How have I had my Ninja food processer and blender for 3 years and not know it was powerful enough to make nut butter? I have the Auto IQ Boost system and quite frankly – I just use the start and stop button to make smoothies and hummus.

But after a trip to the store to get some almond butter only to discover that the cheapest I could find was $7.00 – I decided I was crafty enough to make my own. I mean, it’s just almonds and salt, right?

So after doing some research and deciding that I think my Ninja can handle the job (even though there’s no preset button for nut butter)… I found raw organic almonds, bought $3 worth and gave it a whirl. Literally. And it did not disappoint! Keep ready for instructions.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups organic raw almonds (or however much you want to make)
• 1 teaspoon of kosher sea salt (or to taste)
• 1 drizzle of honey (optional)
• 1 drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (optional)

TOOLS NEEDED

• High-powered blender or food processor
• Spatula
• Cookie Sheet
• Parchment paper

READY TO MAKE IT?

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place parchment paper on cookie sheet and spread almonds in a single layer.  No oil is needed.

Roast almonds for 10 minutes and let cool until they are still warm but not hot. You can buy pre-roasted/salted almonds and it will work fine. But the flavor isn’t as good and you don’t get to control the level of salt used.

Add roasted almonds to your blender or food processor and depending on your unit turn it to high speed and let it go. It will take roughly 10 minutes to get it to a smooth consistency. It will seem like it’s never going to happen but be patient! Every few minutes stop the machine and scrape down the sides with the spatula to make sure all your almond goodness is incorporated. Keep in mind, your blender is going to heat up some from working so hard and for so long. You may want to let it cool off for a minute when you pause to scrape down the sides.

And if you are patient and let it go long enough it will eventually become creamy!  Now, this is optional… if you want to add a small drizzle of olive oil to help it along – that is perfectly okay. It’s heart-healthy after all. But if you are avoiding oil then just rely on your patience.

Be sure to wait until your almond butter is just about the consistency you want before adding salt or any other add ons. I suggest tasting it before adding anything so you know what it needs. It added just a little salt and a drizzle of honey and it was good to go. This homemade version is WAY tastier than any store-bought almond but I’ve ever tasted… and was half the cost!

THE PERFECT BITE

I put a warm slather of almond goodness on a toasted piece of Dave’s Killer Bread. So much nuttiness!

 

 

 

 

THE PERFECT HEALTH

Almonds contain lots of healthy fats, fiber, protein, magnesium and vitamin E.

The health benefits of almonds include lower blood sugar levels, reduced blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. They can also reduce hunger and promote weight loss.

All things considered, almonds are as close to perfect as a food can get.

Read more HERE.