Making homemade almond butter is very simple, just a little patience is required. This same technique can be used with any variety of nuts, to make delicious butter even faster. Once ready, you can enjoy almond butter spread directly on bread or use it in the kitchen to prepare cakes and biscuits.
Ingrediants
- 300 g of raw almonds
- 1-2 teaspoons of coarse salt
- 1-3 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil (if needed)
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Make Almond Butter
Step 1. Toast the almonds
Preheat the oven to 120 ° C. Spread the almonds into the pan and toast them in the oven for 10-15 minutes.
- The cooking temperature and time may vary according to the type of oven. In order not to risk burning the almonds, the first time it is better not to exceed the temperature of 120 ° C. As you become familiar with the process, you can increase the temperature up to a maximum of 175 ° C and reduce the cooking time proportionally, to prepare the butter more quickly.
- Pay attention to the color of the almonds as they roast. When they are lightly browned, remove them from the oven to prevent them from burning.
- It is not mandatory to toast almonds, but when the natural oils they contain are hot, you will find it less difficult to blend them.
Step 2. Transfer the almonds to the food processor
The blender can also work, but the food processor is more powerful and allows you to add less oil. Start the robot in short intervals and, little by little, add the almonds while it is running. Do not add all the mandrels at the same time to avoid overloading the appliance.
If you want the butter to have a crunchy note, set aside a few almonds to add in small pieces later
Step 3. Continue blending
Leave the robot running for about 10 minutes. The almonds will gradually release their natural oils and the mixture will become progressively more and more homogeneous. When the chopped almonds begin to accumulate along the walls, turn off the appliance, remove the lid and push them down towards the blades using a silicone spatula. Replace the lid and resume blending by regularly cleaning the sides. Continue to blend as long as you deem it necessary.
The time it takes to get almond butter depends on the power of the food processor and the amount of dried fruit
Step 4. Blend until the butter has a smooth and velvety consistency
It will take about 20 minutes for it to be well blended and creamy. If there are still some lumps, add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to be able to dissolve them. Continue blending and adding oil until the butter has reached the correct consistency.
- Add a few pinches of salt to taste and restart the robot to distribute it evenly in the butter.
- Add the toasted almonds you kept aside and blend them briefly if you want to add a crunchy note to the butter.
Step 5. Store the almond butter
Unplug from the power outlet and unscrew the container from the base of the food processor. Transfer the butter to a glass jar using a silicone spatula. Remove the blade to easily reach the butter on the bottom and sides of the container. Seal the jar and store the almond butter in the refrigerator.
Return it to the refrigerator after each use and consume it within 3 weeks
Part 2 of 3: Using Alternative Ingredients
Step 1. Add honey roasted peanuts
Give the almond butter an additional flavor. Buy ready-made honey peanuts and add 50g to every 150g of almonds while blending.
Step 2. Replace almonds with cashews
Because they are softer, cashews roast and blend faster than almonds. Since they are expensive (sometimes even more than almonds), it is best to buy them in large packages, which are generally cheaper. They tend to be drier too, so keep the oil handy while you blend to achieve the desired consistency.
Unlike almonds, cashews tend to toast and burn quickly, so start checking them 5 minutes after placing them in the oven
Step 3. Use pecans to make quality butter with as little effort as possible
Swap almonds for pecans to make butter in less time and with very little effort. Skip the roasting step entirely, even if the pecans are raw. Just blend them until you get a smooth, even butter.
Part 3 of 3: Using Almond Butter
Step 1. Eat cold almond butter
Only take it out of the refrigerator when you are ready to use it. You can spread it on bread and eat it like this or you can add a layer of jam as well. For a lighter option, you can use apple slices instead of bread. Almond butter is also great spread on crackers, cookies and pancakes.
Step 2. Add almond butter to a smoothie
You will be guaranteed a unique taste and a boost of protein. Experiment and combine almond butter with your favorite ingredients. For example, you can blend a tablespoon of almond butter with:
- 450 g of fresh spinach;
- 240 ml of almond milk (normal, sweetened or flavored, according to your taste);
- Half a ripe banana
- 50 g of diced pineapple.
Step 3. Make the almond butter cookies
Preheat the oven to 200 ° C. Meanwhile, prepare the cookie dough.
- Combine the following ingredients in a bowl: 110 g of butter, 110 g of vegetable fat, 240 g of almond butter and 300 g of sugar;
- Break an egg, beat it lightly and add it to the dough;
- In a separate bowl, mix 300 g of flour with a teaspoon of baking soda;
- Stir and add the mixture of flour and baking soda to the dough gradually;
- Shape into balls (about 1 cm in diameter) and place them on a baking sheet at least 5 cm away from each other. Do not grease and do not butter the pan;
- Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, then transfer them to a chiller-rack.
Step 4. Make an almond butter cake
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a square pan (25x25cm) with parchment paper, then make the cake dough.
- Combine the following ingredients in a bowl: 5 tablespoons of almond flour, 5 tablespoons of buckwheat flour, 2 tablespoons of maranta starch, half a teaspoon of baking powder, half a teaspoon of salt and a small pinch of nutmeg;
- In a separate large bowl, combine these ingredients: 120 ml of coconut oil (liquid), 180 g of almond butter, 85 g of honey and a teaspoon of vanilla extract;
- Break an egg, beat it lightly and add it to the wet ingredients;
- Stir and add the dry ingredients to the ingredients gradually;
- Pour the batter into the pan and bake the cake in the oven for 30-40 minutes.
