I can’t stop making fruit butter…help!
This time, I adapted my go-to pumpkin butter recipe and added cocoa powder and pure maple syrup to create a lovely chocolate flavour.
It’s a fun change if you are getting bored of plain pumpkin butter (not that that would ever happen). ;)
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Chocolate Pumpkin Butter
Because we really need another reason to eat more pumpkin. I happen to think that every great recipe should have a chocolate version, don’t you?
Adapted from my pumpkin butter recipe.
Yield: 3-3.5 cups
Ingredients:
- 1 (29 ounce) can pumpkin puree, approx. 3 1/2 cups or fresh
- 3/4 cup apple juice
- 1 cup Sucanat (or brown sugar)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted
- 3-4 tbsp pure maple syrup, to taste
1. Combine pumpkin, apple juice, spices, and sugar in a large pot and stir well. Cover with lid and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Sift in cocoa powder and stir well. Cover with lid (keep ajar) and simmer for about 35-45 minutes, stirring often, until thick & buttery. Be careful as the mixture bubbles and pops!
2. Remove from heat. Stir in maple syrup to taste.
3. Once cool, pumpkin butter can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Makes enough to fill one large mason jar or about 3.5 cups.
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Silky & smooth pumpkin butter with a hint of chocolate. Now we’re talking!
I also made another batch of Apple Butter.
This time I made “Naked” Apple Butter. No sweetener, no spices, just apples.
I also left the peel on and I added a 1/4 cup of apple juice. A few of you suggested leaving the peel on and blending, so I thought I would give that a whirl this time around. It cuts down the peeling time and also adds more nutrition.
I cooked the apples on HIGH with the lid on for 4 hours. After 4 hours, it looked like applesauce:
I cooled it slightly and transferred it to the blender. Be careful and make sure you don’t over-fill it. You might want to do this in 2-3 batches if need be.
Once blended, it turned into the silkiest, most magnificent, buttery applesauce I have ever tasted!!
I kept saying it looked and tasted like caramel. :)
Actually, it was a cross between applesauce and apple butter at this point.
Somehow I think you’ll find a way to clean the container…wink, wink.
I added it back into the crockpot and cooked for several more hours (with lid propped ajar) until it was the consistency that I wanted.
The only downside? 5lbs of apples made just 1 cup of apple butter. I think next time I will try adding more apple juice and not cooking it as long. Or I might even stop after the blender stage as it tasted incredible as it was!
Recipage is all up to date as of this morning. :)
Wow, this looks heavenly. I could most likely eat it by the spoonful. :)
Both of these look wonderful! Perfect for fall. :) Thanks for sharing!
Looks delicious! Apple butter is one of my most favorite toppings!
I love fruit butters of all kinds and these both sound heavenly!
I absolutely love the look of this! I would spread it on everything!
Yum! You are a genius…keep bringing on the fruit butters. I’m loving them! :-)
I can see how your addicted! Looks amazing :)
whoa it’s so strange that 5 c only makes 1 c in total~Perhaps it evaporates? But You’ve been really getting me motivated to try making my own fruit butter Angela!
The apple butter looks like CARAMEL! I wonder if you could put a stick in a granny smith, dunk it in said apple butter and freeze until set. Then eat like a caramel apple! And decorate it all sorts of way with dried fruits or choc chips :)
Its funny you said that because I kept saying it tasted a bit like caramel!
Looks really yummy! I am brand new to your website and I am loving it! I decided to become a veggeterian just a few weeks ago. I already feel so much better! I have always had a love / hate relationship with food and often binged when alone. My waist line took a tole. Now after 2 kids, I’m ready to have a healthy relationship with food and to teach my girls a better way to eat. Thanks for your help! My journey is just beginning so I’m going to need it! ~k.
Oh, YUM-O! I love apple season in the north. And the pumpkin butter looks amazing too. I’ve never tried it, but that may be a good rainy-day-afternoon activity.
WOW! that looks amazing. I am going to have to give it a try.
Looks fabulous. I’m totally that girl sitting on a chair in the kitchen wiping my finger into the vitamix, licking, repeating… horrible but SO fun! I agree with Julie, it looks like caramel!
Have a great Sunday :)
Man, I need to make this! I’m all about doing stuff yourself. Congrats on your recipage! I know how much work that it, and cudos for getting it all done! ;)
doesn’t get much better than chocolate and pumpkin butter!
Nice job on the Recipage Ange! And these butters… yummm! I’m planning to make some apple sauce this month, and like you, I like mine ‘naked’ – with a bit of cinnamon too! The pumpkin butter sounds delicious. I have already been through 2 cans of pumpkin this weekend, but now I guess I’ve got a reason to crack open another can! :)
Yum! I would have never thought to make chocolate pumpkin butter yet I can think of so many things it would be delicious on!
Just adore anything pumpkin. Pumpkiny, Yammy, Sweet Potatoey, all like candy!
Wow, both looks incredible! I am totally trying the chocolate pumpkin butter, it looks and sounds divine!
And I think that you can definitely get a better yield if you cook your apple butter for a shorter period of time.
Ana
CHOCOLATE pumpkin butter?!?! Ahh that sounds like a heavenly combo! Yes please!
ahhh I JUST made a full batch of regular pumpkin butter, and now you have a chocolate version? I guess I just have to go buy more pumpkin now :-)
These are so special. I still have not ever made a pumpkin butter, I know…what is the deal!?
Thanks for the recipe.
