A tutorial on how to make homemade pumpkin seed butter in the Vitamix blender.
Almost all of my life I have been a nut butter junkie. If it had peanut butter in it, you could pretty much guarantee that I would love it. And if it had peanut butter and chocolate? Well, that was even better.
After college I began to expand my nut butter horizons by incorporating in things like almond butter and cashew butter. They were definitely an acquired taste for me, but a year ago I would easily have said that I preferred these “fancier” nut butters over peanut butter on almost any occasion. Yes, even I was a bit baffled by that.
Once I went Paleo this past July, peanut butter left my life completely (peanuts are technically a legume and are, therefore, not considered Paleo). Luckily, I did not feel too terribly sad since I knew I would still have almond butter and cashew butter in my life. But then sometime last fall (I can’t remember the exact month), I decided to move even closer to the AIP Paleo diet by eliminating nuts to see if it helped me feel better. Was I sad about giving up my beloved almond and cashew butters? Heck yes, I was! Thank goodness another popular butter made from sunflower seeds came to my rescue, and I have been loving on it ever since.
Since the fall I have gone back and forth on whether to eliminate or keep seeds in my diet. I eliminated them for about three to four weeks but did not see any changes, so back they went into my meal line-up (especially during breakfast). And while I am fairly certain I will not tire of sunflower seed butter anytime soon, I thought it might be fun to whip up something new.
I was fortunate enough to win a giveaway on Instagram for a bag of Go Raw Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds about a month ago. I absolutely love that the seeds are sprouted, making them much easier to digest (which is something that is very important to me). I ate them several times as a snack and even threw them on top of salads. But I simply could not quiet the hankering to create pumpkin seed butter with them. Had I ever tasted pumpkin seed butter before? No. But somehow I knew it was going to be good.
Homemade Pumpkin Seed Butter in the Vitamix
Paleo, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Nightshade-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Whole 30
Makes approximately 2 cups
Ingredients
1 16 oz bag of raw sprouted pumpkin seeds
2 to 3 tsp of pure maple syrup or honey (if not vegan) for sweetness, optional
2 TB unrefined coconut oil, optional
Directions
1. Place the pumpkin seeds in the jar of your high-powered blender. I used the wet container of my Vitamix.
2. Secure the lid with the tamper inserted and slowly increase from variable speed one to speed ten while using the tamper to push the seeds down towards the blades. Process for approximately 30 seconds.
3. Increase the speed to “high” and continue processing while using the tamper to scrape the seeds away from the sides of the container. Continue to do so until the pumpkin seed butter is mostly smooth. Turn off the blender. If you are adding a sweetener and/or coconut oil to reach your desired consistency, do so at this time.
4. Slowly increase the blender speed back to the “high” speed and process for an additional one to two minutes, or until you hear the “low growl” sound of the Vitamix and the pumpkin seed butter is smooth.
5. Use a spatula to carefully transfer the pumpkin seed butter to a glass container. Seal tightly and store in your pantry for up to three weeks. If the butter will last longer than three weeks, store in the fridge to prevent it from becoming rancid.
Do you know what one of my favorite things about this pumpkin seed butter is? The fact that it is GREEN. That totally would have turned me off when I was a picky-eating child, but now I think it’s pretty darn cool.
This pumpkin seed butter works in just about every way that you would normally utilize nut/seed butters, but my favorite way to eat it has been on sweet potato “toasts” and sliced bananas. I’m telling you, there is nothing better.
[bctt tweet=”How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Seed Butter in the Vitamix #Paleo #nutfree #vegan”]
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YUM!
Um, YOU KNOW IT! 😀
This is such an awesome departure from the usual nut butters- it looks so good! I love that green color 🙂
Isn’t it so fun? There aren’t many green foods that exist other than veggies!
This looks so delicious. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!
I hadn’t even thought about that, but you are so right! Gotta love green foods 😀
Tell me more re sweet potato toasts?
This has everything you need to know!
http://megtherhn.com/2016/02/07/sweet-potato-toast/
I loveeee pumpkin seeds but never thought to make a “nut” butter out of them!! So cool!
I wasn’t entirely sure how it would turn out, but I love it! If you like sunflower seed butter than you will almost surely like this.
Great idea to use pumpkin seeds! I never would have thought to!
Thank you, Alli! It seems so obvious, yet it took me forever to think of it!
This looks amaaazing! Pepitas are so full of vitamins and minerals and this is the perfect way to get them in!
Yes! You have to love when something is both healthy AND delicious!
Steps 4 & 5 read “sunflower seed butter”.
Whoa, good catch! Fixed it. I swear, no matter how many times I proofread a post before I publish it, those typos seem to sneak in from time to time.
Hmmm…I just made this and it isn’t anything like your pictures or other ones I’ve seen on Pinterest. It’s not creamy at all–I can roll it into a ball much like Play-do. It was difficult for my vita mix to blend it. It was getting very hot, and when I finally took the butter out of the container, the butter was also hot! I added the coconut oil, some agave nectar, and some cinnamon that I saw on another recipe. I’m not sure if I did anything wrong. Do you have any input?
Did you use the specific raw sprouted pumpkin seeds that I mentioned in the post? These are softer than traditional pumpkin seeds and tend to blend a lot better. Other than that, I would simply recommend stopping frequently to scrape down the sides. The butter will get hot regardless of what kind of seeds you used, as mine was quite warm when I made it too!
Hi Hannah I just came across your recipe and I can’t wait to try it. I found a cookie recipe using sunflower butter and really want to try it. I do love my vitamix for making nut butters.
The reason I’m responding here is because you mention on your health conditions in the past and still on going. Have you heard of milling your own wheat berries and ancient grains. Making your own bread and baking with milled flour is a whole game changer. Your milling the whole berries which is loaded with vitamins such as B and E and filled with wheat germ, fibre and bran which is loaded with benefits. You cannot buy bread or baking with the whole berry because all the nutrients are removed except the endosperm(white bread) other wise it would go rancid. Most people do not know this and I’m one of them. I’m new to milling and it has so many benefits and cures so much. I’m loving it. I thought you could read more into it, watch you tube videos and learn more too like I have done.its incredible and so interesting. Anyways I just I would share with you as you seem like the type of person who is willing to try anything to help your health. Take Care Colleen