Pumpkin Butter

Next to my love of peanut butter and chocolate, pumpkin is my next favorite. I love everything made with pumpkin EXCEPT pumpkin pie. Yuck. It's not sweet enough or something and the texture grosses me out.

I had been searching for a pumpkin butter recipe I used last year, but I decided to just make up my own with the stuff *I* like. It turned out great. I even gifted some to the neighbors. The kiddo loves it on his toast in the mornings. I like it mixed with cream cheese on bagels.

1 15 oz can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon allspice
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons water

Combine all ingredients and bring to boil in a saucepan over medium high heat. Reduce to simmer and boil 3 minutes. Let cool and package in tupperware and keep in the fridge.

You can experiment with the sweeteners - combine brown sugar, sugar, honey, maple syrup, it's up to you. Play with the spices, add orange zest or make a half and half pumpkin butter and applesauce mix. Enjoy!

(the Puffin plate from Iceland is my son's)