Better Butters: Almond Butter
Welcome to the first post in the Better Butter series! In this series, we’ll explore the world of nut butters, how to make them at home, and how to incorporate them into your diet. Store-bought nut butter often contains added sugar and oil, but if you make your own you’ll know exactly what is in it. Today’s post is all about almond butter!
Store-bought nut butter
Several brands of nut butter contain additives, including oil and sugar. There are, however, plenty of natural nut butter brands that can be purchased and contain only almonds, which is how it should be!
Many brands of nut butter you find at the store have added oils to hold the butter and the natural oils together in the jar. Oil separation at the top of the jar is actually a good thing because it means there likely aren't any additives!
Are you curious if your nut butter has added oil or sugar? Check the ingredient list on the label; ideally it contains only nuts and maybe a bit of salt.
Nutrition
Almond butter is high in healthy fats, fiber, and protein which makes it a filling option to add to a meal or snack. It’s also a good source of potassium, calcium, and vitamin E.
2 tbsp of Simple Truth’s natural almond butter (dry roasted almonds are the only ingredient) contains:
190 calories
17 grams of fat - 15.5 grams of this is healthy unsaturated fat
0 milligrams of sodium
7 grams of carbohydrate - 3 grams of this comes from fiber
7 grams of protein
Equipment
I use this Cuisinart food processor to make all kinds of nut butter and it works great!
Almond Butter
Ingredients
- 3 cups raw unsalted almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/175 degrees Celsius.
- Spread almonds in one layer on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until fragrant. Watch them carefully to make sure they don't burn.
- Allow almonds to cool completely.
- Place almonds in food processor and pulse on high. The almonds will first turn into a flour. You’ll need to stop and scrape the sides often. Be patient!
- Continue pulsing on high until the almonds turn into a smooth and creamy butter. This can take 15-25 minutes.
- Once smooth and at your desired consistency, scoop into a jar.
- Allow to cool, then store in the fridge.
Feel free to get creative with your almond butter! Try adding:
Cinnamon
Maple syrup
Honey
Pure vanilla extract
Salt
Storage
Store homemade almond butter in the fridge. It will usually stay fresh for 3-4 weeks. I like to let it warm up for a bit on the counter before eating.
Add almond butter to your diet
There are several quick and easy ways to add almond butter to your diet once you have some made:
Add to smoothies - check out one of my previous posts for a delicious smoothie recipe, but replace the peanut butter with almond butter
Spread on whole grain toast or make an almond butter & jelly sandwich
Mix into plain Greek yogurt. Add a few chocolate chips and a drop of vanilla extract to make it taste like a healthier version of cookie dough!
Spread on whole grain waffles or pancakes
Stir into warm oatmeal or overnight oats
Spoon onto fruit - my favorites are apples, bananas, or dates
Spread on whole grain crackers or celery sticks
Make protein balls
Warm up in the microwave and drizzle over your favorite ice cream
Eat a spoonful topped with a sprinkle of chocolate chips
A spoonful of almond butter with chocolate chips is the perfect healthy treat when you’re craving something sweet!
As you can see, making your own almond butter is straightforward with the right tools. It’s easy to add to a wide variety of snacks and meals. On top of all of this it tastes great! What’s not to love?
What is your favorite way to eat almond butter? Thanks for reading and I’ll see you back here next week!
