It is no secret that October is the commencement of pumpkin season. Stores, restaurants, cafes, etc. go borderline overboard with the seasonal pumpkin offerings, and Trader Joe's is certainly among the ranks (I just picked up a box of pumpkin waffle mix, though, so I'm not complaining).
While I normally gravitate toward the cookie butter, I recognize that the fall season is the time for me to spice up my life, and Trader Joe's pumpkin butter helps me do just that. Next time you are in the Mecca of grocery stores, pick up some pumpkin butter and try some of these concoctions:
1. French Toast
Pumpkin and maple are a match made in Heaven. Honor their relationship by pairing pumpkin butter and maple syrup on top some slices of French toast.
2. English Muffins
Look at how lonely those lil muffins look. Try spreading it on a toasted English muffin, and finish it off by sprinkling a little bit of brown sugar and cinnamon. #NoMuffinLeftUnbuttered
3. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfast foods for when the weather gets colder, which conveniently happens to be around the beginning of fall i.e. pumpkin spice season.
Put a spoonful of pumpkin butter in your oatmeal along with a couple dashes of brown sugar and cinnamon, and chopped pecans or almonds.
4. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt lends itself to merry pairings with other fix-ins to break up its thicker consistency. Add in a spoonful of pumpkin butter and mix it with some pumpkin spice granola.
5. Pumpkin Caramel Sundae
Make a delicious pumpkin butter caramel by adding 4 tablespoons pumpkin butter, 1 packed cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup half-and-half, and a pinch of salt into a saucepan over medium-low heat.
Whisk the ingredients together gently for about 5-7 minutes until the mixture thickens. Add a tablespoon of vanilla extract and cook it for another minute until it is thick to your liking. Drizzle it over a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream.
6. Pumpkin Dessert Bars
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Williams Sonoma also sells its own varieties of pumpkin butter (if you're feeling bougie and can drop $13 on a jar), with which they created these pumpkin dessert bars.
#SpoonTip: Because the recipe calls for pumpkin pecan butter, finely chop pecans and sprinkle them on top of the bars instead.
7. Baked Sweet Potato
Because pumpkin butter isn't just for desserts, add a little bit into a baked sweet potato. Fibrous autumn vibes.
8. Salad Dressing
There are few things I enjoy more than a good seasonal salad. Fall means time for apples, goat cheese, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and more. Tie your salad together with a maple pumpkin vinaigrette.
9. Pumpkin Butter Gingersnap Rolls
This needs no introduction. Make it now. You're welcome.
10. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
Rise and shine to the smell of these babies cooking in the oven. Perfect on a Sunday morning with a Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Now you have the best spread and the best ways to use it—so enjoy!