Simple Crock Pot Apple Pumpkin Butter {Grain-Free | Dairy-Free | Paleo | Vegan}

It’s pumpkin season, baby! In my humble real food-loving opinion, this is the time of year that separates the men from the boys with regard to seasonal amazingness. Ok, maybe it’s a tie with summer, since our CSA bounty from The Silverbrook Farm for the last 17 weeks has been off the hook. Sadly it came to a close last week. Fortunately, pumpkin everything will nudge me out of the withdrawal symptoms that are inevitable. Pumpkin Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal, Pumpkin Pie Smoothies, and Pumpkin Mac ‘N Cheese, to name a few.

Of course, pumpkin in and of itself, is a superstar. It’s loaded with a hefty dose of anti-aging and disease-fighting antioxidants, stress-reducing b-vitamins, tummy-friendly fiber, and vitamins A, C, and E. Just one half-cup serving boasts a whopping 5 grams of fiber.

A few weeks back, me and my sweet #1 did some farm-hopping and stumbled upon a little farm that was selling misfit organic pumpkins at the bargain price of 50 cents each (!!!).  Since beauty is totally in the eye of the beholder, I quickly snatched up two, dropped my dollar bill in the coffee can, and headed home with visions of marathon pumpkin baking. After all, the fate of these beauties was in my kitchen, not on the front step and eventual Jack-O-Lantern.  Plus, fresh pumpkin puree is not only cheaper (wicked cheaper, in this case), but it also doesn’t contain the endocrine-disrupting and toxic chemical, Bisphenol A (BPA), found in many canned goods, including pumpkin, which has been linked to cancer and fertility issues, among others. Plus, you get to keep the seeds to make the most delicious (and healthy) Sweet ‘N Salty Roasted Pumpkin Seeds. Really, does it get any better? I think not.

If roasting and pureeing your own pumpkin is not in the cards for you (I get it – really, I do), buy the brands of pumpkin puree in cans or tetra paks that do not contain BPA, like this and this.

After the roasting and pureeing concluded, the next logical step was to make a kick-a$$ apple pumpkin butter, one of my favorite seasonal goodies. Unfortunately, 99% of store bought pumpkin butters are loaded with refined sugar or worse, GMO-laden high-fructose corn syrup. Bad news. So what’s an obsessive real foodie to do? Make her own, of course!

This pumpkin butter is a less sweetened version, which in my opinion is way better since my palate has adjusted a lot over the years, using apple sauce and a bit of organic palm sugar to sweeten it just enough. The result is a kid-friendly perfect addition to sprouted grain muffins, pancakes, toast, or right out of the jar as an apple dipper.

Are you a pumpkin junkie too? What’s your favorite way to enjoy this seasonal treat?

I’d love to hear. Please leave a comment below.

Simple Crock Pot Apple Pumpkin Butter {Grain-Free | Dairy-Free | Paleo | Vegan}

2014-03-20 16:04:04

Use organic ingredients when possible

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Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

5 hr

Total Time

5 hr

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

5 hr

Total Time

5 hr

Ingredients

1. 2 cups of pureed pumpkin or one 15 oz. BPA-free can {buy here}
2. 2 apples, cored and quartered {no need to peel - that's where all the nutrients are - just be sure to scrub real well}
3. 1/3 cup organic palm sugar {buy here}
4. 1 tsp. ground cinnamon {buy here}
5. ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg {buy here}
6. 1/8 tsp. ground ginger {buy here}
7. 1/8 tsp. ground cloves {buy here}
8. 1/8 tsp. cardamom {buy here}

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in your crock pot {this is the one I have}, and set it to the lowest setting. Cover, and let cook for about 5 - 6 hours, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
2. Turn crock pot off, and let cool. Once cool, use an immersion blender like this one, and puree until smooth. Spoon into glass jars like these and cool completely in refrigerator before eating.

Notes

1. This deliciousness keeps in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks {if it lasts that long} and in the freezer for up to six months. Yields 3 cups.

MIX Wellness https://mixwellness.com/

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 2 tbsp.

• Calories: 28

• Total Fat:  0 g

• Saturated Fat:  3 g

• Cholesterol:  0 mg

• Sodium:  75 mg

• Total Carbohydrate: 8 g

• Dietary Fiber:  1 g

• Sugars:  7 g

• Protein:  0 g
  

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