Background Color
Add to favorites
There is never a dull moment in the Nouveau Raw Kitchens, and today didn’t let me down. I have been meaning to a do a post on how to make your own nut butter for some time now (several years actually), but I just never got around to it. I wanted to provide a stack of photos so you could watch the progress as whole nuts turn into butter. So today, I finally did it.
Setting up for the photoshoot proved to be interesting. I only have my iPhone for taking pictures, and thank goodness my girlfriend Ruthie gave me a special holder that attaches the iPhone to a tripod. Boy, don’t I feel all “uptown.” hehe With the food processor in place, the almonds soaked and dehydrated… I was ready. Small snafu… the tripod was too short, and I couldn’t get a shot looking down into the machine.
So, I shortened the tripod and placed it on the counter. Next snafu… Now I was too short to see the “camera” screen to take the pictures, so I had to break out the ladder. Yeah, it was beginning to look pretty darn comical around here. With everything in place and the camera angled perfectly, I took my first picture. The battery went dead. Lol ok, I fixed that, and we now had endless power surging through the iPhone.
I turned the food processor on, set the timer for 2 minutes, and things were well on their way. What’s that I hear? My camera iPhone is ringing?!! I climbed the ladder, got on the counter, and looked at the screen of the phone. I was, the bank… the bank? Oh gosh, I have to take this call. I slid the bar over which answered the call, and I switched it to the speaker. “Hello,”… It was Tracy from the bank…. “Oh, dear Tracy, can I ask you to hold on for a second?”
I climbed off the counter and down the ladder, turned off the food processor (which had to be ringing in her ears haha), ran over to the timer, and paused it. I scampered back over to the counter and climbed back up to take the call. I am sure she couldn’t understand why I was giggling, making grunting noises from climbing all over the counter and so forth. After hanging up, I turned my phone back into my camera and continued with the project.
I stopped the food processor every two minutes and removed the top so I could take a picture. You might be hard-pressed to see a difference between some of the photos, but after all that work, I was bound and determined to bring you along on my adventure of making almond butter. :) It took 26 minutes to turn 2 cups of almonds into 1 1/4 cups of almond butter. Keep in mind that this will vary depending on your food processor. So don’t be shocked if it takes more or less time for you to make.
My example is just a template. I learned many other things during this process… all events listed took place in two-minute intervals. I can guzzle 16 oz of water; I can run through the house like a madwoman taking dirty clothes from the hamper and into the washing machine. I can use the restroom, I can sing the “American Anthem” ok, maybe hum most of it in under two minutes, I can use the bathroom, I can do 246 jumping jacks on the mini trampoline, I can wash a sink full of dishes, and once again use the restroom (darn that 16 oz bottle of water) and I can trip over the trash bag on the floor, snagging my big toe on it, thus dragging it as I half stumble through the kitchen, only to find that I left a trail of garbage all over the floor. So, making nut butter can teach you more than you can imagine! lol
5/22/15 I updated this recipe today. I mentioned below that every food processor will vary in the time that it takes to make nut butter. Back in 2013, when I made this recipe, I was using a Cuisinart processor, and it took 26 minutes. Today, I am using a Breville Sous Chef processor, and it took 12 minutes.
Ingredients:Yields 2 cups
Wow! This has been on my list to make, too. Just curious, can you make it with just a cup of nuts? I’m not sure if it will still work in the food processor, or if you need the larger volume of nuts.
Thanks!!!
Hello Chris… truthfully, I don’t think 1 cup is enough volume, not to mention after going through all that work, you might as well make a full amount. Have a great evening. amie sue
May I ask what horse power/brand your FP is? I have a 15+ Kitchenaide and am wondering if it will be strong enough. It struggled with the chocolate chip cookie dough but not the oatmeal raisin.
I also have a good way to skin the almonds. I sacraficed one of my good W-S dishtowels by folding it in hald and sewing up two sides then putting a zipper the full length of the top side. After a quick blanch to loosen the skins I dampen the “dishtowel bag” and throw the almonds in. Then I rub them and toss them gently for a while and the majority (sometimes all) the skins come off.
Good afternoon Joanie,
Thank you for the tip idea on skinning the almonds. :) Forgive me, but what is a W-S dishtowel? FOr me popping the almonds out of their skins is like therapy for me. haha But then I am strange like that. haha
As far as the food processor goes… I have several brands but the one that I used for this butter was my Viking Professional model VFP 12 series (which they don’t make anymore). It has 625W. If your until gets warm during the process you can turn it off for a few to cool it back down. I hope this helps! amie sue
Thank you for hanging in there and showing us the process, Amie Sue!
And thank you for your honesty with the details! Haha!
Now I know I’m not the only person with kitchen calamities!!!
Hi Suzie… my life is full of calamities! lol But I find great humor in them and make the best of them. :) It keeps us humble. haha Have a wonderful week Suzie. amie sue
You are so hilarious! I just love reading your comments that go along with your recipes.
My only thing is-the one time I made almond butter the result was so thick it would not spread at all. I added oil to it but it just was hard as could be. Now at the time I did not know to soak and dry the nuts first. Could that have been the problem?
