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Food & Recipes

It’s Way Easier (And Healthier) to Make Your Own Nut Butter Than You Think

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Whether you’re a follower of the keto diet, looking to up your intake of healthy fats, or just generally like the taste, nut butters are a healthy and delicious snack. The problem with a lot of store-bought nut butter, however, is they can be loaded with added ingredients and preservatives that aren’t the healthiest, like hydrogenated vegetable oils. But you probably have all you need to make your own creamy, dreamy nut butter already at home.

The great thing about nuts is that they’re pretty much a perfect food on their own — and it doesn’t take much to pulverize them into a delicious and super nutritious paste you can go ahead and slather on just about anything. All a simple nut butter recipe requires is your nut of choice (we like to use almonds, peanuts, and pistachios!), some sea salt (if you’re making salted butter, of course), and a high-speed blender or food processor. 

Nuts that are higher in fat, like walnuts or pecans, are softer and will blend easier than a heartier nut like an almond. We recommend that you make a small batch initially to see how much your processor or blender can handle. You can soak your nuts overnight to help them break down easier if you want. One cup of nuts should make about a half cup of nut butter. Another way to spice things up is to roast the nuts in your oven with some sea salt beforehand. This will also help them break down easier, and add more flavor to your butter. 

Add the nuts to your blender or processor along with a pinch of sea salt (if it wasn’t added already) and add any other ingredients that you like. Some fun ideas include cinnamon, chia seeds, cocoa powder, flaxseeds, or vanilla extract. If you find that the nuts aren’t grinding, don’t worry. It can take a little while for them to release their oils and finally break down. But if after five minutes they still aren’t grinding much, add a bit of melted coconut oil or avocado oil (be sparing!) to help things along. The whole process should take about 20 minutes, less if you roasted your nuts first. By the end, you should have a creamy, smooth texture.

You can keep your homemade healthy nut butter in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for about a week. Drizzle it on your toast or oatmeal, add it to smoothies, or enjoy it on a sliced apple. This nut butter, no matter what nut you choose, is a delicious way to boost your health and wellbeing. Have you heard that just two spoons of nuts a day could ward off brain conditions?

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