There are some homemade recipes that fall into the “why bother?” category. They’re a lot of work, and the results really aren’t that much better than store-bought. Then there are other recipes where homemade is cheaper, tastier, and easy to boot, like Homemade Hummus and Vegan Yogurt. Friends, I’m happy to report that homemade peanut butter definitely falls into the latter category.
Why Make Your Own Own Peanut Butter
Well, first, it’s really easy. Seriously, all you need to do is throw some peanuts into a food processor and let it run. Process until the peanut butter is smooth and creamy, or leave some bits of nuts in there for a crunchy texture. Second, it’s way cheaper than store-bought. Buy a big bag of inexpensive nuts in the bulk section of your grocery store and you’ll have enough homemade peanut butter to last you for weeks. You also get to control the ingredients, which is huge. Unless you buy the fancy natural brands (which are expensive!), you’ll notice that store-bought peanut butter has a ton of added sugar and weird filler ingredients. When you make your own PB, you can skip those ingredients without having to pay a premium. And, of course, it tastes amazing. Seriously, once you’ve had freshly made nut butters, store-bought just isn’t going to cut it anymore.
Notes on Ingredients
Please note that this is important information on the ingredients and instructions and the FULL recipe with amounts and details can be found DOWN BELOW (scroll to it) in the recipe card.
Dry roasted unsalted peanuts – If you want to make raw peanut butter, you can certain use raw peanuts, but the flavour of dry roasted is superior. Sea salt – Add more or less to taste.
Optional for a sweet peanut butter:
Coconut or cane sugar Cinnamon
How to Make Peanut Butter
Ready to get started? Here’s what you’ll need to do! Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350°F/180°C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Roast the nuts. Place the nuts on the baking sheet and roast them for 5 minutes. This helps give the nuts a fragrant aroma and warms up the oils. Process the peanuts. Let the nuts cool slightly, then add them to a food processor and process until the mixture is smooth, stirring occasionally. This will take a while; your food processor may get warm, so just turn it off for about a minute to prevent overheating if this happens. Season. Once the peanut butter reaches your desired consistency, add a pinch of salt (and any other add-ins) and pulse for 30 seconds to incorporate.
Tips for Success
In an easy recipe like this one, the quality of ingredients you use and the technique are critical. Here are some pointers for perfect homemade peanut butter:
Use unsalted roasted peanuts. Don’t use flavoured peanuts, and avoid salted because using unsalted will allow you to control the flavour of the finished peanut butter. Don’t overdo it on the salt. A little pinch of salt is all you need to enhance the flavour here. If you add too much, it will be too salty, overpowering the natural, subtle sweetness you want. Taste as you go. This is the best way to ensure that your peanut butter is exactly to your liking. Add more salt, sugar, or other flavours as desired.
Flavour Ideas
The other thing that’s fun about making your own peanut butter is that you can customize the flavour! Here are some ideas for upgrading homemade peanut butter:
Add chocolate. A few tablespoons of melted chocolate will give you a rich, creamy chocolatey spread for homemade waffles or dipping your favourite fruits. Make it spicy. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper if you want to spice things up. Add a little bit of maple syrup. This will give the peanut butter a slightly sweeter, maple-y flavour.
How to Store
Pour the peanut butter into a jar with a cover and place it in the fridge. You can use this nut butter anywhere you’d use store-bought, and it will last for about a month in the refrigerator. (You may need to give it a stir before serving.)
Can You Freeze Homemade Peanut Butter?
If you want your peanut butter to last even longer, you can freeze it for up to six months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before using. Enjoy friends! If you make this homemade peanut butter recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