Hello Jennifer,
Yes, that could have easily been the problem. That and you might not have processed the nuts long enough to release their natural oils. It is very important that you soak and dehydrate the nuts before making the nut butter! I made this butter a few days ago and after reading your message I scampered off to the fridge to make sure that mine was still soft… and yes, mine is very spreadable and I didn’t add oil to mine. I hope you try again and have great success! Have a great evening, amie sue
Thanks for making me chuckle this morning. The almond butter looks fabulous and I am glad to know how to make my own now. Thanks for teaching me and for the photos:) I think photos help a great deal, especially when a ladder is required to get them!!!
Your welcome Melissa… together we all learn. :) I would love to hear how it goes for you when you make it. Have a blessed day, amie sue
Bravo! Job well done. With all those 2 min intervals you took a picture 15 times…amazing…what patience and with phone calls in between:) Thanks for the recipe! I ordered almonds and they are arriving on Friday.
Question: Why do the nuts have to be dehydrated? Will it work if they are soaked and towel dried?
Hello Sharon… thank you, thank you *bows* hehe It was quite an adventure and one that had me laughing at myself throughout the process. I LOVE being the kitchen! The nuts need to be dehydrated for sure! Trust me, I tried just what you suggested and I couldn’t ever get it to a creamy butter. It must have to do with the mix of water in the nuts and the oils in the nuts that prevent it. I learned a valuable lesson that day. hehe Have a wonderful day and thank you for your kind words. amie sue
patience is definitely a virtue when it comes to making nut butters but all the scraping and processing is sooo worth it :-)
Yes indeed Emma… it is well worth it for sure! Have a wonderful evening, amie sue
Amie Sue,
W-S, Williams-Sonoma.
Got it :) Thanks.
Dear Amie Sue, thanks for the wonderful inspiration, I am definetely going to try it. I can’t wait, it looks so yummie!
Thank you Gwendolyn. :) Have a great day, amie sue
I was just thinking to make nut butters. and here you are sharing how to do this. Could one do this using sesame seeds for tahini, or to use pumpkin seeds to make a pumpkin seed butter? Could one use the Blendtec twister jar for all of these?
Hi Clare, yes you can make just about any nut or seed butter. I will do more posts on different ones as I work through them. I have a Blendtec but I haven’t used the twister jar… I would love one of those! I watched the video about that jar on their site and it looks like you can make butters in it. Have a great day, amie sue
http://www.blendtec.com/blog/2012/10/18/why-the-twister-jar-was-developed/
I am so happy with the BlendTec Twister jar. It makes nut butters and coconut butter in a flash! Flash meaning, 2-3 minutes or less AND you can make small batches if you prefer. I loved your story & pictures!
Oh gosh it sure does Sandy. I got one this last summer and it sure gets the job done, lickity-split! Thanks for sharing Sandy. amie sue
Do you think you can make creamy, spreadable nut butter in a vitamix or a green star juicer? I don’t have a food processor (yet).
Hi Sue,
Hello Suzie,
I hope your husband is feeling better!
Yes, you can make nut butters in the Vitamix.
Ingredients: Yield: 1 3/4 c (420 g)
3 cups (420 g) unsalted roasted peanuts
Directions
Pour nuts into the Vitamix container and secure lid.
Select Variable 1.
Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High, using the tamper to push the ingredients into the blades.
In 1 minute, you will hear a high pitched chugging sound. Once the butter begins to flow freely through the blades, the motor sound will change from a high pitch to a low laboring sound. Stop machine.
Store in an airtight container. It can also be frozen for longer storage.
CAUTION: Over processing will cause serious overheating to your machine! Do not process for more than 1 minute after mixture starts circulating freely. For recipe variation, see Cashew Nut Butter and Almond Butter recipes.
________________________________________
Directions to make a nut butter with your juicer:
Things you’ll need: About 1 cup of nuts of your choice (all nuts work well, I like hazelnuts and almonds), A few tablespoons of a neutral oil(nut oils can be found at the market), and you’re juicer!
1) Prepare your juicer for the homogenizing function. For most juicers this means replacing the juicing screen with a blank plate.
2) Make sure you have a bowl to catch the butter at the ejection chute.
3) Pour in about a ½ cup of nuts and turn on the juicer
4) Add in 1 to 2 tbsp of a neutral flavored oil on top to help it get creamy. Add the oil until it is at your desired consistency.
5) Pour in the other half of the nuts and push it through the grinder. If you push it through fast, it will make it chunkier. If you push it through slow, it will make it more creamy.
Additional options….
Add in salt to taste if you like.
Add in chopped up nuts (of your choice, a different type then used for the creamy is a nice variation) and add them in.
Add in things like chocolate chips or shavings, or even coconut flakes for a different flavor.
How about little chopped up pieces of dried fruit? Yes, it is good!
Storage: Once you make it, its best if they are refrigerated right away, and eaten within a week. Store it in a glass container.
ami-sue, thank-you for posting how to make nut butters. I too enjoy your humor.
