This recipe makes A LOT of pumpkin butter and this batch lasts me for the season. I use it for Pumpkin Spice Lattes, as well as on toast, apple slices or just a spoon.  Since this recipe does make so much you can freeze it. I freeze mine in Ziploc bags and left thaw overnight in the fridge. This recipe makes your apartment smell like fall heaven.

Makes 11 cups

• 3 cups of water
• 12 medjool dates dates, pitted and chopped
• 3-796 ml cans of pure pumpkin (Not pumpkin pie mix)
• 4 tablespoons pumpkin spice (Check out my Homemade Pumpkin Spice)
• 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup plus two tablespoons sucanat (I used Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Sucanat)
• 1 can full of water

Be sure to buy pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie mix. Label hard to read? Check the ingredients. Pie mix has added sugar and sometimes preservatives. 

This was my first time using Sucanat and was pleasantly surprised by its taste. Not as moist as the brown sugar I am use to but it tasted good and worked in this recipe.

In a large pot, bring 3 cups of water to a boil and add chopped dates. Adjust heat to medium low and simmer for 10 minutes until dates are very soft.

Dates before they are simmered. At first Mark asked if I was boiling cooked bacon. Most definitely not.

Dates after simmering for 10 minutes

Take pot off heat and very carefully put water and dates into a blender or food processor. Process until very smooth. Be very careful with the steam buildup.

Return date puree to the empty pot. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir.

 This bright orange will transform into a deep brown. Do not be afraid to taste as it cooks since you may prefer it with less spice or more sugar.

Bring heat up to medium and cover with a lid with a wooden spoon propping the lid slightly open.

After getting burned by a giant bubble I put a lid on it but then it got too hot and the steam couldn’t escape so I propped the lid with a wooden spoon. My grandma did this with her applesauce recipe. Please disregard the fact that I am cooking in my PJ shorts and I need to take the garbage out. 

Stir very well occasionally and cook for 1 hour until a deep brown colour.

Deep brown is the colour you want to strive for. The hour that this took to cook Mark asked constantly if it was ready yet so we could have it on toast. It was well worth the wait.