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This homemade pumpkin seed butter is so delicious, easy to make, and nutritious. It’s paired with warming flavours like vanilla, cinnamon, and maple. Recipe is both gluten-free and vegan. Post includes a handful of ways to use it, too!

Pumpkin seed butter in a glass jar.

Have you ever made your own nut or seed butters at home? It’s actually a lot easier than you may think! While peanut or almond butter might be more common choices, I absolutely LOVE using pumpkin seeds to make a nut-free butter.

As a dietitian, I’m excited to share that pumpkin seeds are packed with nutrition benefits. They’re rich in so many minerals, plant protein, and healthy fats – all of which I cover in more detail below.

I’ve also shared a number of ways you can use pumpkin seed butter in your meals and cooking, so that you can reap all those nutrition benefits, too. Enjoy 🙂

Pumpkin Seed Butter Nutrition Benefits

Pumpkin seeds, and therefore this pumpkin seed butter, are packed with nutrition.

These little green seeds are excellent sources of so many micronutrients; in a 1-ounce or 28-gram serving you will find:

  • manganese (42% of Recommended Daily Intake)
  • magnesium (37% of RDI)
  • phosphorus (33% of RDI)
  • iron (23% of RDI)
  • copper (19% of RDI)
  • vitamin K (18% of RDI)
  • zinc (14% of RDI)

Pumpkin seeds are also a good source of:

  • dietary fiber (1.1 grams per serving)
  • heart-healthy fats
  • plant-based protein (7 grams per serving)
  • antioxidants, like carotenoids + vitamin E
Recipe ingredient flatlay on a wood cutting board.

Ingredients Needed

All you need to make this spiced pumpkin seed butter are 6 simple ingredients:

Full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions are located in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

Recipe Modifications & Ingredient Swaps

  1. If you don’t like the taste of coconut oil, you can use a more neutral flavoured oil. I would go for something like avocado oil!
  2. Cardamom is optional here, but I think it tastes lovely if you’re a cardamom fan.
  3. While I have not tried making this with honey, I would assume it can be used in place of maple syrup. Of course, it will have a bit of a different flavour this way.
  4. I made this recipe with store-bought pumpkin seeds, but if you are doing this during pumpkin carving season, you can also use those seeds. However, it will be A LOT more time consuming – the seeds will need to be cleaned and the shells will need to be removed before roasting. In complete transparency, it’s not something I’ve ever attempted, but there are many helpful tutorials available online if it’s something you want to tackle 🙂
Pumpkin seed butter spread on toast.

Tips For Making This Recipe

  1. You will need to toast the pumpkin seeds before mixing it into a butter. To do so, be sure to use a big enough baking sheet to be able to spread the seeds out into a single layer. When baking, keep an eye on the seeds to make sure they don’t burn! You want them to be lightly browned, golden, and fragrant.
  2. Getting the seeds into a buttery texture will take a little bit of time – don’t lose hope! If you’re using a high-powered food processor, it should take about 10 minutes total.
  3. It is helpful to scrape down the sides of the food processor quite frequently, to help speed things along.
  4. The seeds will start by looking like a “crumble” – similar to the texture of almond meal or breadcrumbs. Soon, it will start to become a bit more of a crumbly-paste.
  5. Once it starts to become a paste (picture 4 below), you can add the additional ingredients. After that, it should become a smooth seed butter quite quickly!

My Go-To Food Processor

What Does Pumpkin Seed Butter Taste Like?

First off, it does NOT taste like pumpkin.

Pumpkin seed butter has a nutty, toasty, and earthy taste. Of course, this recipe is paired with additional ingredients (like vanilla + cinnamon) that add flavour, too!

