If you’re a guest at a friend’s or relative’s home, you can present the butter as a special hostess gift. Just wrap a crock with a festive bow.

This butter also adds richness to sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips and beets.

Pumpkin Five-Spice Butter

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup canned or fresh pumpkin purée, strained (to remove any excess water)
1 tablespoon orange or lemon zest, finely grated
1½ to 2 tablespoons Chinese five-spice powder
Salt to taste
Confectioners’ sugar or honey powder for sweeter applications (optional)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

1. Place the butter in a medium mixing bowl. With an electric mixer (fitted with a paddle) or wooden spoon, beat until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides.
2. Add pumpkin purée, zest and five-spice powder, scraping down the sides of the bowl, and beat to incorporate all ingredients. Taste for five-spice powder and salt. Add confectioners’ sugar, if desired.
3. Stir in nuts, if desired, and taste again for salt.\
4. Scrape into a small bowl, serving crock or butter molds and cover tightly; or shape into a long roll in a grease-proof paper (plastic, wax or parchment) for storing and slicing as needed.

Note: Because you’re dedicated to organic living, OrganicAuthority.com recommends using certified organic ingredients, when available, in all recipes to maximize flavor, while minimizing your risk of exposure to pesticides, chemicals and preservatives. 

Recipe and photo courtesy of America’s Dairy Farmers