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You knew this was only a matter of time!!
I’ve been thinking about making my own peanut butter for ages, and now is officially the moment. My feed is full of ice cream and no-bake snacks, and you know what pairs beautifully with every single one of those? You guessed it. Peanut butter!
If you’ve been here for a while, you probably already know that my site is full of homemade nut butters. I get the most satisfaction from making them myself. The sheer magic of watching a roasted nut turn into smooth, runny nut butter is my kinda thing. Call me crazy, but it’s fun.
And, I’m sorry, but have you seen the price of nuts and seed butters recently? I nearly fainted the last time I saw the price of almond butter; it’s borderline rude. Look, I get it, good quality nut butter matters, and when you are buying it, the thing you really need to pay attention to is the ingredient list. We are not looking for unnecessary oils, sugars, or whatever else is hiding in there, like on the back of a Kraft “peanut butter” container. I’m looking for one or two ingredients: the nut and salt.
That is all you need for a delicious peanut butter homemade spread.
My sunflower butter is the one exception where I add a little sweetener, but otherwise, all of my nut butters are simply nuts and salt. And the hill I will die on is salt. Please do not skip it. Salt makes such a huge difference in flavour, especially in something this simple.
You might notice that this recipe uses roasted peanuts, and you might wonder why I still tell you to roast them for ten minutes. Here is the trick: hot nuts break down so much faster in the food processor. That means your processing time is shorter, your peanut butter gets creamier faster, and we spend less time in the kitchen. Over the summer, that is exactly what we want.
Once you actually read the back of many nut butters and realize that there is typically a bunch of added oil, it becomes easy to know why making your own is the right choice.
It’s not just about the fact that learning how to make your own peanut butter makes you feel sustainable, independent, and capable (cause those are the added benefits we don’t talk about!), it also just becomes one of those kitchen skills that feels almost too easy for how rewarding it is.
The texture is fresher, the flavour is nuttier, and you get to control exactly what goes into your jar. There are no mystery ingredients, no added oils, and no unnecessary sugar. Just peanuts and salt. Making peanut butter at home is also wonderfully versatile. You can make it ultra-smooth and runny, slightly thicker, or turn it into crunchy peanut butter by stirring in chopped peanuts at the end.
You pretty much just need your oven, a food processor (or blender if you like to torture yourself), a baking sheet, a spatula and a jar for storing.
Get ready to be amazed by how easy it is to make your own nut butter! This homemade peanut butter recipe comes together quickly and will last you weeks (if you don’t use all of it in a peanut butter cookie recipe!)
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spread the roasted peanuts evenly onto a baking sheet and bake them for about ten minutes. You are not trying to deeply roast them again; you are simply warming them so their oils release more easily. You will know they are ready when they smell warm, nutty, and toasty.
Carefully add the hot peanuts to your food processor. They will be warm, so take your time and use caution. Hot peanuts are the secret to a faster, smoother peanut butter. Start processing the peanuts. At first, they will break down into a coarse crumble. After another minute or two, they will look sandy and dry.
It’s good to take breaks to stop the processor and scrape down the sides as needed so everything blends evenly. Continue to blend and scrape until the peanuts start to clump together into a thick paste. This is the point where people often think something has gone wrong, but trust the process. Keep blending, scraping, and blending again.
After about five minutes, the mixture should begin to loosen into creamy peanut butter. Keep processing until it becomes smooth, glossy, and runny. You will see the transformation happen, and it is very satisfying. Add the sea salt and process again until fully incorporated. Taste and adjust if needed. A little more salt can make a big difference, so season with your heart, but do not overdo it.
Pour the peanut butter into a clean jar. It will still be warm, so leave the lid off until it has completely cooled. Once cool, seal the jar and store it in a dark place like your pantry.
If you love crunchy peanut butter, this recipe will still work perfectly for you. Before processing all the peanuts into butter, reserve a small handful of roasted peanuts and roughly chop them until you achieve the size you’d like as your crunch. Once your peanut butter is smooth and salted, stir the chopped peanuts back in by hand. This gives you that beautiful, crunchy peanut texture while still keeping the base creamy and fresh. This is the joy of making peanut butter at home: you get to make it exactly how you like it!
There are endless ways to use homemade peanut butter, and my goodness, have I got a lot of recipes you can enjoy! Aside from the fact that peanut butter is perfect for spreading on toast with banana and flaky salt, or swirling it into oatmeal, or let’s say blending it into smoothies, you can also drizzle it over yogurt bowls, spoon it into homemade ice cream or use it in homemade salad dressings. As for baking, the options are endless; think protein balls, granola bars, cookies, or in banana bread.
What kind of peanuts should I use? Use roasted, skinless, unsalted peanuts for the easiest and best result. They blend quickly and give you full control over the salt. If you only have raw peanuts, roast them first until golden and fragrant before processing.
How long does peanut butter last? This homemade peanut butter lasts up to three weeks in the pantry if stored in a clean jar in a cool, dark place. You can also store it in the fridge if you prefer a thicker texture.
Is it cheaper to make your own peanut butter? It can be, especially if you buy peanuts in bulk. Store-bought natural peanut butter can be expensive, and making it at home allows you to control the ingredients.
Is peanut butter healthy? Peanut butter can absolutely be part of a healthy diet. It contains plant-based protein, healthy fats, and fibre, and it is very satisfying.
Can I make peanut butter in a blender? Technically, yes, you can make any nut butter in a high-powered blender, but it’s not as efficient as a food processor. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides more often or make your nut butter in smaller batches.
If you made this homemade peanut butter recipe, I would love to hear what you think. Leave a rating and review below!
If you love making nut butters at home as I do, try one of these homemade nut butters next:
Food Photographer and Recipe Developer based in Toronto, Canada.
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*Macros are provided as an estimate for convenience. Your final numbers will vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and how you portion the recipe.
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