How to make nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter...)

Do you know what happens if you put nuts in a food processor and start grinding and grinding? That you turn that nut into butter (Yes, with nothing more than the nut itself). Are you a fan of hazelnut butter? Or peanut butter? So, without a doubt, you have to try making it homemade. And if instead of using the dried fruit you use it toasted, you will increase the intensity of the butter flavor , and it will be gold for your recipes!

What butters can you make

Roasted nut butters are a delicious variation on nut butters. Some popular examples of roasted nut butters include:

1. Roasted Peanut Butter: Roasted peanuts add a richer flavor and crunchy texture to this classic butter.

2. Toasted Almond Butter: Toasted almonds add a deeper, slightly smoky flavor to almond butter.

3. Toasted Nut Butter: Toasted nuts offer a more robust flavor and crunchy texture to nut butter.

4. Roasted Cashew Butter: Roasted cashews have a deeper, butterier flavor, making this butter smooth and delicious.

5. Toasted Hazelnut Butter: Toasted hazelnuts add a deeper nutty flavor and smokiness to the hazelnut butter.

6. Peanut and nut butter: a mixed butter, in which the nuts reduce the intense flavor of the peanut and make it more interesting.

7. Honey Peanut Butter and Roasted Nuts: This variant combines roasted peanuts, honey and other nuts, such as almonds and walnuts, for a more complex and sweet flavor.

How to make nut butter

1. I mentioned it at the beginning of the post: you just have to put the peeled nuts in a powerful chopper, a food processor (our friend Mónica Prego always showed the Magimix processor to make butter very quickly), a powerful blender (like the Magimix )
2. Turn on the chopper or robot to start grinding and let it do a few minutes: you will see that in a very few minutes (about 3 minutes, but it will depend on the power of your device) the crushed nuts begin to release their oil and form butter.
3. When you have the mixture emulsified (the crushed nuts have become a paste, butter), remove and enjoy, or keep it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

You are interested to know! If you use previously roasted nuts instead of natural nuts, you will highlight their flavors and add additional depth to the butters. Toasting nuts is the simplest thing there is (I'll tell you about it below).

How to toast nuts

• In the oven: arrange the nuts on a baking tray (I personally love using the Naturals trays, because they are available in small formats, they are light and heat up super quickly). Bake in the oven at 200 ºC until you notice that they change color slightly and look golden brown.
• On the fire, in a pan: you can use a chestnut pan for optimal results, you can see it in this post . As simple as having them in the pan, stirring from time to time, until golden.

Toast in Naturals Trays in the oven or in a frying pan for chestnuts over the fire

How to use nut butter (examples to enjoy it)

You can enjoy nut butters on toast, muffins, as an ingredient in smoothies or in a variety of cooking and baking recipes , starting with sponge cakes and bundt cakes that will be the tastiest. Here are some ideas to inspire you:

1. Peanut butter crepe with walnuts and dried sheep cheese
2. Hazelnut butter toast with chocolate pearls
3. Toast with peanut butter and sliced ​​banana
4. Hazelnut or walnut sponge cake or bundt cake , using the butter of the chosen nut as an ingredient, and filled with the same chopped nuts and chocolate.
5. Sponge cake coated with almond or hazelnut butter

6. Breakfast Toast : Spread almond or peanut butter on toast and add sliced ​​banana or strawberries for a quick and nutritious breakfast.

7. Protein Shakes : Add a tablespoon of your favorite nut butter to your protein shake for a creamy taste and an extra dose of protein.

8. Energy Sandwiches : Make a sandwich with almond butter and apple or pear slices for a healthy, energetic bite.

9. Salad Sauces : Mix cashew butter with olive oil, lemon and garlic for a delicious salad sauce.

10. Oatmeal Toppings : Add spoonfuls of hazelnut butter to your bowl of hot oatmeal along with berries and a drizzle of honey.

11. Fruit Dip : Serve peanut butter as a dip for fresh fruits like apples, bananas or celery.

12. Chicken Recipes : Use it as a base for an almond butter sauce with sautéed chicken and vegetables.

13. Ice Cream Topping : Heat nut butter and serve over vanilla ice cream for a decadent touch.

14. Pie Fillings : Add almond or hazelnut butter to pie fillings to give them a smooth texture and rich flavor.

15. Savory Sandwiches : Make savory sandwiches with peanut butter, cucumber slices, and turkey for a quick and tasty lunch.

16. Cookie Recipes : Use almond or hazelnut butter in cookie dough for additional flavor.

Plus, making roasted nut butters at home allows you to customize the flavors and roasting levels to your preferences. I highly recommend you try it! It is the easiest and becomes a discovery that changes the way you do cooking.