Raw Recipe: Almond Butter
Making nut butters can be a little tricky. I used to think that I had to do them in my Vitamix, which would drive me batty with all the scraping down that was required. Other times, I would have a fail, only because I quit too early. I didn’t realize how much time it takes, and the process that the nuts have to go through. But if you have a little patience, you can make nut butters that are fabulous. You will never want to buy them again! Almond butter is a good one to start with.
I used my Kitchen Aid 12 cup food processor. It is a strong processor. The bottom warms up a little bit but if you are using an older processor, or a processor with a much weaker motor, common sense needs to prevail.
After 2 minutes it will look like this.
After 4 minutes it will look like this.
After 6 minutes it will look like this.
Around 8 minutes, the almond mixture will ball up. Just let it keep going.
At 10 minutes it has begun to redistribute, but it is not done yet. You want to wait until the oils get released.
At 12 minutes the almonds have released their oil and the butter is ready! If you want to add honey or salt, stir it in by hand.
*Chef’s Note: If using soaked, dehydrated (dried) almonds, you may need to add a little oil. This recipe requires the use of completely dry almonds.
Almond Butter
MAKES 1 1/4 CUPS ALMOND BUTTER
- 2 cups Almonds
- 1 tablespoon Raw Honey (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt (optional)
- Place almonds in food processor. Process for 8-12 minutes. You will need to scrape down the sides in the beginning. If you choose to use the honey and salt, stir in by hand after the butter is made as it will seize the mixture if you try to add it before.
*Chef’s Note: If using soaked, dehydrated (dried) almonds, you may need to add a little oil. This recipe requires the use of completely dry almonds.
Cara wrote on March 22, 2011
Do you have any suggestions for getting almond pulp dry enough to make almond butter? The consistency of mine is kind of grainy/sponge-y, even after a long time of processing, and I noticed that you said if they were wet it would never work.
Susan wrote on March 22, 2011
If you want to dry almond pulp, you can do it in a dehydrator. But then you make almond flour. I honestly don’t think you can make almond butter out of almond pulp. You have taken some of the key ingredients you need out. Why don’t you just make it out of almonds?
Ann wrote on March 21, 2011
I feel silly for asking, but do you use blanched almonds or do you leave the skins on?
Susan wrote on March 21, 2011
I left the skins on but you could do either.
Tony Midmore wrote on March 13, 2011
Thank you. Couldn’t find hazlenuts/filberts this time of year, but did cashews (about five minutes, creamy, no added oil) and brazil nuts (about two minutes, also creamy with no added oil).
Susan wrote on March 13, 2011
You need to add the extra oil to get the desired texture.
Tony Midmore wrote on March 13, 2011
I see on the Cinnamon Raisin “Toast” recipe, you call for oil for the hazlenut butter. Are they more dry than almonds, thus requiring added oil?
Lea T wrote on March 9, 2011
I just made some and it’s delicious! I added some sea salt, honey, and cacao nibs…delish! Thanks for the recipe. I would have had no idea I could make it in my food processor and it makes my Vitamix overheat every time I’ve tried it in the past.
liz wrote on March 9, 2011
Thank You! I have tried making raw almond butter before and given up too soon.
I used unsoaked raw almonds and it came out perfectly.
Tonja wrote on February 24, 2011
Thanks for the tips, I tried this with my Vitamix and used soaked almonds with coconut oil. Was definitely hard to scrape out and next time I’ll try using dried almond with my kitchen aid mini processor. It does taste yummy too!
Jen wrote on February 5, 2011
I just made this! thanks so much for your step by step. all the other recipes i found add oil.
Like one of the previous comments, I was glad you added a lot of photos since I would have stopped it before it had come together. hopefully the blades on my food processor last a while.
😀