The Healthiest Homemade Real Almond Butter, with freshly roasted raw almonds, whipped to a creamy perfection with only 2-ingredients and ready to spread in minutes.
Almonds
Having grown up in a Mediterranean influenced home, almonds were always incorporated into both sweet or savory dishes.
Almonds were cracked open, fresh from the shell, and eaten the way other families (friends from school), ate peanuts.
Jordon Almonds, a type of colorful candy coated treat, were always present at momentous occasions, from a wedding to a funeral.
I even requested Jordan Almonds, for The Great American Recipe, a PBS television show I cooked in.
The colorful Jordan Almonds, for me, were intended to accompany a momentous occasion, and darned if they didn’t provide them for me!
The Cost Of Almonds
The real cost of almonds, is Water!
More than one gallon of water is needed to produce just one almond. Good grief!
Imagine my surprise, when visiting Portugal, to see fields of almond trees growing when Portugal often goes months without rain.
California Almonds
The same was true when I visited the Paso Robles region of California (once the almond capital of the world), on my way to an olive grove. I passed a long stretch of abandoned almond trees that depended on rain.
I will never complain at the cost of a bag of almonds again, especially now that I understand what it takes to provide them to me.
That being said, why is there such a vast difference in the price of almond butter?
Almond Butter
Don’t you just Love Almond Butter!
Do you cry when you see the price? Do you scratch you head when you open the jar and find one-inch of oil swimming at the top?
Homemade Almond Butter vs Store Bought Almond Butter
No More! I am about to share a secret and a recipe with you, you’re gonna love! A food processor is the only tool you will need, even a little one.
When I first tasted almond butter I knew it was something I could make a meal out of, especially on Homemade Bread with a schmear of my favorite Homemade Aleppo Pepper Strawberry Jam.
The Cost Of Store-bought Almond Butter
Then I went shopping for it and nearly fell over at the price.
I grew up during the peanut butter age, and expected the price to be about the same.
Wow, was I wrong! A popular brand of Almond Butter is selling for $19.99! Good Grief!!
Another thing that annoyed me, was the massive amounts of oil floating on the top, even though the ingredients label didn’t indicate the addition of oil.
No matter how much I stirred, it just sat there. Gross!
Homemade Almond Butter
So, I set out to make my own and see if it was better, worse, or the same. To my delight, it was wayyyyy better!
A one pound bag of raw almonds cost me about $4.99 at a favorite store, and a bit more at other stores.
Imagine, I was going to be able to make a 16 oz. jar of my own almond butter for under $5.00!
The price was the added bonus, besides no oil floating around on the top (which puzzles me).
No matter how much you puree the almonds, they are not that oily.
Walnuts and pecans have a little more oil, but certainly not enough to produce an inch of oil floating on top.
Additional Ingredients are not needed but they sure can make for some fun flavors in the almond butter:
- Sea Salt
- Herbs
- Honey or agave
- Cinnamon or other warm spices
- Extracts or even a little booze
2-Ingredients Homemade Almond Butter
You really only need two ingredients to make homemade almond butter, unless you want to add salt.
I find a little salt (not much), brings out the natural sweetness of the almonds.
Raw almonds get lightly toasted in a pan on top the stove or quickly in the oven, just to bring a toasty note to the flavor.
Toasting the almonds is not necessary since the almonds have a lovely and gentle sweet flavor all their own.
Olive oil, or almond oil is added, only a very small drizzle, just to help the almonds to puree in a food processor. I suppose a drizzle of water could work too but I have never tried it that way.
Process For Homemade Nut Butter
Place almonds and salt (or other spices) into the food processor. Grind to a soft powder.
Drizzle in oil while the machine is running until it turns into a paste. Add a little more oil until you have the consistency you desire.
Store in an airtight container. Needs no refrigeration.
That’s it, AND you can do exactly the same with any nuts of your choice!
What To Eat With Almond Butter
While there’s nothing better than a nut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast, lunch or to-go snacks, there are so many other ways to eat almond butter.
Add a quarter cup to the broth of stews to thicken and add a deeper flavor.
Put a dollop in, while making homemade pie crusts, or pizza crusts, along with the butter to give both texture and flavor to the crust.
Cakes, cookies, pie crusts or just over a scoop of ice cream all work for me!
Button Cups might not yet be known to you, but trust me, after summer 2022 everyone who watches PBS will know what Button Cups are.
Why? Because I made them on national television and they were a smashing hit!
Let’s Not Forget How Easy It Is To Make Almond Milk!
As easy as almond butter is to make yourself, Almond Milk is equally easy.
No stabilizers, no ascorbic acid, no gellan gum and no calcium carbonate; simply almonds and water!
Geez people, it takes minutes to make this yourself and have fresh real almond milk!
Ingredients Needed
- Raw Almonds
- Olive oil or Almond oil
Equipment Needed
- Food processor
- Glass jar with lid
- Spatula
- Measuring cup
Healthiest Homemade Real Almond Butter
Equipment
- Food processor
- Airtight container
Ingredients
- 2 cups Raw almonds
- 1 tbsp Olive or Almond oil
Instructions
- Lightly toast the almonds first, if you like, by tossing in a frying pan, over medium high heat, until almonds emit a sweet scent and slightly change their exterior color.
- Place the almonds in a food processor. Pulse to crush them and turn the almonds to powder. If using salt, or other spices, add now.
- With the machine running, slowly drizzle in the oil and let the machine run until the almonds turn to butter. About 7-10 minutes.
I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.