Ways To Use Pumpkin Seed Butter

There are so many ways to use this pumpkin seed butter! Here are some ideas for you:

  • Spread it over toast, crisp bread, or rice crackers
  • Spoon it into a bowl of oatmeal or yogurt
  • Drizzle it over pancakes, waffles, french toast, or crepes
  • Pair it with fruits like bananas or apples, to make them a more satisfying snack!
  • Use it in baking muffins or cookies, as you would peanut butter

NOTE: This pumpkin seed butter recipe has more sweet notes, with vanilla, cinnamon, and maple syrup. If you’d prefer to use it with more savoury recipes (e.g. in a salad dressing, stir-fry, or as a sauce), simply omit those sweet seasonings. You can just use salt and a neutral-flavoured oil instead!

Pumpkin seed butter in a glass jar.

More Healthy Homemade Spreads

Did you give this Pumpkin Seed Butter Recipe a try? Let me know by leaving a comment and recipe rating below!

If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Pinterest – seeing your creations always makes my day. You can also subscribe to my email list to never miss a new recipe or nutrition education post!

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Seed Butter (Easy + Nutritious!)

This homemade pumpkin seed butter is so delicious, easy to make, and nutritious. It's paired with warming flavours like vanilla, cinnamon, and maple. Recipe is both gluten-free and vegan.
Pumpkin seed butter in a glass jar.
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5 from 1 vote
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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Spread pumpkin seeds in an even layer on a large baking sheet. Place in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown and lightly toasted.
  • Remove pumpkin seeds from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes.
  • Place toasted pumpkin seeds in a high-powered food processor. Pulse until seeds become a crumble, and then a crumbly paste-like texture. Scrape down the sides of the food processor with a spatula or spoon as needed.
  • Once the seeds become a crumbly paste, add the melted coconut oil, cinnamon, salt, maple syrup, and optional cardamom. Continue to pulse until a smooth seed butter forms.
    NOTE: This entire blending process can take about 10 minutes, or potentially longer depending on your food processor!

Notes

*STORAGE: Transfer the finished pumpkin seed butter into an airtight jar or container. You can keep it stored at room temperature for about 2 weeks, and in the fridge for about a month!
 
*RECIPE MODIFICATIONS:
  • If you don’t like the taste of coconut oil, you can use a more neutral flavoured oil. I would go for something like avocado oil!
  • Cardamom is optional here, but I think it tastes lovely if you’re a cardamom fan.
  • While I have not tried making this with honey, I would assume it can be used in place of maple syrup. Of course, it will have a bit of a different flavour this way!
  • I made this recipe with store-bought pumpkin seeds, but if you are doing this during pumpkin carving season, you can also use those seeds. However, it will be A LOT more time consuming – the seeds will need to be cleaned and the shells will need to be removed before roasting. In complete transparency, it’s not something I’ve ever attempted, but there are many helpful tutorials available online 🙂
 
*WAYS TO USE PUMPKIN SEED BUTTER: There are so many ways to use this pumpkin seed butter! Here are some ideas for you…
  • Spread it over toast, crisp bread, or rice crackers
  • Spoon it into a bowl of oatmeal or yogurt
  • Drizzle it over pancakes, waffles, french toast, or crepes
  • Pair it with fruits like bananas or apples, to make them a more satisfying snack!
  • Use it in baking muffins or cookies, as you would peanut butter
  • ***This pumpkin seed butter recipe has more sweet notes, with vanilla, cinnamon, and maple syrup. If you’d prefer to use it with more savoury recipes (e.g. in a salad dressing, stir-fry, or as a sauce), simply omit those sweet seasonings. You can just use salt and a neutral-flavoured oil instead!

Nutrition

As a dietitian, I create recipes with whole food ingredients that provide the nutrients needed for optimal health. My nutrition philosophy does not focus on numbers; however, I understand that this information can be helpful.

Do note that the nutrition info provided is an estimate and I cannot guarantee correctness of the displayed values. These numbers will differ depending on brands used, recipe modifications, and amount eaten. If you require specific nutrition information due to medical reasons, please consult with your dietitian or physician.

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know by leaving a recipe rating below, or by tagging @walderwellness on Instagram. I love seeing your beautiful creations!

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Pinterest graphic for a homemade pumpkin seed butter recipe.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy.