Grain-free

Name: Pumpkin Butter
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 15oz can of pumpkin purée; 3/4 cup apple cider; 1/2 cup agave; 1/2 cup coconut sugar; 2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp ground ginger; 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg; 1/4 tsp ground cloves

Pumpkin Butter

September 29, 2020 by Rachael Ng 2 Comments

This sweet, spice-filled Pumpkin Butter will be the best thing for your morning toast or bagel this season! Made with coconut sugar, agave, and apple cider, this version is a bit better for you than traditional pumpkin butter!

What is Pumpkin Butter?

Have you ever had apple butter? Well, pumpkin butter is the pumpkin version of apple butter! In other words, it’s a sweet & spicy, thick spread made from simmering pumpkin purée with loads of warm spices, apple cider, and your favorite sweeteners – I chose coconut sugar and agave which are both low glycemic.

Pumpkin butter is versatile as it can be spread on toast, slathered over dough to make pumpkin sweet rolls, or even stuffed into homemade pop tart pastries! Double the batch and gift a couple of jars to friends or family – trust me, they will love you.

How is Pumpkin Butter Made?

Pumpkin butter actually couldn’t be simpler to make. You’ll mix all of the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer them, semi-covered to reduce splatter, for around 45 minutes, or until the liquid mixture has reduced to a thickened “butter”. The pumpkin butter will continue to thicken a bit as it cools, so keep that in mind as you gauge whether your pumpkin butter is done reducing.

Once the pumpkin butter is nice and thick, you can transfer it to a cooler, room temperature bowl to allow it to cool completely. If you plan to use it in another recipe, make sure it’s totally cool before utilizing it as an ingredient. If you plan to top a biscuit or your favorite toast, there’s really no need to wait – pumpkin butter is amazing while it’s warm!

Yield: 2 Cups

Pumpkin Butter

A sweet, spice-filled pumpkin spread made from simmering pumpkin purée with apple cider, sugar, and lots of warm spices. The perfect "butter" for your morning toast.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes

Ingredients

15oz can of pumpkin purée
3/4 cup apple cider
1/2 cup agave
1/2 cup coconut sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves

Instructions

In a medium or large saucepan, add all of the ingredients: pumpkin, apple cider, agave, coconut sugar, and spices. Whisk together until totally combined. It will be a very thin/liquid consistency.
Heat the saucepan on medium heat until the mixture begins to bubble. Then turn the heat to low and allow the pumpkin butter liquid to simmer, semi-covered (there will be a lot of bubbling splatter). Simmer for about 45 minutes, whisking every 5-10 minutes, or until the pumpkin butter reduces and thickens. Keep in mind that it will thicken a bit more as it cools.
Once your pumpkin butter has thickened (it should be thick enough to spread), remove it from the heat and allow it to cool completely. You can speed this process up by transferring the pumpkin butter to a room temperature bowl and stirring it every 5 minutes or so.
Store cooled pumpkin butter in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator.

Recipe slightly adapted from allrecipes

Notes

For a pumpkin butter made with traditional sweeteners, you can use brown sugar in place of the coconut sugar, and maple syrup in place of the agave
Apple juice will work in this recipe in place of the apple cider

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1 Tbsp
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 30Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 6gProtein: 0g

calculated nutrition information may not always be accurate

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Peppermint Hot Cocoa Brownies (DF + GF)

November 18, 2019 by Rachael Ng Leave a Comment

The weather is cooling down, the holidays are quickly approaching, and what’s better than a cozy mug of hot cocoa topped with marshmallows? Peppermint Hot Cocoa Brownies! These super rich chocolate brownies are flavored with peppermint extract and topped with a simple homemade peppermint marshmallow. In other words, forget about hot cocoa (for now) and indulge in one of these festive babes instead!

For this recipe I used my favorite base brownie recipe from Running with Spoons and paired it with a slightly altered version of Alton Brown’s Homemade Marshmallow Recipe. I’ve made marshmallows using a different recipe in the past and found myself disappointed with the taste. But this marshmallow topping has no funky gelatin flavor, isn’t too sweet, and has the perfect marshmallow texture! You can eat the brownies as-is or pop one in the microwave for a warm, gooey marshmallow brownie experience – this was my favorite way to eat these. And if you’re not a fan of peppermint, feel free to leave it out completely, replacing it with extra vanilla extract (or your extract of choice!).

Some of the ingredients I like for this recipe:

Coconut sugar is my go-to baking sweetener. It’s low GI, unrefined, and makes for a perfect substitute for white granulated sugar. And it tastes nothing like coconut! For a sweeter (less rich) brownie, feel free to use regular, white granulated sugar instead.

Chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate) lend moisture and lots of chocolate goodness to these brownies.

Eggs make for the perfect brownie texture. Trust me, I’ve tried multiple egg replacements in this recipe, and they do not work. So don’t even try.

Instant coffee granules are totally optional but will deepen the chocolate flavor and richness in the brownies. I highly recommend adding it if you’re looking for a rich brownie!

Arrowroot starch thickens the brownie batter while also keeping it free of grains and gluten – perfect for GF and non-GF eaters alike since the taste is undetectable!

White granulated sugar is necessary for the marshmallow topping! I don’t recommend any substitutes since this topping has been tested as-is and works as-is.

Agave makes for a better alternative to corn syrup, which is what most marshmallow recipes call for. It also has a very low GI, which is great considering the higher GI of the white sugar you’ll also be using.

Yield: 16 Brownies

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Brownies

Ultra rich and fudgy peppermint brownies topped with a thick layer of homemade peppermint marshmallow! The perfect treat for a cool, winter night!

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 30 minutes

Additional Time 4 hours

Total Time 5 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

Brownies

1/3 cup coconut oil, measured as a solid (or 6 Tbsp olive oil)
1 cup dairy-free chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
1 tsp instant coffee granules (optional)
1/4 cup natural cocoa powder
2 large eggs, room temp
2/3 cup coconut sugar (or cane sugar)
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp arrowroot, tapioca, or corn starch

Marshmallow

1/2 cup water, divided
1 1/2 packets of gelatin powder (~3 1/2 tsp)
1 cup white cane sugar
1/4 cup agave
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Make the brownies: preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare an 8x8" baking dish with non-stick spray. Then line your entire pan with parchment paper. I like to cut two long strips of parchment that criss cross over each other on the bottom of the dish. Bring your eggs to room temperature by placing them in a glass of warm water for around 10 minutes.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt together the coconut oil and chocolate chips. Stir in the instant coffee and cocoa powder; set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the eggs and sugar. Whisk on medium-high speed until thick and light in color. Whisk in the peppermint and vanilla extracts. Gently fold the chocolate mixture into the sugar and eggs. Add the salt and arrowroot starch and gently mix until just combined.
Pour batter into prepared baking dish and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the brownies comes out slightly gooey - you don't want to over bake! Allow brownies to totally cool.
Make the marshmallow: in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the gelatin and 1/4 cup of the water. Give it a little stir and then allow it to thicken while you heat up your sugar.
In a medium or large saucepan, add the sugar, agave, salt, and the other 1/4 cup of water. Gently swirl the pan to ensure sugar is totally saturated. Set heat to medium-high (or medium for a gas range) and bring the mixture to a boil. Use a candy thermometer to monitor the sugar's temperature. If your mixture begins to boil too high up the pan (as mine did) you can use your thermometer to gently swirl the mixture back down/hold the pot up and over the heat. I recommend using a large pot. When the mixture reaches 240°F immediately remove from the heat.
With your stand mixer running at low speed, slowly pour the hot sugar mixture into the gelatin. Turn the speed to high and whisk until mixture becomes white, thick, and fluffy. I like to wait until I see soft peaks. Immediately whisk in the peppermint and vanilla extracts.
Spread the marshmallow over the cooled brownies, using an offset icing spatula to spread and swirl it over the brownies. Top with sprinkles, chocolate chips, or crushed peppermint candies.
Allow marshmallow to set for at least 4 hours before slicing. Run a butter knife along the edges of the brownies and use the parchment paper to lift the brownies up and out of the dish. Slice into 16 squares.
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. I highly recommend popping the brownie into the microwave for a few seconds before enjoying!

