We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How Do I Make Almond Butter?

By C.B. Fox
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 10,047
References
Share

Almond butter is a relatively easy food to make provided that you have access to a food processor or other similar tool. The basic steps for making this butter include cooking the almonds, grinding them, and blending them with oil until a creamy paste is formed. Sugar and salt can be added to enhance the flavor, though these seasonings are not necessary.

Before it is possible to make almond butter, the almonds need to be prepared. The edible part of an almond is found at the center of a hard shell, which must be removed. Almonds can be boiled in their shells, a process that both softens the shell and partially cooks the almond, or the shell of the almond can be removed prior to dry-cooking the almond. Roasting is the most common method for cooking almonds because it gives them a better flavor.

In order to roast almonds, place them on a baking sheet in a single layer, and bake in an oven at about 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176.7 degrees Celsius) for about ten minutes. The almonds will release a strong nutty scent as they are cooked. Once the roasted almonds have cooled, you can use them to make almond butter.

A number of different tools can be used to grind almonds in order to make almond butter. The simplest of these tools, the mortar and pestle, has been used to grind nuts and seeds into paste for thousands of years. Making a substantial amount of almond butter using this method would take a long time, so electric tools are now used to grind the almonds. Though there are specialized tools available, known as nut butter machines, you can grind almonds in a blender or food processor.

Almonds do not naturally contain enough oil to grind into a paste on their own. In order to make almond butter from fresh almonds, you must add enough oil to liquefy the almonds. Any type of oil can be used, though almond oil is preferred because it adds more almond flavor to the butter. Mildly flavored oils, such as vegetable or canola oil can be used in lieu of almond oil. In general, it's necessary to add about a tablespoon (15 mL) of oil per cup (250 mL) of almonds.

Though the only ingredients needed to make almond butter are almonds and oil, some cooks choose to add salt, sugar, or other flavorings as well. Salt brings out the flavor of the almonds, while sugar will sweeten the butter, much as peanut butter is sweetened. Other nuts or seeds and various spices can also be used to make other varieties of almond butter.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Grivusangel — On Jan 24, 2014

Food processors are great for a lot of applications, and making almond butter is certainly one of them. It's best to work in small batches, utilizing the feed tube on the processor. Grind the almonds until they start to come together a little, then drizzle in a couple of tablespoons of oil with the processor still running. Stop the machine to scrape the sides down occasionally, and just process until the butter is the consistency you want.

If you want a really smooth almond butter, you can add a small amount of extra oil, just a few drops at a time. Otherwise, it will be too oily.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-make-almond-butter.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.