Nut butters are a versatile spread that you can put on so many different foods. And if you make them at home, you’ll end up with a tastier, healthier, and more affordable condiment.
![How to Make 3 Kinds of Homemade Nut Butters (1) How to Make 3 Kinds of Homemade Nut Butters (1)](https://i0.wp.com/www.simplyquinoa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/homemade-nut-butters-3.webp)
I’m a huge fan of nut butters. Whether I’m putting them on toast for breakfast, or eating a spoonful straight out of the jar, they are a go-to food for me. They’re rich, creamy, just the right amount of sweet, and packed full of flavor. Plus, nuts are one of the healthiest things you can eat, so these spreads are great for you.
Like most people, I used to buy all my nut butters. But it turns out they’re a lot better when homemade. They taste better, they’re usually healthier, and they’re definitely cheaper. Plus, they’re customizable, easy to make, and usually only take 20 minutes.
So now I make all of mine, and I recommend you do the same! This post has the basics for creating a simple nut butter with pretty much any nut.For example, I used this basic formula to make Honey Roasted Peanut Butter, Pumpkin Spice Almond Butter, and this Homemade Nutella!
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What You’ll Need
Here are the ingredients you need to make these nutty spreads.
- Raw nuts – You can use almost any type of nut when making nut butter.
- Seasonings – Chocolate chips, honey, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.You can even add chili for a bit of smoky heat!
- Coconut oil – This is an optional ingredient that’s used to help make the nut butters smooth.
How to Make Nut Butter
Making these recipes is a super simple process that only takes 20 minutes. Here’s how to do it.
- Season the nuts. Place the nuts on a baking sheet that will fit in a toaster oven. If you’re seasoning the nut butter with something that can be toasted without having the flavor or texture ruined, pour or sprinkle it over the nuts.
- Toast the nuts. Put the nuts in the toaster oven for 5 minutes.
- Process. Place the nuts in a food processor and process until smooth, about 10-15 minutes. If the spread isn’t becoming smooth, add a touch of coconut oil.
- Finish seasoning. If you have a seasoning that you couldn’t put in the toaster oven (such as melted chocolate), add it to the nut butter and pulse until combined. Place the nut butter in a jar, and you’re all done.
Variations
One of my favorite things about these kinds of recipes is how easy it is to customize them. Here are some variations you can add to them, or to any other nut butter you make.
- Heat. Nuts and spice go hand in hand. You can easily add a little bit of heat to a nut butter by sprinkling some chili powder over the nuts before toasting them, creating a spicy spread.
- Sweet. You can also go in the other direction (or in both directions!) and add sweetness to your nut butter. Honey is my favorite way to sweeten these spreads, but maple syrup and agave are good options as well. You can add the sweetener to the nuts before toasting for a little bit of a caramel flavor, or simply add it at the end of the processing.
- Salty. I probably don’t need to tell you that nuts and salt are a classic combination. To make a salted nut butter, sprinkle some salt over the nuts before toasting them. After processing the nut butter, taste it, and add more salt if you want.
- Spices. You can have fun by adding a lot of different spices to these nut butters. A good rule of thumb is if the spice would go well in a cookie or cake, then it will go well in a nut butter. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and cardamom will all go well in nut butters.
- Chunks. Finally, you can play with the texture of your nut butter by making it chunky. To do this, simply reserve a few of the toasted nuts, and chop them up. After you’ve processed the rest of the nuts to create your smooth and creamy nut butter, add the chunks of nuts.
![How to Make 3 Kinds of Homemade Nut Butters (3) How to Make 3 Kinds of Homemade Nut Butters (3)](https://i0.wp.com/www.simplyquinoa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/homemade-nut-butters-2.jpg)
Serving Suggestions
Here are some of my favorite ways to eat these homemade condiments.
- Spread across some fresh bread or toast.
- Served atop some homemade granola.
- Blended into your favorite smoothie.
- Spread on top of a warm scone.
- Mixed into some oatmeal.
- Lathered on some fresh banana bread.
How to Store
Nut butters will last for a long time if stored in an airtight jar. They’ll last for at least a month at room temperature, or for at least 3 months in the fridge. I prefer to keep mine at room temperature, as that’s when the texture is most creamy. However, make sure you keep your spreads out of direct sunlight, by storing them in a cupboard or pantry.
Can You Freeze Nut Butters?
