Wondering how to make almond butter? Here’s your ultimate guide covering everything you need to know. You just need almonds and a food processor (or high-speed blender)! In about 10 minutes, you’ll have your own homemade almond butter at a fraction of the cost of store-bought.
I know almond butter isn’t the most exciting recipe to post. It’s actually pretty boring. But for those of you who don’t already make homemade almond butter, I hope this post is useful!
While almond butter on its own isn’t that fun, I have oodles of recipes you can make with it, like these no-bake oatmeal cookies and my favorite paleo chocolate chip cookies.
I go through huge amounts of nut butter when developing a recipe. There’s no way I could afford to do that if I were using store-bought almond butter. So I learned how to make almond butter early on my blogging days.
I get almonds from Aldi or Lidl, which, by the way, are from California and are so much cheaper than they are in the US! It’s bizarre. I can’t understand why they’re cheaper here in Germany. But anyway.
I roast them, toss them in the food processor, and then I have my almond butter for a fraction of the price of what I can find in stores or even online.
For a while, I was making almond butter in my high-speed blender but our neighbor actually complained to the super. It was disturbing his peace, apparently. And his dog’s.
So now I take my food processor, go to the pantry, close the door, and make almond butter.
Making it in the blender was indeed really loud but what I really didn’t like was that I could only grind 1 or 1 1/2 cups at a time. And even then, I’d have to take lots of breaks.
And even with the breaks, the almonds that were room temperature when I began would become really steamy! I was worried that my blender would die.
It’ll depend on your food processor, but I can make SO much more at a time now. Instead of 1 cup of almonds, I can do more like 6.
I thought about all the possible questions that might arise when making almond butter. If I’m missing something, let me know!
Everything you need to know about how to make homemade almond butter:
Equipment:
- Can I use a regular blender?
Unfortunately not. Please don’t try! You need something like a Blendtec or Vitamix.
- What kind of food processor do I need?
My food processor is 1,000 watts and does a great job but one with at least 700 watts should work. It might work in one with fewer watts. Before you buy one, I recommend reading the reviews and searching to see what people have said about making nut butter.
I’ve read a few different guides and it seems like most people recommend this Cuisinart.
Nuts:
- Can I use another type of nut?
For peanuts, read my post on how to make peanut butter. You can use the recipe below for walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts and cashews, but you’ll probably need to adjust the roasting time. If you want to use hazelnuts, you’ll probably want to get rid of hazelnut skins first.
For hazelnut butter, you can use my recipe for paleo chocolate hazelnut butter and stop after step 3.
How long you have to process the nuts depends on the type of nut. Almonds take way longer than the above-mentioned nuts. - Can I use pre-roasted or flavored almonds?
Yup! Technically it works. But that would be some expensive almond butter!
- Do I have to roast the nuts?
I think almond butter tastes WAY better after roasting the nuts but you don’t have to. When the nuts are warm, it’s also much quicker to process them.
- How full should I fill the food processor? What if I only want a small amount?
If you don’t fill the processor enough, you won’t get anywhere. You need enough nuts so that the blade is fully covered, and then add some more. If you don’t need much, then see the questions in the storage section below.
- How much does X cups of almonds yield?
1 cup of almonds = about 120 grams. 1 cup of almond butter = 256. So you need about 2 cups + 2 tablespoons of almonds for 1 cup of almond butter.
Adding things to the almond butter:
- Can I add liquid stuff like honey, vanilla, etc.?
If you add anything liquid other than oil (which you do not need!), then the almond butter will seize. It’ll be clumpy and pretty much ruined. So please don’t try that!
In this maple cinnamon almond butter recipe, I roasted the nuts in maple syrup first (so that they were basically candied) and then added cinnamon after processing. And it’s incredibly delicious! - Can I add spices and salt?
You can! If you want vanilla, use the seeds of a vanilla bean. A little cinnamon is also nice.
My recommendation is to make your almond butter and once it’s your desired runniness, pour some almond butter in a little bowl, add a little of whatever you want to add, and see if it works. This is a much better way than adding something to your almond butter and ruining your whole batch! - Don’t I need to add oil? Lots of other recipes say to add oil!
You don’t need a fancy new food processor to make almond butter. I used to use one from the former East Germany [meaning it was really old]. I have no idea why some recipes call for oil. Just keep processing, take breaks if necessary, and don’t give up!
Do you see how runny my almond butter is? I’ve never needed oil to get to this consistency!
If you want to add oil, you certainly can.
Storage:
- Does homemade almond butter have to be refrigerated?
Definitely refrigerate it! The oil can go rancid. I read that you can store opened almond butter on the shelf for up to 3 months but I don’t think I’d recommend that, especially since homemade almond butter doesn’t have any preservatives.
I don’t leave mine at room temperature for longer than 1 week. It’s just safer to keep refrigerated. - How long does it stay good?