I am getting ready to order my supplies. I am sorry it has taken me so long, but I had a sick husband. I don’t have to say anymore right?
Suzie Blair
Thank you Suzie :) I hope your husband is feeling better. Many blessings, amie sue
this is awesome! i have recently started adding raw foods into my diet as i am amazed by all the health benefits that come from eat raw/ living foods. A lot of the recipes i have found use almond butter, so i tried to make some in my magic bullet, which i am now convinced is not so magical. the best it could do is a super thick almond paste. i am thinking it might be time to invest in a food processor :)
Good afternoon Sarah,
There is magic in the magic bullet but I have to agree, not so much for nut butters. :) It is best to have a really good machine so that a person doesn’t burn out the motors. I would hate to see that happen. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful weekend. amie sue
I was just wondering if the almond butter would still be considered “raw” after 26 minutes in the food processor? Food contents in any machine where friction is created in the process can become warm/heated to undesirable “cooked” temperatures.
Hello Janine, As long as the food processor doesn’t get to warm during the process it shouldn’t reach those temps. amie sue
In your “My Amazon Store” you have the Breville Sous Chef Food Processor and the Cuisinart Elite. I have a Cusinart Elite 11 cup. I know that Consumer Reports rate the Breville above the Cuisinart. I am seriously thinking of buying the Breville and selling my Cuisinart on E bay. Which one do you prefer to use? As always thank you for taking your time to answer my questions.
Meta Pope
Morning Meta…
I sold my Cuisinart and only use the Breville. I LOVE it! I have used many food processors over the years and this one is by far my favorite. The beauty of buying from Amazon is that you can return it if you don’t like it. That was my intend, but instead it found a permanent place on my counter top. hehe Blessings, amie sue
love all the recipes have made so many very time cosuming but worth it thanks
Eating healthy and from scratch is more time consuming then eating a high processed diet… that’s for sure. People have become so accustomed to the fast way of eating through packaged food, microwaved foods, etc. My great grandmother (if she were still alive) would cringe if she saw how far away people have gotten from eating whole foods that are made with love and from scratch. Blessings, amie sue
Hi Amie-Sue,
you are always a source of inspiration, and a great story teller too! Thank you for all of your hard work to educate us. I wouldn’t have the energy :-P
I have a question regarding making nut butters in general (but specifically for Cashew nuts).
Is it not possible to make nut butter from raw nuts? So, not soaked and dehydrated, or roasted either, just “natural”, straight out of the packet. Is that not an option?
Thanking you in advance, Andrea
Good afternoon Andrea,
Thank you for your kind words. My sight is a source of passion for me so I truly enjoy sharing all that I do! Let’s see if I can help with your questions.
Q – Is it not possible to make nut butter from raw nuts? So, not soaked and dehydrated, or roasted either, just “natural”, straight out of the packet. Is that not an option?
A – I make all my nut butter from RAW nuts. I choose to soak and dehydrate them first to help reduce the enzyme inhibitors and phytic acid. We notice a big difference in our digestion by doing this. You can skip that process if you wish.
Keep me posted if you give it a go! blessings, amie sue
So, not soaked and dehydrated, or roasted either, just “natural”, straight out of the packet. Is that not an option?
That’s great. Thank you for responding so quickly. I wasn’t sure how to word it properly, because of course you are using raw nuts.
I think my concern is that with Cashew nuts I’m afraid they aren’t oily enough in their raw state, as for example almonds are, and that might hinder getting a smooth butter. In the shops I only ever find Cashew butter made with roasted cashew nuts.
I will try it out and let you know how it goes.
Blessings, Andrea
I understand completely Andrea. :) Raw cashews can be made into very creamy nut butter and can be purchased. I am sure that the companies that manufacture raw nut butter are using high-end stone grinders so they can reach that texture. When using home blenders or food processors, a person can add a touch of oil to help with the smoothing process. I look forward to hearing about your adventure. blessings, amie sue
I make cashew hummus frequently and it comes out very creamy. My recipe calls for 3 Tbls of melted coconut oil, so it is possible to get a creamy texture.
Thanks for sharing Georgia. I am sure it is delicious and creamy! I hope you are doing the best you can through these trying times. Blessings,amie sue
Just a comment. I’v made this before with the full recipe. Today I only had 2 cups of sprouted almonds so I went for half. WOW! Took forever to scrape down every minute and start it up again. I didn’t think it was going to happen but lo and behold I have some creamy almond butter. (at long last). I highly recommend you go for the 4 cups of almonds if possible. My full batch took far less time than this one. Still delicious, but definitely tested my patience. Thank you Amie Sue!
Good morning Glorianne,
Always a pleasure to hear from you. :) Thanks for sharing your experience. Even to this day I question some of my batches of almond butter… “will you ever turn creamy and smooth??” haha It does but it takes patience and having a powerful food processor can really make all the difference. :) I hope you are doing well. hugs, amie sue
Dearest Amie,
Can I omit the oil all together ??
Hello Pardita,
Yes, you can. I find it helps with the processing and creaminess. blessings, amie sue