Yes! You can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Thaw at room temperature or in the fridge before eating. Freezing these spreads can sometimes mess up the texture, so you may need to run it through the food processor after thawing.
Nut Butter Recipes to Try
Super Seed Homemade Peanut Butter
Made with hemp, chia, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds this Super Seed Homemade Peanut Butter has a lovely crunchy texture. It's lightly flavored with cinnamon and high in protein.
Check out this recipe
Chocolate Coconut Almond Butter
A healthy twist on Nutella, this Chocolate Coconut Almond Butter is made with just 5 ingredients. Super easy to make and the dark chocolate flavor goes with pretty much everything!
Check out this recipe
Cinnamon Maple Mixed Nut Butter
Made with pecans, almonds, and cashews, this Maple Cinnamon Nut Butter is lightly spiced, perfectly creamy, and easy to make. The maple and cinnamon flavors make this a great nut butter recipe for fall.
Check out this recipe
Vanilla Bean Cashew Butter
Creamy, healthy, and ready in just 20 minutes, this Vanilla Bean Cashew Butter is made with just 2 ingredients!
Check out this recipe
Cinnamon Vanilla Pecan Butter
Flavored with cinnamon and vanilla, this may be the best pecan butter recipe you ever try. It's simple but SO good – and healthy too!
Check out this recipe
Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter
Made with just 5 ingredients, this Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter is perfect for toast, apples, smoothies, and more. It's both healthy and easy to make.
Honey Roasted Peanut Butter
Sweet and salty, this Honey Roasted Peanut Butter may feel ultra-indulgent but it's actually quite healthy. Made with just 3 ingredients, this is a great nut butter recipe for beginners.
Check out this recipe
2-Ingredient Nutella
Love Nutella? No need to spend a ridiculous amount on a jar at the store. This homemade Nutella is made with just 2 ingredients – and WAY healthier than the storebought version!
Pumpkin Spice Almond Butter
If pumpkin spice if your jam during the fall, then you'll love these easy Pumpkin Spice Almond Butter. This rich, creamy butter butter is made with just 2 ingredients, so it's perfect for enjoying all fall and winter long.
Chai-Spiced Almond Hazelnut Butter Recipe
This creamy almond hazelnut butter tastes just like your favorite chai tea latte! Paired with toast or fruit, it's perfect for breakfast or a snack.
Coconut Butter
Homemade coconut butter is made with just one ingredient – yes, really! It's smooth, creamy, and bursting with flavor.
Check out this recipe
Homemade Cacao Nib Almond Cashew Butter
This cacao nib almond cashew butter is downright addicting! And, it's paleo, dairy-free, and gluten-free – a snack almost anyone can love.
Maple Cinnamon Peanut Butter
This rich, creamy Maple Cinnamon Peanut Butter is perfect for fall. It's crunchy and perfectly spiced. Enjoy on apples, toast, or simply by the spoonful!
Gingerbread Walnut Butter
There's no nut butter better fit for the holidays than this Gingerbread Walnut Butter! Add it to your baked goods for some extra flavor or simply enjoy on toast in the morning.
Homemade Almond Butter with Vanilla Bean, Honey & Sea Salt
This Homemade Almond Butter puts anything you can buy at the store to shame. It's perfectly flavored with vanilla bean, honey, and sea salt for an irresistible nut butter you'll want to spread on everything.
Homemade Salted Dark Chocolate Pecan Butter
Dark chocolate lovers will rejoice for this Homemade Salted Dark Chocolate Pecan Butter! It makes a decadent addition to everything from pancakes and waffles to toast with the perfect balance of sweet and salty.
Espresso Cashew Butter
This Espresso Cashew Butter is a vegan, gluten-free, and Whole30 compliant treat. It's made with just 5 ingredients and ready in 15 minutes!
Strawberry Cashew Butter
Made with freeze-dried strawberries and vanilla beans, this Strawberry Cashew Butter is beyond good. Paleo, vegan, sugar-free, and Whole30-friendly, almost anyone can enjoy this nut butter.
Pistachio Butter
Pistachio butter may not be the first nut butter that comes to mind but once you try it, you'll realize what you were missing! Made with just 4 ingredients in less than 20 minutes.
Honey Roasted Butterscotch White Chocolate Peanut Butter
There's so much to love about this Honey Roasted Butterscotch White Chocolate Peanut Butter! It's so rich, creamy, and decadent. You'll want to eat it with absolutely everything!