Make Raw Pumpkin Seed Butter at home with your food processor in just 15 minutes! This pepita butter is perfect for using in baked goods, spreading on toast, or eating with a spoon!
Jump to:
- Why make raw pumpkin seed butter instead of roasted?
- Why avoid oil?
- Why I love this Raw Pumpkin Seed Butter
- Ingredient Notes
- How to make Raw Pumpkin Seed Butter
- FAQ
- Ways to eat raw pumpkin seed butter
- Recipes to make using pumpkin seed butter
- More homemade nut & seed butters
- Tried this recipe?
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why make raw pumpkin seed butter instead of roasted?
There's nothing wrong with roasted nuts or seeds. Roasting enhances the flavors and makes blending easier.
If you're looking for optimal nutrition, raw is the way to go.
Roasting the seeds removes or decreases the potency of many of the beneficial nutrients. It doesn't remove them entirely, but pepitas in their raw form have more nutrients and more bioavailability.
Especially if you are eating pepitas as a part of seed cycling, eating seeds raw is the best way to optimize nutrition.
Why avoid oil?
Many people think oil is necessary to create smooth, tasty nut or seed butter. While it can speed up the process, I am here to say that oil is NOT required. In fact, I recommend you don't use oil at all.
Oil is a processed product, made by pressing olives, vegetables, etc. until almost everything that was once healthy is removed. You are left with a thick, calorie dense liquid, void of nutrition. When you add it to nut butter you're just adding unnecessary calories that don't have fiber.
Studies have even shown that for several hours after consuming oil your artery function is impaired (for more information visit nutritionfacts.org).
For these reasons, I try to stay away from oil whenever possible. And none of the recipes on this blog have oil.
Why I love this Raw Pumpkin Seed Butter
- Dietary needs - this recipe is dairy-free, plant-based, oil-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free
- Easy to make - it's SO easy to make seed butter, and cheaper too!
- Delicious flavor perfect for baking - I use nut and seed butters in a lot of baking recipes and this pepita butter would be delicious in many of my fall-themed baked goods (like this pumpkin banana bread)
Ingredient Notes
- Raw Pumpkin Seeds: there are several varieties of pumpkin seeds, and for this recipe I recommend using pepitas
- Salt: A pinch of salt helps enhance the flavor of the seeds. Though the salt is optional - especially if you plan to use this recipe for baking.
How to make Raw Pumpkin Seed Butter
Step 1. Add the pepitas and salt to a food processor.
Step 2. Blend, scraping down the sides as necessary, until a smooth paste has formed. Enjoy!
FAQ
Pepitas are a type of pumpkin seed, but they don't grow in all pumpkins. (Like, if you carve a pumpkin on Halloween, you won't find pepitas inside.)
Pumpkin seeds that you'd find inside of an average pumpkin are white. Pepitas are green. And they come from a special type of pumpkin.
You can find pepitas (already outside of the pumpkin) in the nut/seed section of the grocery store. They're often in the bulk section.
Yes! A mixed nut & seed butter gives you a variety of nutrients and a delicious flavor. Feel free to experiment with adding your favorite nuts and seeds to create a unique butter every time!
Pepitas have a nutty flavor with a subtle sweetness and a slight bite. Eating them in butter form takes the edge off and a pinch of salt enhances the flavor.
Nope, not really. You might notice that it is slightly nuttier than a butter with oil, but that's just because there are no other flavors to compete.
Ways to eat raw pumpkin seed butter
- On toast
- As a dip for veggies
- Mixed into salad dressings
- Blended into hummus
- By itself - on a spoon!
Recipes to make using pumpkin seed butter
You can sub this nut butter into any recipe that calls for almond butter, cashew butter, walnut butter, etc.
Here are few recipes this pumpkin seed butter would taste especially delicious in:
More homemade nut & seed butters
Tried this recipe?
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📖 Recipe
Raw Pumpkin Seed Butter
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Raw Pepitas
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Add the pepitas and salt to a food processor.
- Blend, scraping down the sides as necessary, until a smooth paste has formed. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Comments
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