Roasted Garlic Pumpkin Butter on Ciabatta
Creamy pumpkin and room-temperature butter combined with roasted garlic, white miso, and toasted walnuts. Spread on toasted ciabatta and finished with honey, seeds, cinnamon, and flaky sea salt. A savory-sweet autumn appetizer or snack with complex spice layers.
Ingredients
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 8 oz butter, room temperature
- 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice, The Spice Hunter
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tbsp white miso pastered miso paste1:1condiment
slightly more assertive umami
- 1 tbsp Sweet Seed Seasoning, The Spice Hunter, more for topping
- 2 tbsp walnuts, toasted
- ciabattasourdough1:1bread
tangier crumb
- Saigon cinnamon, Highland Harvested, The Spice Hunter, dash
- salt, dash
- flaky sea salt, to taste(optional)
- olive oil, for drizzling
- 3 tbsp honey, for drizzling on toast
Instructions
- 1
Cut the top off the garlic clove, drizzle with olive oil, cover with aluminum foil, and bake at 375°F for one hour until softened. Cool completely.
- 2
Add pumpkin puree to a pan with pumpkin pie spice and honey. Cook on medium heat for five to six minutes. Season with a little salt and cool.
- 3
Combine the cooled butter, pumpkin mixture, roasted garlic, miso paste, sweet seed seasoning, and toasted walnuts until well blended.
- 4
Toast the ciabatta slices, spread the pumpkin butter generously, drizzle with honey, sprinkle sweet seed seasoning and cinnamon, and finish with flaky sea salt.
Tips
Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for smooth incorporation with other ingredients.
Roasting the entire garlic bulb mellows its sharpness; do not skip the cooling step before combining.
Toast walnuts lightly to enhance their nuttiness without burning.
Good to Know
Covered in the refrigerator up to one week. The flavors mellow slightly upon standing.
Prepare the pumpkin butter component one day ahead; store separately from ciabatta to prevent sogginess.
Serve at room temperature on warm toasted ciabatta for optimal texture contrast.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip cooling the roasted garlic before blending to avoid curdling the butter.
Do not over-cook the pumpkin mixture to avoid dark browning, which masks delicate spice flavors.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
slightly more assertive umami