Homemade Almond Butter + 12 Almond Butter Recipes

Learn how to make a homemade almond butter with this simple recipe, plus find out ways to use almond butter for sandwiches, sandwich dressing, baking and so much more.

Almond butter is a delicious, nutty and and excellent alternative to peanut butter in flavor and versatility. High vitamin E and magnesium, almond butter is a great choice whether you make your own or buy it from the store. In this post, I’ll show you how to make your own homemade almond butter, and show you easy ways you can incorporate it into your meals.

Easy homemade almond butter recipe

Making your own almond butter is so easy. You can choose to use raw, roasted, or sprouted and dried almonds for this homemade almond butter recipe.

Start with 2 cups of almonds. Spread them on a baking sheet and roast in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Skip this step if you’re using sprouted and dried almonds.

When done, let them cool for a few minutes. Place them in a food processor and blend on high for about 10 minutes or until smooth. Add salt to taste (usually about 1/8 to 1/4 tsp salt) and blend again for a few seconds. Omit the salt for an unsalted almond butter. For extra flavor, you could add 1 tsp vanilla extract, dash of cinnamon, or even raw honey or maple syrup in the food processor for the last minute of mixing. For a creamy almond butter, add 1-2 tsp of coconut oil while it’s mixing in the food processor.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

How to store almond butter

It’s not essential that you store almond butter in the fridge but there’s some benefits to doing so. Almond butter has a stable shelf life, when unopened, but it can go rancid quicker if opened and left at room temperature. This is especially true if you opt for almond butter with no artificial preservatives.

Storing in the fridge means the almond butter lasts longer and prevents the oil from separating, which means you don’t have to stir it before use. However, storing in the fridge means the nut butter will be harder to work with right away, but you can use in cooking recipes right away.

Top questions about almond butter

Is almond butter better for you?

Almond butter is packed with healthy fats, protein, and fiber, which can help keep you feeling full and satisfied throughout the day. Almond butter is also a good source of vitamin E, magnesium, and other important nutrients.

Does almond butter taste like peanut butter?

Almond butter has a similar texture to peanut butter i.e. creamy, smooth and delicious. However, the taste is very different, just as the raw ingredients – peanuts and almond – taste different. Overall, almond butter has a milder taste than peanut butter, which makes almond butter even more versatile.

Is almond butter healthier for you?

Many store-bought peanut butters are made with powdered sugar, which helps to give it a creamy consistency and reduce the oil separation from the peanut butter. For this reason alone, you may want to opt for almond butter (which in many cases isn’t made with powdered sugar).

Overall, almond butter does contain more vitamins (three times more vitamin E), minerals (twice as much iron) and fiber, and it’s high in monounsaturated fats that can help to lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and raise HDL (good cholesterol). Almond butter is about the same in calories as peanut butter.

Both almond butter and peanut butter are high in phytic acid (anti-nutrients that bind to minerals in the nuts that prevent them from being absorbed), and can be hard to digest for many people. Additionally, peanuts are not actually nuts. They are legumes, so that can be harder for some people to digest. If you get an upset stomach from almond butter, you may want to consider soaking and sprouting raw almonds first and making your own almond butter for improved digestibility.

Ultimately, it’s up to you as both have benefits. You can easily substitute most recipes that call for peanut butter with the same amount of almond butter, or even other nut butters.

Is raw almond butter healthier for you?

Not necessarily. Raw almonds may have more antioxidants over roasted almonds (used in almond butter), but it may contain more phytic acid, which can contribute to digestion issues for some people. Soaking raw almonds prior to blending can neutralize phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors as well as increase bio-availabilty of the B vitamins in almonds.

Ideally, you’ll want to ask soak almonds for 7-8 hours in a bowl of water (fully covering the almonds). Drain the water and then dry out the nuts in a dehydrator (or oven at 150 degrees F) for 12-24 hours or until the nuts are a bit crispy.

Is almond butter gluten free?

Yes, it is a gluten free food, however, be sure to check the ingredients label.

12 Ways to Use Almond Butter

So how many ways can you enjoy almond butter? You can substitute it in nearly any recipe or dish that calls for peanut butter. How much almond butter you use will depend on your own taste. I like to start with 1 tsp and go from there.

1. Make an almond butter and jam sandwich

Pair creamy almond butter with an unconventional jam like fig, cherry or rhubarb for an easy sandwich with a gourmet bite.

2. Spread it on toast, pancakes or waffles

This is a kid-favorite alternative to maple syrup. Top with sliced bananas and/or homemade chocolate syrup. Try it with these Gluten-Free Buttermilk Pancakes.

3. Mix with organic cream cheese or Greek-style yogurt to make a light, nutty dip

Serve with apples, pears, celery and other fruit and vegetables.

4. Make a smoothie

Just blend it with a frozen banana and milk (any dairy or non-dairy milk will do). Simple and delicious. Or add in some cocoa powder for a delicious Chocolate Almond Butter Smoothie.

5. Make an Asian dipping sauce

Just mix it with a gluten-free soy sauce or Coconut Aminos, raw honey, and some minced ginger. Serve with lettuce chicken wraps or summer rolls.

6. Stir in with your favorite breakfast cereal

Mix it with a bowl of gluten-free granola with some raw honey for a delicious morning breakfast.

7. Make a non-dairy ice cream

Add almond butter and a couple of frozen bananas in a food processor until well mixed to make a sugar-free treat that’s delicious and good for you.

8. Add to your oatmeal

Make this Instant Pot Oatmeal and add a spoonful of almond butter, drizzle of raw honey, sliced bananas, and chopped almonds for a healthy, hot breakfast.

You can also make overnight oats with almond butter. Mix almond butter, oats, almond milk, honey, and cinnamon in a jar. Let the mixture sit in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, add your favorite fruit or nuts.

9. Make energy balls and protein bites

Use almond butter to make healthy and delicious energy balls. Just mix almond butter, rolled oats, honey, and chocolate chips together, roll them into balls and refrigerate them until firm. Follow this Almond Butter Protein Balls recipe and substitute almond butter for peanut butter.

10. Make homemade “peanut butter” cups

Store-bought peanut butter cups candy is filled with artificial ingredients and preservatives. Create your own with almond butter instead for a healthier option. Try these Almond Butter Cups.

11. Make homemade granola bars

These granola bars are a hit in our home. They’re so easy to make, yet make a perfect snack for school lunches and a mid-morning snack to take to the office. Just replace the peanut butter with almond butter in this Homemade Granola Bars recipe.

12. Make puffed rice bars

These bars are a healthy treat that’s made with just a few ingredients: puffed rice, almond butter, coconut oil, and dark chocolate. Just replace the peanut butter with almond butter in this Puffed Rice Bars recipe.

Top Tips

• Almond butter complements stronger flavors, for instance you can pair with richer jams such as cherry or rhubarb.
• When making almond butter you can make a mixed nut butter by including raw walnuts, cashews or pecans with the almonds.
• Add a touch of honey to homemade almond butter for a a lovely honey nut flavor.
• If making your own, make sure you use a sturdy blender or food processor.
• If using store bought organic almond butter, make sure to store in the fridge once opened.

More Recipes You Might Like

• How to Make Almond Milk
• Almond Butter Banana Smoothie
• Gluten-Free S’mores Brownies

Did you try these recipes? Don’t forget to comment below to let me know how it went. You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Feature image credit: Canva.com