I’ve left my almond butter in the refrigerator for embarrassingly long periods without anything funky happening to it. But I’m going to say 3 months to be on the safe side.
Also be sure to always use a clean spoon. If you use something that was previously in jam, your mouth, whatever – your almond butter will mold in no time. Also make sure to not use almonds that were about to expire if you want your almond butter to last for a while. - Can I freeze almond butter?
Yes! For up to 4-6 months. Make sure to use an air-tight container.
- Does it separate like some natural almond butters?
I’ve had that happen a few times. When the jar gets lost at the back of the refrigerator for half a year. But even if it doesn’t visibly separate, you should stir it before every use to make sure the oil is evenly distributed.
- How will I know if it’s gone bad?
You’ll be able to smell it. It’ll smell like oil paint, paint thinner, or something along those lines. You’ll know! Throw it out immediately. And if you didn’t notice a smell but it tastes bitter, that also means it’s rancid and time to throw it away.
Troubleshooting:
- My almond butter isn’t coming together! What can I do and what did I do wrong?
Are you sure your food processor can handle making nut butters? If you are, you just need to be patient. Some food processors take longer than others.
Also, did you process the nuts while still warm (but not hot?). That helps the process along. Using room temperature almonds takes a lot longer. If your processor is getting hot, take a break. Remove the bowl from the base, open the lid, and let sit for 10-20 minutes or until it’s cooled quite a bit. We don’t want you to kill your food processor!
How to Make Almond Butter
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 1.5 cups
Learn how to make homemade almond butter with just almonds and a food processor or a high-speed blender.
Ingredients
- 3 cups almonds (the amount depends on the size of your food processor – see the post for a tip on how full to fill it)
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and roast the almonds on a baking sheet for 8-12 minutes or until fragrant, stirring after every 5 minutes.
- Let cool for just 5-10 minutes, and then transfer the nuts to the food processor and process until creamy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed, about 6 to 12 minutes. Do not overheat your food processor! Take breaks if your food processor starts to warm up too much. In the first stage, you’ll have something that looks like almond meal. Then it’ll form a thick mass. Then it’ll break down into a liquid. After that, blend for another minute so it’s easily pourable.
- You’ll only be able to use about 1 1/2 cups of almonds. Roast the almonds using the above directions and let cool completely. Then use the smaller Twister jar (or the equivalent) and process at medium-high speed for 1-3 minutes. If your blender gets too hot, take breaks. Let the blender and ground almonds cool a bit, then blend again. Do not overheat your blender!
- Make sure it's room temperature or cold before using in a recipe.
For the food processor:
If using a high-speed blender like a Blendtec or Vitamix:
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Made this with walnuts, its a simple but great recipe. Explaining the different stages was very important, I would have added a little oil half way through if the process had not been explained, and that would have ruined it. Please try it, it’s well worth it 👍
Thanks again for your feedback! I’m so glad you liked it. :)
Look so easy, definitely have to try making my own, never done it before!
You should definitely try! :)
I’m going to try this in my food processor. I was going to get rid of it, as it is big and clunky and takes up so much cabinet space, but now I’ve found a purpose for it, so it stays!
Woohoo! Glad it now has a purpose. :D
Love homemade nut butters, so much tastier than store bought! This one looks delicious!
I agree! :)
This is so easy, I can’t believe I don’t do it more often!
Right?! So much cheaper, too!
Oooh, that looks so creamy and delicious! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! :)
Love making almond butter at home like this. It’s SO much better than the store-bought version!
I agree!
Not sure why, but when i roasted my almonds with maple, it took way longer to grind them. Still turned out perfectly and absolutely yummy! But just curious why it took so much longer. Thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome for the recipe! It took way longer than 12 minutes? Hmm. It could have to do with your food processor. Some are faster than others. Did you fill the bowl enough so that the almonds were covering the blade very well? If you don’t add enough, that can also slow things down.
I make almond (and other butters) in my Vitamix or blender. It’s well worth the effort, so delicious!
I think so, too!
Hi Erin I live in UK on South coast , not too many complainers about food processors and shoes on the mat down this way.
I’ve just made the choc cookies with butter and they were yummy.yummy.Aldi and Lidl is the best place for buying all types of nuts here too.
Hello! I’m so sorry for just now seeing your comment. I’m so glad you liked the cookies! Do you mean the paleo chocolate chip ones? I’m glad you enjoyed them! Sorry again for my slow reply.
I look forward to doing this with walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts. Thanks for all your tips and insights!
You’re welcome! :)
Hello! This looks delicious, am I allowed to use one of these photos on a dietitian’s social media if I give you credit for it?
Hi there! If you link to the recipe, sure. :) Thanks for asking!
Hi! Thank you for the recipe. The almonds that we buy in bulk are already roasted. Have you tested it with roasted almonds? Just want to make sure double roasting is ok?
