How to Make Almond Butter
Health Benefits of Almonds
Eating a sensible amount of almonds a day will give you a natural, healthy energy boost. They also keep you going longer than caffeine-laden drinks or sugary snacks do. Almonds are a good source of:
- Protein
- Potassium and iron
- Omega 3 fatty acids, provides energy to the muscles and organs.
- Almonds help lower LDL ("bad" cholesterol)
Creamy Almond Buttter Recipe
Move over peanut butter, because there's a new kid on the block. Or rather, a new nut butter.
It's smooth. It's creamy. It's heart-healthy and armed with all those omega 3's fatty acids. And it's quite simple to make.
Almond butter is quickly becoming a phenomenal health ingredient typically seen in health stores. The only problem is that it can be quite expensive.
If you want to save some money and try a different spread on your toast, follow this simple recipe for homemade almond butter. You only need 2 ingredients, and 1 tool.
For those who are allergic to peanuts, almond butter can be a great alternative. Even if you don't have problems with peanuts, why not try something new that's healthy and delicious?
Homemade almond butter makes a thoughtful gift!
Almond Butter vs Peanut Butter
Some people may wonder if there really is a difference between almond butter and peanut butter. Aren't all nut butters the same? After all, they're all made out of nuts right?
Technically, peanuts are not really nuts. They're legumes. But let's focus on our lovely almonds, which are true nuts that grow on trees.
Almond butter actually has more fiber and fewer carbohydrates, compared to peanut butter. It has more minerals than peanut butter, but the one trade off is selenium.
Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats, which are your friendly fats that help keep everything in our body nicely lubricated. The healthy fats help keep our hair and nail strong, as well as our heart.
Both peanut butter and almond butter can be a nutritious addition to your healthy snacks. However, peanut butter is an obviously more common commodity. I'm sure everyone grew up on peanut butter sandwiches! Most of them are produced in a massive amounts at a time, undergoing heat processing that strips all the nutrition away.
If you read the ingredients, you may notice unhealthy ingredients including unnecessary sugar, excessive table salt, and saturated fats, and even additives to keep the jars on the shelves for a long time. Peanut butter is much cheaper due to those reasons. If you do prefer to eat almond butter, learn how to make your own almond butter. It's ridiculously easy. And cheaper!
Homemade Almond Butter in 1 Easy Step
Almond butter is so easy to make that I wonder why it took me 30 years to figure out.
You only need 1 ingredient. And 1 tool, which is your food processor.
All you have to do is throw 3 cups of almonds in the food processor and let it run on high for 10-15 minutes. Depending on the power of your food processor, it could take longer or quicker. You may have to scrape down the sides a few times. I actually just turn the "on" button and walk away. Feel free to throw in half a teaspoon of sea salt for added flavor.
It's so amazing, isn't it? Watching the almonds transform from a nut, to flour, then dough, and finally a creamy buttery paste is just so interesting.
I'll let you in on a small little tip. Toast the almonds first for 5 minutes at about 320 degrees F. Since the almonds will be warm, they will release the natural oils and become almond butter really fast. I'm talking about less than 10 minutes fast. The result is also a much deeper, toasty flavor, almost too hard to resist.