How to Make Homemade Almond Butter (from Scratch)

Smooth, creamy, and nutty, this almond butter couldn’t be any easier to make! Not only is it cheaper than store bought brands, but it contains only two ingredients and is the perfect topping for toast, yogurt bowls, and much more!

I don’t know about you, but a regular jar of almond butter costs anywhere from $12-15 where I live. At home, I can make almost twice that amount of nut butter for the same price! A couple of years ago, I took the leap and made my own from scratch, and I haven’t looked back!

I promise that homemade almond butter is much easier to make than you think—all you need are a few ingredients and a high-speed food processor. After this post, you’ll be equipped with all my tips and tricks for perfect, creamy almond butter every time!

How to Make Homemade Almond Butter

To make almond butter at home, there are just 3 simple steps:

1. Roast the almonds. Not only does this extract more flavor, but it helps the nuts release their oils and blend easier.
2. Process the nuts. Once the almonds have cooled slightly, place them in a food processor and let the machine run until a nut butter forms—this can take anywhere from 10-15 minutes.
3. Add the salt and mix-ins (if using). After the salt is evenly incorporated, spoon the nut butter into a jar and use however you’d like!

Add-Ins and Flavoring Ideas

• Chopped almonds. Stir in ½ to ¾ cup of chopped almonds at the end for a crunchy texture.
• Different types of nuts. If you want another flavor profile (or if you don’t have enough almonds), you can substitute a 1 to 1.5 cup portion of almonds with a different kind of nut—cashews, pecans, hazelnuts, and pecans will pair well.
• Spices. Cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg are my favorites.
• Cocoa powder or dark chocolate. I’d recommend starting with 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, but you’ll probably need a sweetener to balance the bitterness. If you want to give this variation a try, check out my chocolate cashew butter recipe and substitute the cashews for almonds!
• Seeds. Flax, hemp, and chia seeds are all great options.

Nut Butter Do’s and Don’ts

While nut butter is very easy to make, there are some tips you need to keep in mind for the smoothest and most consistent end result.

DO’s

1. DO toast the nuts. Not only does roasting deepen the flavor of the almonds, but it helps them release their natural oils and blend easier.
2. DO add salt. PLEASE add salt—it truly does so much to enhance the flavor of the nut butter!
3. DO scrape the sides regularly. This ensures that everything will incorporate evenly.
4. DO use a strong food processor. In my experience (at least when it comes to nut butter), food processors are infinitely easier to deal with than blenders, since they don’t overheat and can be scraped down much easier.
5. DO add mix-ins sparingly. You can always add, but you can’t take away!

don’ts

1. DON’T add water or liquids. If there’s one thing you need to remember when making nut butter, it’s to never add water. Nuts are high in natural oils, so adding any form of liquid will disrupt the natural emulsion of the oils and cause the nut butter to seize. The result is a solid clump of nut butter that’s difficult to spread, and there’s no way to reverse it.
2. DON’T stop blending. Nut butter goes through stages in the food processor, first from a fine flour to thick paste to crumbly ball. It might take a while, but after a few minutes, the nuts will release enough oil to create a runny, spreadable nut butter.

How to Use Homemade Nut Butter

There are countless ways to use homemade almond butter, but here are a few of my tried-and-true serving suggestions. I use it in:

• Toast or oatmeal. My method of choice—nothing beats a warm slice of sourdough with almond butter, banana, and cinnamon!
• Fruit. Apples, bananas, and dates are my favorites.
• Smoothies.
• Energy balls.
• Yogurt bowls.
• Granola. I often use homemade almond butter instead of peanut butter in my favorite peanut butter granola!
• Homemade almond butter cups.

If you give this recipe a try, be sure to leave it a rating and review!