and 1/3 tsp dried ginger powder
Directions:
1. Stir all ingredients together and store in a sealable jar or container.
2. Spread on freshly toasted sprouted grain bread as you would peanut butter, pair with some hot coffee or tea to enjoy with a cozy weekend morning read! - Spread on brown rice cakes or mary's crackers for a gluten free option or dollop on top of warm oatmeal, pancakes or cookies and anything else you might fancy. Yum!
3. Store remaining pumpkin butter spread in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Some of the health Benefits of the following:
Pumpkin: High in vitamin A - a powerful antioxidant for skin health, eye sight and more, low in calories and high in fibre, source of B vitamins, antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, source of potassium and calcium
Cinnamon: Balances blood sugar by reducing insulin resistance, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, a thermogenic and warming spice that can increase metabolism which may promote weight loss, adds sweetness to foods without added sugar
Black Strap Molasses: Lower glycemic load for a sweetener, rich in iron, potassium and bone strengthening minerals, has an ideal calcium-magnesium ratio optimal for absorption of these minerals
Almond Butter: Rich in fibre, healthy fat, plant sourced protein, source of calcium, copper, vitamin E and magnesium
- Sara Binder
Eat to Thrive Nutrition - Sara Binder, RHN