I ran out of applesc& have no cans of pumpkin :(
Time to go to the store~ :)
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Wow…that is soooo smooth and awesome looking. It looks store-bought and PERFECT b/c it’s sooo smooth. Gotta love Vitas :)
“Be careful and make sure you don’t over-fill it. You might want to do this in 2-3 batches if need be.” <— for a second I was cringing as I read that and saw that line b/c I was fearing you were going to say it overflowed or you ended up with apple butter as wallpaper splatter. Thank goodness nothing crazy happened.
And good tip about skipping the final slow cooker stage. Doesnt look like it was necessary b/c the blender shots are…stunning!
THAT LOOKS DELICIOUS!! :)
All I can say is “YUM!” to this recipe. I hit a special at whole foods yesterday (in Vancouver) for canned pumpkin… So I stocked up! I most deinately know what it will be used for (:
I made the pumpkin butter! I was planning on it for this weekend and then I saw today’s post with the addition of CHOCOLATE and just had to do it! It’s delicious…..unfortunately I wasn’t prepared for the exploding (boiling) pumpkin mixture and burnt my hand on molten pumpkin puree, well worth the pain though ;)
Sorry you burned your hand! It does boil rapidly. I will have to add a caution into the directions.
Do you think I could use applesauce instead of apple juice in the pumpkin butter recipe? Also, what do you put pumpkin butter on, or do you just eat it? Thanks! :)
I’m not sure about subbing applesauce. I think it might work?
You can use it on pretty much anything (in my world that is!)…oatmeal, on bread/toast/crackers/cookies, spooned over ice cream, on muffins/sweet breads, in smoothies, or in baking.
these recipes both look scrumptious. i am always on the lookout for something like “naked apple butter”. hate all of the added ingredients you tend to find in store bought versions.
Cannot wait to try this!!!!!
Wow. I am so glad you linked the original, I am sooo going to make some pumpkin butter! thank youuu! I can’t wait to eat it :)
Enjoy Sam :)
I LOVE FRUIT BUTTERSSSS!!! These look so delicious!!!
i made something similar awhile back, it was an attempt to make chocolate pudding but i needed a thickener and only had pumpkin puree..happy accident for sure, it tastes amazing huh! just need to try it with that hint of apple next time :)
xoxo <3
What type of apples did you use five pounds of?
I’ve actually never tried a fruit butter but it looks delicious!
I just made pumpkin-pie brownie cupcakes from your recipe. My first vegan baking experience and they are great! Chocolate and pumpkin should go together more often…
Glad you enjoyed them!
I have eaten some amazing pumpkin and sweet potato butters andhave wanted to make my own with less sugar. This looks great! I will have to give it a try!
I think I just died and went to heaven!
The apple butter AND pumpkin butter sound SO easy and spectacular that I am going to try them ASAP!!!
EVERYTHING should have a chocolate version! I have a really good idea for this pumpkin butter :)
I WANT TO MAKE THIS IT LOOKS SO AMAZING! I also want to make EVERYTHING you post. Oh my goodness. This year I’ve been living abroad, in China, where I do not have access to an oven or practically ANY kitchen appliances for that matter (other than a knife and a stove…and it doesn’t make sense to purchase anything else because I’m only here for 1 year!), so I’ve just been drooling over your blog and biding my time until I get home.
A question: Do you think the Vita Mix is amazing and worth the money? Was it a worthy investment?
If anyone else wants to throw in their two cents, I’m all ears!!
I love the Vitamix, but the Oster brand of blenders was rated #2 by consumer reports. At $50, it’s worth looking into I think!
Aimee- I just read your reply as i am getting ready to make this apple butter – I can completely relate to how you are feeling as I was abroad in India last year and felt the exact same way – missed my kitchen, cooking/baking and everything apples and pumpkin! But not to worry – you will appreciate it all the more when you get back home!
Yes, yes, yes. My Vita-Mix belonged to my grandfather; he bought it in 1994 I believe, and I got this model handed down to me when he bought a new one. So it’s 18 years old and going strong, and gets used at least once a day. I did have to replace the container once several years ago ($80), but the Vita Mix is something I would buy over and over without a single twinge of buyers’ remorse!
I think crabapple butter may be on the menu soon…..YUM!
–Jaclyn T
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This sure was the wrong post to read while I’m doing a 12-hour fast before a blood test!! Ha ha. Brutal, seriously. Your butters look simply amazing!!
That looks AMAZING. I’m pretty sure I would just sit down and eat it all right after I made it.
okay after all these fruit butter recipes i am thinking it is about time to dust off the old crock pot… honestly. so delicious looking.
Dear Angela,
I just wanted to tell you how much I love and appreciate your blog. I’ve been searching for something like this for a while, but other “healthful lifestyle” and cooking blogs have left me feeling cold. But yours is different: it feels so intimate and personal, and thus SO much more inspiring! There’s just something about the WAY you write and present the beautiful photos and recipes. I really feel like I can see and hear and touch the human being behind this blog with every post and every line I read. And the recipes you make are creative and down-to-earth in a way I’ve never seen before. They’ve helped me to realize that food is a FRIEND. I am so thankful that you’ve shared your story and healing process. Your blog embodies the healthy wellness I hope I can reach. This blog is TRULY special ( as are you! :) ) It is so supportive and motivating, and you really give me the hope and encouragement I need while I struggle with my relationship with eating and exercise.
Thank you so much,
Aimee
Thank you Aimee :) I appreciate your support!
OMG- pumpkin chocolate butter? What a fabulous combo! I can’t wait to try it! :) Yay! I love that it can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 weeks too! This is on my list for the week! :)
I think….just think, Im in love with this one the MOST!!! YUM!!!!!
xxoo
Wow that looks amazing. I am going o have to make that with our super juicy Japanese Apples. Ohhhh the joys of Apples and Pumpkins!
wow! I must try this next weekend!