I’ve gotten a couple emails and comments about the nut butter process, so here goes.
The above is peanut butter. No added oil and just a couple tsp of agave for 8 oz.
All you really need is a food processor and some nuts, basically 😀
I have a mini food processor. You could do it in a large one, but you would need to make more at a time. I use 8 oz of nuts for each batch. If you toast the nuts, let them cool completely before grinding, as they sometimes just stay mealy if you don’t.
Add the nuts to the food processor and pulse until you get small pieces. Then set it to just run. You will notice the nut meal start to climb the sides of the processor. You can either shake the unit (probably not recommended, but what I do 🙂 ) or stop and push the nut meal back down. This is the most tedious part of the process. Keep doing this and then you will start to notice the nut butter forming at the bottom of the bowl. Once that starts, you can usually just let it run until it is the consistency you want. It can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the nut you use. Oil and sweetener are optional most times, although some nuts just seem to need a little oil. Add the sweetener when the nut butter is almost done. If you add it in the beginning, it just gums up and the nut butter won’t form right. At least that is what happens to me. For chunky nut butter, plus some of the nuts into small chunks, pull them out and reserve until the end and stir in.
Freshness of the nuts matters, too. Older nuts will need oil.
Here are the nuts and combos I have tried:
1. Peanuts: Easy. Usually do not need oil with this. Good additions are honey or maple syrup or cinnamon or cocoa powder.
2. Cashews: Fairly easy, although I find a little bit of oil helps. This butter is ah-mazing. Jar-Spoon-Mouth type of amazing.
3. Pecans. The easiest and quickest nut of all. I would actually try this one first to have success. Toast the nuts first, please. No oil needed. In fact, this is a pretty oily nut. Great combos for this are cinnamon/maple syrup, coconut.
4. Sunflower: Easy.This is a cheap seed LOL! I don’t care for the taste as much. This one needed a little oil.
5. Almond. Hard. If find almonds take the longest of all the nuts to make butter with and they need some kind of oil. Do not blanch the almonds. Toast and let cool completely. Almonds pretty much take at least 15 minutes of processing or longer. Good stuff, though.
6. Hazelnut: Medium. This nut seems to need some oil, and it never gets super smooth. The taste is worth it, though.
7. Walnut. Easy. Like pecan butter, it forms easily, but stays fairly chunky. I am just not a fan of walnut taste so much.
Note: Making nut butter in the Magic Bullet is not a good idea. It never forms and just makes a mess. ’nuff said. Not sure if a regular blender would work either. I think it is the speed.
thank you for making it look so simple and delicious!
.-= kalli@fitandfortysomething´s last blog ..Clif Family Fun =-.
Awesome tutorial! I’ve only done peanut butter, but I am curious to try my own with other nuts now.
.-= Pam´s last blog ..Comprehesive Restuarant Nutritional Information Guide =-.
Thanks for this info – I’ve wondered if it was as easy as grinding up nuts in a food processor – had no idea it took longer than a couple of minutes, though…good to know ahead of time!
.-= Shelley B´s last blog ..Two Years!!! =-.
Thanks for all the nut butter info. I was bummed to hear you can’t make it in the magic bullet. Maybe its time for me to invest in a mini processor. All the butters sounded yummy.
.-= Dawn´s last blog ..Step Challenge Week #5 =-.
I made macadamia nut butter with raw honey and it was out of this world delish!
.-= Andra´s last blog ..Alive Expo =-.
Thanks for the primer. So much better than a recipe when you get someone’s personal experience/recommendations.
Thanks for the info! If I ever drag my 9000 year old food processor out I’ll give it a try! 🙂
.-= Ang´s last blog ..Fiesta chicken! =-.
I love making my own almond butter! I think it tastes so much better than the store-bought. And you’re right, it does require a good 10-15 minutes in the food processor. Worth every minute 🙂
.-= Marisa (Loser for Life)´s last blog ..The Magic Trick =-.
I actually have a peanut butter maker. It takes FOREVER and is unbelievably loud. I’ll have to try it in the food processor.
The last time I made my own PB, my hubbies daughter was staying with us and thought it was a jar of rotten old peanut butter. I HAD JUST MADE IT!
.-= Joanne´s last blog ..Tasty Recipes and Giveaway =-.
Ohhh, l liked this post! Great suggestions. I was considering making my own almond butter but now I think I’ll just continue to be lazy and buy it. May try some of the others though. Thanks for sharing!
.-= Carrie (Love Healthy Living)´s last blog ..Childhood Obesity Report Recommendation 2 =-.
I love walnut butter myself. Pecan butter is a close second though. I haven’t tried roasting either of the nuts though. Just the nuts and a little salt. Mmmm! It has really changed my opinion on peanut butter though — unfortunately.
Great info Lori, thank you! Might have to try with the girls 🙂
Thank you for posting this, Lori! I love the idea of mixing up just enough for what I need and any combo I wish. 😀
.-= Fitcetera´s last blog .. =-.
I’m sure I’d loce cashew butter as I love cashews. However I bought almond butter once as you see it everywhere on the net and I didn’t find it that amazing. Prefer peanut over almond.