Notes

Brownie recipe slightly adapted from Running with Spoons & Marshmallow recipe slightly adapted from Alton Brown

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies (gluten-free & dairy-free)

August 19, 2019 by Rachael Ng 2 Comments

Fudgy and rich Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies topped with a sweet dark chocolate icing! These decadent squares are loaded with chocolate and the zucchini is undetectable!

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

Zucchini has to be one of my favorite add-ins to baked goods. Muffins, bread, and even cake can all be deliciously made with heaps of good-for-you zucchini! A green veggie in my desserts? Yep! Because who doesn’t want to feel a little bit better when indulging in something ooey gooey and ultra chocolatey?

These brownies are so decadent and fudgy, and with a thin layer of sweet dark chocolate frosting, you won’t be able to pass them up. And once you get the brownie-making method down, this recipe is really quite easy. The chocolate can be melted in the microwave, and if you have a stand mixer, the eggs and sugar can be left for a few minutes to whip while you shred your zucchini. Throw some extra chocolate chips into the batter for an irresistible triple chocolate brownie!

Some of the Ingredients You’ll Need + Substitutions:

Chocolate chips are melted and added to the batter for a seriously fudgy brownie. I recommend semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Dutch process cocoa powder is darker in color and richer in flavor. Since there are no leavening agents in this recipe (baking soda, etc) you can also use regular cocoa powder in its place – your brownies just won’t be dark chocolate.
Eggs whip up with the sugar to create a fluffy batter which gives the brownies lift, negating the need for baking soda or powder. I haven’t tested this recipe with any egg alternatives.
Coconut sugar is an unrefined, low GI sugar. It tastes less sweet than white sugar, and makes for a great, better-for-you alternative. Feel free to use your favorite cane sugar instead – unrefined, white, or brown (lightly packed).
Arrowroot starch thickens the brownie batter and helps bind the brownies together. You can use cornstarch in its place.

More zucchini recipes:

Spiced Zucchini Cake

Healthier Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Gluten-Free Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Yield: 9-16 Brownies

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

Ultra fudgy brownies made with shredded zucchini and dark, Dutch-process cocoa powder. These chocolate-frosted squares are grain-free + dairy-free and totally irresistible!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

Brownies

1 cup + 1/4 cup dairy-free chocolate chips, divided
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I used olive oil)
2 large eggs, room temp
3/4 cup coconut sugar or cane sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/4 cup arrowroot starch (or cornstarch)
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup finely shredded zucchini, excess juice squeezed out (see Note 1)

Frosting

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 Tbsp plant-based butter (or refined coconut oil), melted
2 Tbsp plant-based milk

Instructions

Bring your eggs to room temperature by placing them in a glass of warm water for around 10 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8" pan or baking dish with non-stick spray and parchment paper - I like to cut my parchment paper into two long pieces, criss-crossing them in the middle.
Melt together 1 cup of the chocolate chips with the plant-based butter/oil in the microwave or using the double boiler method; stir and set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the eggs and coconut sugar. Whisk on medium-high speed until the mixture becomes fluffy and light brown in color, adding the vanilla extract along the way.
Gently fold the melted chocolate into the whisked egg mixture. Fold in the cocoa powder, arrowroot starch, and salt. Stir in the shredded zucchini and 1/4 cup of chocolate chips (optional) until combined.
Bake brownies at 350°F for 30-35 minutes or until the center looks set. Allow brownies to cool for 10 minutes before making your frosting. In a small, microwave-safe bowl, combine the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, coconut oil or butter, and plant-based milk. Microwave the frosting until warm to the touch. Pour over warm brownies, tilting the pan until frosting is evenly distributed.
Allow brownies to totally cool before slicing and serving. For clean cuts, use the excess parchment paper to remove the entire brownie square. Slice into 16 brownies, wiping your knife clean between each slice. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.