Hello! I wouldn’t roast them again but you could warm them up a bit in the oven so that they’re easier to blend.
A reason for the price difference – Due to salmonella outbreaks, almonds produced in USA for consumption within the USA need to be ‘pasteurized’ (usually a chemical process) which is aparently an expensive process. This treatment is not required for some export markets. It would be interesting for you to comment if your cheap Aldi almonds are marked as pastuerized. Lots of info on the web, but this came from https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2007/04/06/Almonds-must-be-pasteurized-say-new-USDA-rules.
That’s a great idea! But I checked my almonds and they don’t say anything about pasteurization. The article says that unpasteurized almonds must be labeled as unpasteurized so I guess mine are. And it’s not just almonds, it’s all nuts! It’s just so strange. Thanks for your comment!
Thank you, Erin!!! With patience, this turned out beautifully in my Vitamix. I am so glad I read your blog on it before trying it. If I had not, I would have for sure thought it needed additional oil added to it. I just kept going though……and it turned out absolutely perfect. Thank you for all the great recipes you put up. I am off to make your “Perfect Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies” now! (-:
You’re so welcome! I’m really happy that you found the tips useful and that it worked out well for you. I know I was tempted to add oil the first time I tried it, too! I really thought it’d be impossible for it to turn into something runny. I hope you’ll enjoy the cookies! Thanks a bunch for your comment. :)
Hi Erin,
I loved your video! So helpful and easy.
Where did you find inexpensive almonds? I live in California
and the prices are so high.
Thanks in advance!
Rachel
Hi there! I live in Munich and for some reason, we have imported Californian almonds (at places like Aldi, Lidl, and the German version of Wal-mart) cheaper than in the US. :( I really don’t understand it. Have you tried buying in bulk online? Sorry I don’t have a better answer for you!
This is a great and simple recipe. Thanks! It will be even more healthy if you blanch the almonds to remove the skins before roasting. The skins have lectins which can be hard on the gut and also can cause inflammation. Just boil some water and pour it over the raw almonds. Let sit 1 minute and then drain & rinse with cold water. Pinch the skins off between your thumb & fingers.
Thanks for the tip! I wonder how it’d work to roast already blanched almonds, which I can buy at a not totally outrageous price where I live. I go through so much almond butter when coming up with new recipes there’s no way I could pinch off all those skins and get anything else done. ;)
I soak all the nuts I use in water for around 24 hours to remove the lectins then dry them in the oven at a very low temp. People who get a sore mouth from nuts don’t seem to have a problem when the nuts are soaked and dried, especially walnuts and pecans. I think they taste so much better as well. So you could soak the almonds then dry/roast them, I’m not sure amount of time it will take to dehydrate and roast, but there you go!
When I make nut based salad dressings, when using the soaked nut while still hydrated, the dressings are much smoother.
Hi there! Sorry for just now seeing your comment. Thanks a bunch for the tips on soaking almonds! That’s so interesting about the sore mouth thing. I had no idea. Thanks again for your comment!
I would love to try this! I love almond butter! Homemade is always the best!
I started making my own almond butter this year and love it! Your tips are super helpful!
Mmm! I’ve never tried this myself, and so glad to have all your tips!
Homemade is the BEST!! This looks fantastic!
I absolutely love the idea of this, and I bet my food processor would do the job nicely! Can’t wait to try it with the almonds I’ve got on hand!
I’ve been wanting to make almond butter for a while but never knew where to start! Thanks for making such a thorough guide!
I used a Nutribullet, and it worked perfectly!
Awesome! Good to know that that works well. :) Thanks for the tip!
I am going to have to try this!
The joys of German neighbors … I had two run-ins with the elderly couple that used to live opposite us. Once they were annoyed by my running shoes drying on our doormat, on the top floor, at the dead end of the hallway. “This is not how we do it around here.” (Don’t know where he thought I come from, I’m pretty pale and blond.) And obviously we closed our wardrobe sliding doors too loudly. (I put felt patches between them. I’m nice like that.) Just smile and counter-attack. You have the laws on your side – from about seven in the morning till ten at night (with a lunch break form twelve to three) you can basically do whatever you want, even on Saturdays and Sundays. ^^ (Or walk over to him, hand him some cookies and ask which almond-butter-making times would be most convenient for him. ^^ )
Haha. So true! We have an older retired policeman here who has made up his own Ruhezeit hours and thinks we and everyone else should follow them. ALL day Sunday, holidays, and anything past 5pm on weekdays doesn’t suit him, either. When we told him that it says 1-3pm Monday-Sunday Ruhezeit in the contract, he said that his contract doesn’t say that. Haha. And man. Sounds like you have some winners in your apartment building, too! So annoying. I so miss houses being cheap enough (in Texas) that most people just buy one and don’t have to deal with these people!
I never tried making almond butter at home but heard about it and wanted to try. Looks so easy and delicious, and I bet it’s even more good for you then store bought kind.