Healthy Almond Butter Recipe – Delicious and Richer than Any in Store!

For some time, I used to buy almond butter on a weekly basis as I presumed that making it by myself was not easy. All jars of the product cost a lot and, therefore, there had to be some kind of complicated technique in its production. And one day, I tried to prepare it on my own using only roasted almonds and a food processor. It turned out to be extremely simple.

Of course, my first attempt wasn’t a success. Already after ten minutes of mixing, my almonds formed a solid mass that could barely move in a food processor. I believed that I had messed up everything. Right before I decided to add oil to my product, I continued mixing. And then the nuts released all their oils and became one of the richest almond butters that I have ever seen. Now, I have forgotten about store-bought products.

And after having watched the video of the recipe and applying all the knowledge acquired through research, I have understood that home-made almond butter is much healthier and fresher, and is totally customizable. No matter whether you like to eat it with toast, oatmeal, smoothie, or eat it with a spoon, this recipe will help you prepare delicious and naturally nutty almond butter.

If you want to make your own healthy spread without oils and any preservatives, you should check this Healthy Almond Butter Recipe.

Ingredients You Will Need

Primary Ingredient

• 3 cups roasted unsalted almonds (430 g)

In order to prepare the almond butter, you need roasted almonds because roasting unlocks natural oils and gives the nuts a unique flavor, which helps in creating a delicious butter much faster than using raw nuts.

Additional Ingredients

• ¼ tsp sea salt (1 g)

Just a small amount of salt won’t give your almond butter a salty taste; it will enhance the nuttiness of almonds and their inherent sweetness.

• 1 tsp cinnamon (2 g)

Use if you like spices in your food.

• 1 tsp vanilla extract (5 ml)

It adds a hint of sweetness to the mixture without refined sugar.

• 1-2 tsp honey/maple syrup (7-14 g)

You can add it if you want to make the almond butter slightly sweet.

Roasting Almonds

If you start from unroasted almonds, you will need to bake them in the preheated oven to 350°F (175°C). Place them in a single layer on a baking tray for 10-12 minutes and stir halfway through the cooking process.

As you cook your almonds, your kitchen starts filling with an unmistakable smell of butter. Your nuts become golden-brown and obtain an additional flavor, which makes them even tastier.

Cool almonds for five minutes after baking. They should be warm but not very hot; this way, the almond butter will be able to absorb them much more easily in the blender.

Warm almonds contain more oils than cooled ones and therefore release them much faster.

Blend the Almonds

Pour the warmed roasted almonds into a strong food processor.

In the beginning, the nuts crush fast into crumbs. After another one or two minutes, they become like moist sand. With further blending, the nuts start to stick together, forming a dense lump moving around the food processor.

This is the point where most people decide that there must be something wrong. I stopped my machine several times in the process when nothing seemed to happen at all. I even thought about using some vegetable oil. Luckily, I didn’t do it, and a few minutes later, the nuts released all the oils needed, producing unbelievably smooth and shiny almond butter.

It’s always fun to watch how this transformation happens. First, you have dry crumbs, and suddenly, it becomes creamy.

Pro Tip: Pause the blending process every minute or two to push down the walls of the food processor. This will allow you to blend everything evenly and avoid overheating the motor.

Blend Until Creamy

Blend the mixture until the almond butter becomes smooth and glossy. The time of this process depends on the power of your blender and usually lasts between 10 and 18 minutes.

Almond butter is ready when the blade moves through it easily and slowly returns into place after the blade stops. The surface is glossy, and the smell of roasted nuts becomes rich and intense due to the released natural oils.

It should be creamy enough to be applied to bread but not liquid.

Pro Tip: Don’t rush to add oil if you see that everything looks dry. In most cases, all that you need is more time to release the natural oils.

Add Your Favorite Ingredients

What I especially like about homemade almond butter is that it can be left untouched and used as is, or mixed with additional ingredients in order to produce new flavors. Usually, I make a plain version since it’s very versatile, but sometimes I try something new.

If you want to add sea salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract, or a little bit of honey or maple syrup to the mix, do it when the almond butter is ready. Process these ingredients for another 30-60 seconds until everything is well combined.

While adding cinnamon to the mix, you’ll feel an intense warm smell of baked cookies. Vanilla will add subtle sweetness, and honey will make the almond butter richer and more dessert-like.

