Are you ready for the most simple recipe that works for any nut butter?
Add nuts to food processor and blend.
Done.
Really.
For a great nut butter make sure you are choosing raw and unsalted nuts. Roasting nuts can remove oils and moistures needed to become the right paste consistency.
The nuts will go through a couple of phases while being blended that you should be aware of. First, they will get chopped and as the pieces become more fine, they will have a crumb-like appearance. Continue blending past this point.
Their next stage will be a wetter crumb stage where most likely they will begin to ball up in the food processor. It may be necessary at this point to stop intermittently and break the ball up. Continue blending past this point.
Finally the nuts will release more of their oils and turn into the more liquid butter like consistency ideal for spreading on toast or adding to your favourite recipes.
Not all nuts are made the same; some contain more oil and will blend smoother, others will may need a little help to get to the consistency you are looking for. To smooth butters add an olive of your choice. Important things to consider are solidifying points and shelf life. Peanut oil goes rancid much quicker than other oils and because of this is actually rarely used in commercial peanut butters. Olive oil will make your nut butter harder to spread after being stored in the refrigerator. Coconut oil has a distinct taste to it, but a good consistency. Experiment and see what you like.
If the completely natural flavour of homemade nut butters isn't exactly what you are looking for you can add some flavour with small amounts of salt and honey. Commercial nut butters always have flavour enhancers like these added to them.
Cut the costs and the sugars/presrvatives and make your own delicious and all-natural nut butters!
Want a recipe to use your new nut butter in? How about a tasty vegan fudge:
Cool Mint Vegan Fudge Bites