Healthy Nut Butter Recipes {Easy DIY Recipes to Save Money!} (2024)

FAQs

Is it cost effective to make your own nut butter? ›

Although prices for store-bought nut butters can vary based on region, homemade versions will almost always be cheaper. To maximize savings, shop sales, and look out for stores that sell nuts in bulk.

"Of all the nut butters, walnut butter has the most omega-3 fatty acids," Andrea says. The healthful fat ratio helps lower LDL cholesterol, increase HDL cholesterol, and reduce inflammation.

Nut butters will last for a long time if stored in an airtight jar. They'll last for at least a month at room temperature, or for at least 3 months in the fridge. I prefer to keep mine at room temperature, as that's when the texture is most creamy.

Yes, it's OK to eat peanut butter every day (in moderation), says Largeman-Roth. That means sticking to the recommended serving size of two tablespoons, or close to that amount.

Homemade almond butter is more affordable, too.

Just compare the price of one pound of raw almonds to the price of your favorite almond butter. The cost savings depend largely on the almond butter. I've bought jars of almond butter at Trader Joe's for seven dollars, so there's not much savings opportunity there.

Almond Butter

Almonds have quickly become the go-to nut for many dieters and health enthusiasts. That's because almonds are rich in protein, magnesium, and calcium. Eating these nuts can help you enjoy stronger bones and muscles. Almond butter contains everything found inside of almonds, but it's a little richer.

Walnuts: Have the highest amount of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) than any other nut. ALA is well known for its anti-inflammatory effects. It aids in lowering cholesterol, thus decreasing blood pressure, heart diseases and stroke.

Eating peanut butter in moderation provides you with wholesome nutrients. However, eating too much can make you gain weight because it is packed with calories and fats. The risk of weight gain increases even more if you consume commercial peanut butter brands, which often have added sugars, oils, and fats.

You'll be able to tell fairly quickly tell if your peanut butter has turned rancid: It will have a metallic, bitter and almost stale smell. It may also be darker and dried out in appearance. If it's natural peanut butter, it may be moldy. Any of these features signal it's time to throw away your jar of peanut butter.

Do you have to roast nuts before making nut butter? ›

To enhance the sweet, nutty flavor of the nuts, toasting them is a must before making them into butter. You will want to cool the nuts before making them into butter. Since there are no preservatives, you will want to keep it refrigerated to prevent it from going rancid.

Do you have to refrigerate nut butters after opening? Storing our butters in the fridge will prolong their quality, but it makes them hard to spread. Unrefrigerated, they will harden over time due to the naturally occurring oil. We suggest storing in a cool dark place for easiest use.

Avoid nut butters with added sweeteners such as sugar, corn syrup or molasses. Avoid nut butters with added oils such as hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Almond butter is high in Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that 88.5% of Americans don't get enough of and can improve immune, skin and eye health. It also has a comparable amount of protein to peanut butter but contains more magnesium, calcium, potassium and fiber, among other vitamins and minerals.

Sunflower butter is a decent substitution for peanut butter. It's made of sunflower seeds instead of any sort of nut.

Butter isn't that expensive — it's about $3 per pound at the wholesale level. Cream costs roughly $3.50 for 16 ounces, or less if you buy a larger carton. That means the price of making your own butter isn't much more than buying it in the store, and often you can get organic cream cheaper than organic butter.

You can make cashew butter and almond butter for anywhere from $3.50 to $4 per 16-ounce jar. And buying a jar of even the cheapest stuff is usually $5 or more. On peanut butter I'm partial to Jif — which you can get for about $3. Also keep in mind that homemade butters can split and need to be refrigerated.

Making your own peanut butter is a win/win because you control the amount of salt and sweetener, if any, that goes into it. And it's also a lot cheaper than store brands.

It is absolutely cheaper to make this homemade cashew butter recipe at home than to buy store-bought. Cashew butter can be priced from $7-$15 a jar whereas buying a large bag of whole cashews would cost the same amount of money but you'd get twice the amount of cashew butter.