One piece of advice that I would like to share is not to use too many sweeteners. Almond butter has a rich and nutty flavor on its own and doesn’t need many additional sweeteners. A little bit is just enough.

Pro Tip: If you prefer crunchy almond butter, reserve about ¼ cup (35 g) of chopped roasted almonds before blending. Add them to the almond butter manually.

Transfer and Store

Transfer the almond butter into a dry and clean glass jar with a tightly fitting lid.

Almond butter is smooth and glossy, and slowly drips from the spoon. It will naturally thicken a bit when it cools, but it will remain smooth and creamy.

I always wait until the almond butter completely cools before sealing the jar. Otherwise, the heat trapped in the container might cause excess moisture development, thus reducing its shelf life.

With every opened jar of the almond butter, I’m always surprised by its intense roasted almonds aroma. It’s incredibly fresh compared to the mass-produced almond butter, and tastes even better.

Pro Tip: Just stir almond butter before every use since it may separate some natural oils during storage.

Things to Avoid

Stopping the Food Processor Early

Hands-down, this is the biggest mistake you can make while making your own almond butter. In the middle phase, almonds start becoming crumbly and dry and even form a ball-like substance. You may think that you have done something wrong; however, almonds simply need more time to release all the oils that they contain.

Using Unroasted Raw Almonds

You can definitely use raw almonds; however, it will take you much longer to blend them together, and the taste of almond butter will be milder.

Adding Too Much Oil

When your almond mixture looks dry, you feel like adding more oil. However, in most cases, you do not have to do that. You should give your food processor another 15-20 minutes of continuous work if it seems to be struggling.

Overheating the Food Processor

You cannot run your food processor continuously,y as it will overheat. Every two minutes or so, scrape down the mixture and stop the processor if it needs more rest.

Storing It in Moisture

Any moisture left in the storage container may affect the freshness of your almond butter. Make sure that the container you will use is clean and dry.

Ways to Modify

Chocolate Almond Butter

Blend in one tablespoon (6g) of unsweetened cocoa powder and one tablespoon (20g) of maple syrup or honey. You will get a healthier alternative to chocolate spread, which can be enjoyed on toast, fruits, or pancakes.

Cinnamon Vanilla Almond Butter

Add one teaspoon of ground cinnamon and one teaspoon of vanilla extract when the mixture becomes smooth. It will become an exquisite spread for oatmeal or whole-grain toast.

Honey Sea Salt Almond Butter

Combine one tablespoon of honey and a pinch of flaky sea salt. You will get a unique sweet-and-salty flavor that is ideal for apples and crackers.

How to Store and Serve

As there are no preservatives or stabilizers in this Healthy Almond Butter Recipe, proper storage is crucial.

At room temperature, it will stay fresh for up to a week if your kitchen is cool.

If you want to store almond butter for a longer period of time, keep it in the fridge for up to one month. When you chill it, it will get firmer. You will need to let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before use if you prefer it soft.

Almond butter can be frozen up to three months in a freezer-safe container. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge and stir it before use.

I love spreading it on whole-grain toast, swirling it in oatmeal, mixing it in smoothies, spreading it over yogurt, dipping apple slices in it, or enjoying a spoonful whenever I crave something healthy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make almond butter without adding oil?

Yes. Roasted almonds already contain enough oil that will be released during the blending process.

Why is my almond butter dry?

It probably just needs more time. In the middle phase, almonds look dry until they suddenly become smooth as their oils are being released.

Can I use raw almonds?

Yes, of course. You can definitely use raw almonds; however, roasting them before blending creates a deeper taste and allows you to do it faster.

Is homemade almond butter healthier than store-bought?

In most cases, it is. Homemade almond butter allows you to use only those ingredients that you want without any added sugars, unnecessary oils, or preservatives.

Which food processor is better?

A  high-power food processor works better as the process takes less time. However, standard food processors can also be used; they may just need a bit more time and pauses for cooling down.

Final Thoughts

Homemade almond butter making has become one of my favorite kitchen activities as it turned out to be so easy and fresh, and, above all, much cheaper than purchasing premium jars from the stores. When you see almonds being transformed from crumbly pieces to silky butter, you understand how gratifying this process is.

I hope this Healthy Almond Butter Recipe will also become your favorite way to make your almond butter.