Almond Butter

Almond butter takes everything from toast to smoothies and dessert to new levels. It is fast and easy to make almond butter at home, and costs a lot less than the almond butter you find at the grocery store. 

To make your own almond butter, you will need a food processor or high-powered blender. Start by toasting the almonds; this brings out their nutty flavor. Be sure to keep an eye on the nuts while you are toasting them; they can go from a gentle golden brown to burnt in just minutes. Set a timer so you don’t forget about them and end up with scorched nuts. Let the almonds cool to just warm or room temperature before blending them. When blending almonds or other nuts, they will first grind down into a powder. Then, as the oils in the nuts begin to release, they will form a paste — be patient here, as it may take a few minutes. Add the oil as the paste begins to form, so the nuts process evenly. 

If you like, add a pinch of ground cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice to your almond butter. Taste it to see if it needs a little sugar or extra salt blended in to suit your tastes. Let the almond butter cool before storing it in an airtight container and refrigerating it.