While grocery shopping last spring, I stopped on the peanut butter aisle to replenish my almost empty jar. As I stared at all of the brands and flavors—honey roasted, white chocolate, dark chocolate, jelly mixed in (what happened to the days where it was simply creamy or crunchy??)—I glanced up at the shelf above and noticed the small selection of almond butter jars. On a whim, I grabbed one, along with my favorite creamy peanut butter, and continued my shopping.
Back at home, I cracked open the jar and slid in a spoon. (I always open a jar like this!) After my first lick, I scrunched my nose a little bit. I expected it to taste a little sweeter, like peanut butter, and not be quite so… Liquidy.
So I scratched the spoon idea and spread the rest on a piece of bread. That tickled my taste buds a little more, and I didn’t notice the thinner texture as much that way. But I only opened the jar about once a week to make a slice of toast, instead of multiple times a day like with peanut butter.
Over time, the flavor began to grow on me. One piece of bread each week grew into two, then three, then… Before I knew it, I had polished off the entire jar of almond butter because I stuck my knife in multiple times a day!
I started sampling different brands of almond butter from the various grocery stores nearby, but after a few shopping trips, I quickly picked a favorite: Trader Joe’s creamy almond butter. With just two ingredients, its simplicity let the almond flavor shine, and I adored the bright bite from the big flakes of sea salt they used. I hoarded that jar and barely shared with anyone!
Since an almond butter addiction can become a costly habit (over $5 for a tiny jar??), I decided to make my own instead based on my favorite from TJ’s. That resulted in this Easy Blender Almond Butter! Two ingredients, 10 minutes, and it’s the best almond butter I’ve ever tasted.
Since the ingredients are fairly straightforward—roasted almonds and coarse sea salt—let’s focus on the process. To start, you’ll need a high-speed blender with really sharp blades. I recommend a Ninja, Blendtec, or Vitamix. The blender must be able to handle staying on for at least 10 minutes while chopping nuts without overheating.
Note: A food processor will also work too!
Every so often, you’ll need to scrape down the sides of the blender with a spatula. Some of the almond pieces will cling to the walls, so this ensures that the almond butter is smooth and creamy. I generally scrape down the sides every 2-3 minutes, or whenever the almonds stop moving and things need a gentle push to continue swirling around.
Once the almond butter is smooth and you’ve added enough salt to suit your tastes, it’s time to chill. The almond butter will be really warm and runny from the heat generated by the blender, so chilling helps it thicken, as well as prolongs its shelf life. I like to seal mine inside of little jars, but any airtight containers will work.
Now all that’s left is to grab a spoon and dig in!
Note: To see what the various stages during blending look like, watch the video below!
| Easy Blender Almond Butter | | Print |
- 2 c (286g) roasted unsalted almonds
- 1-2 tsp (6-11g) coarse sea salt
- Add the almonds to a high-speed blender, and blend on low for 7-9 minutes or until creamy, scraping down the sides with a spatula as necessary. Add the salt ½ teaspoon at a time, blending for a few seconds after each addition, until the almond butter flavor reaches your desired taste. Transfer to an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator.
Not all roasted almonds are the same. Some brands are roasted longer than others and may taste slightly burnt, so make sure you like the flavor of the almonds you buy before turning them into almond butter. (The flavor only becomes more concentrated afterwards!)
Regular table salt will work as well. I prefer the bright burst of larger salt crystals, but use whatever you like best.
I recommend a Ninja, Blendtec, or Vitamix blender.
{gluten-free, vegan, clean eating, paleo, low carb, sugar-free}
More almond butter recipes from other food bloggers…
♥ Salted Caramel Almond Butter by Honey & Figs
♥ White Chocolate Cinnamon Almond Butter by The Messy Baker
♥ Almond Joy Butter by The Healthy Maven
♥ Vanilla Bean Almond Butter by Fit Foodie Finds
I love making my own almond butter too! It’s quite hard to come by here in Spain, and a tiny jar os often over 15 euro!! :O
Your version sounds absolutely delish. I’m loving its simplicity!
Thanks for featuring my recipe by the way! :-*
You’re welcome Consuelo! I loved the sound of yours! I can’t believe it’s that expensive for a tiny jar… No wonder you make your own!
Would it work with raw almonds?
Yes, it should Mary! You could also toast your own in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes (stirring once or twice) if you wanted the roasted flavor but didn’t want to buy more almonds. I hope you enjoy the almond butter!
I love making my own almond butter. It’s really is so much less expensive than buying it. I love your version, Amy!
Thank you so much Jen!
This looks great!! I loved the video. I need to try making some in my Blendtec already!
Thanks Brittany! You’re so sweet to watch all of my videos!
I had no idea almond butter was so simple! I look forward to making this with all sorts of other ingredients too!
I hope you enjoy the almond butter Shelby!
One of my friends introduced me to almond butter and oh my lanta, my mind was blown. I will never abandon peanut butter but I love my almond butter! I like the more subtle flavor and how it’s more versatile for baking. With this recipe, I have no excuse but to go straight for the jar! It looks absolutely amazing Amy!
Thanks Mary Frances! I couldn’t have said it any better about loving both PB & almond butter. I have both on a daily basis and could never give up either!
I dont know why I don’t make almond butter more often, I LOVE it, the store bought is pricey, and I always have raw almonds in my fridge; thanks for the great reminder 🙂
Anytime Heather! 🙂 It’s hard to justify buying those expensive jars, especially with an entire family to share them with!
ohh i’m a total almond butter convert. Would love to try this, it looks so easy! But there’s no way my blender could handle 5 minutes let alone 10. Hehe! I need to invest in a decent one, once I can afford it! 🙂
Thanks Sarah! I highly recommend checking out Kohl’s. They almost always have a sale going on Ninja blenders!
Mmm this looks and sounds delicious! Xx
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Thanks!
I STILL haven’t tried to make my own almond butter, but I’m such an almond-lover that I’m certain I’d love it. Also, I should make sure I leave every jar of peanut butter with a smiley face in it – that’d make mornings brighter for sure:)
Aww, you looked at my Instagram picture? You’re so sweet Sarah! I started doing that as a little kid, and… It just sort of stuck. Because who isn’t happy to open a fresh jar of nut butter? 😉 I’ll MAKE you your own almond butter the next time we see each other!