Toasted Pecan Pumpkin Butter

A creamy mixture of toasted pecans, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and spices. Dunk. Dip. Spread. Delicious!

You guys are in for a treat today. I recently discovered toasted pecan butter, and I’ve been addicted ever since. Pecans are my favorite nut in the entire world. Toasted pecans–pure heaven! Once you eat a toasted pecan, you’ll never go back.

A toasted pecan has a sweet, almost caramelized flavor. The heat draws out the oils within the pecan and concentrates them, creating a deep nutty flavor. For me, there’s nothing better than a toasted nut.

New to toasting nuts? It’s simple. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spread an even layer of your favorite nuts on a baking sheet. Pop them in the oven for 8-10 minutes, or until they smell nutty and fragrant. Cool your perfectly toasted nuts before storing in an airtight container.

I wanted to add a twist to pecan butter, taking it from good to oh-my-I-gotta-have-it good. I had some leftover pumpkin puree in the fridge that needed lovin’, so I decided to add it to the food processor with the pecan butter. And, toasted pecan pumpkin butter was born.

You guys, pecans and pumpkin are best friends. They go shopping together, wear matching outfits, and do each other’s makeup. Seriously, they’re the perfect pair.

I didn’t stop there. I threw in some earthy maple syrup, homemade pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract.

Best. Buttah. Ever.

It tastes like pumpkin pie filling…but better because it’s full of toasted nutty goodness.  I’ve been dipping anything and everything in the toasty dip. My favorite dippers are apples, grapes, toasted pecans (I know there are pecans in the dip, but I just can’t help myself), graham crackers, vanilla wafers, and, my favorite, honey wheat pretzel sticks. I’ve also gone beyond dipping and spreading it on pancakes, waffles, toast, and bananas. If you like crepes, this makes for a creative filling.

Technically this is a dip/spread, but I find myself using an apple slice as a spoon. When I’m finished, I’m left with a pile of apples and no dip. Whoops!

The method for making this dip is quite simple. Place your perfectly toasted pecans in the bowl of a food processor. Blend the pecans until creamy. Add in the remaining ingredients and pulse until smooth, scraping down the bowl a few times in-between.

It’s a simple and healthy way to snack. I love this dip so much that I’m going to put it on my gift list for the holidays. I know my friends and family will go nuts (get it?) for this festive dip.