After dealing with a leaky (and often explosive) food processor for over a year, it was finally time to break down and hunt for a new one. Next to my blender the food processor is my second most used kitchen appliance, so I want one that does the job well. After asking for your input on my Facebook page and reading reviews, I decided to buy the Cuisinart 14-cup food processor. I heard mostly positive things about Cuisinart processors and figured it was worth a shot!
So far, it lives up to the hype! I’ve been using it for a couple months now and it works great. I also love the huge buttons on the front. It’s straight-forward and easy to use which is always a good thing for those of us who are appliance challenged. [This is coming from the girl who broke a previous food processor on the very first try. I blame the bone-dry honey dates!] I am looking forward to trying out the dough setting too.
My only complaint is that crumbs get stuck in the lid and I haven’t found an easy way to get them out. A butter knife seems to do the trick, but it’s a bit annoying that I can’t seem to take apart the lid. I read that others have this problem too, so hopefully Cuisinart remedies this in their next release.
Since my purchase, I’ve been making nut butter like nobody’s business. What better way to break in a new processor and see what it’s worth? This one today is a lovely “every day” nut butter just bursting with nutrition.
So far, the new Cuisinart is holding its own. I’ll report back at the end of cookbook testing. It could be a long road…
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Kitchen Sink Nut Butter
Yield
1.25 to 1.5 cups
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
My goal was to pack as many healthy ingredients in as possible. I ended up adding walnuts, almonds, pecans, flax, chia, hemp, pure maple syrup, fine grain sea salt, pure vanilla extract, and a touch of coconut oil for an ultra silky feel. You can’t tell by the photo how many amazing ingredients are lurking inside, but it’s packing a nutritional powerhouse. Feel free to play around with the seeds and nuts depending on what you have in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
- 1 & 1/4 cups raw almonds
- 1/2 cup raw pecans
- 1/4 cup raw walnuts
- 1 tbsp flax seed
- 1/2 tbsp chia seed
- 1 tbsp hemp seed
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- fine grain sea salt, to taste (you want the flavour to pop!)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 300F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a non-stick mat. In a large bowl, mix together the nuts, seeds, and maple syrup. Spread out mixture onto baking sheet and bake for about 14-15 minutes minutes or until lightly golden, stirring once half way through. Watch closely after 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes before placing into a food processor. Process for about 10 minutes, stopping to scrape the bowl every 30-60 seconds as needed. The mixture will be very drippy and smooth when it’s ready. It may seem like it will never come together, but don’t lose hope. Add in the vanilla, salt, and coconut oil and process until combined and smooth.
- If you’d like crunchy almond butter, stir or pulse in chopped nuts.
Tip:
Store in a sealed container in the fridge. Will keep for at least 1 month.
I don’t say this often, but the best part of this recipe is the clean up!
I’ll be back this weekend with my new blog header and winner of the giveaway! Have a great Friday.
How much does this usually cost? The link does not include price. My Food processor JUST broke yesterday….those darn dates! I am desperate to get a (cheap) new one!
Thanks!
Do you soak the nuts before roasting
Nope, I didn’t soak first. Although I might have to try it out, but I think they might have to be dehydrated after soaking? Will look into it…
Yes, I have made nut butter with soaked nuts an the first one was a complete fail (did not ‘butterise’). The second time I fully dehydrated the nuts and it worked, BUT I needed to add some almond oil and the flavour was very different to non-soaked.
ok good to know, thanks!
I’m a nut butta lova. This looks great!
I’ve been on a nut butter spree as well. There is actually a science to it. It is highly recommended you soak your nuts then dehydrate to make them more easily digestible. Also you can really only find “raw” almonds from Spain. I just ordered 10 lbs of almonds and cashews from nuts.com. Organic raw nuts! They taste so fresh! I also ordered a little dehydrator so I can soak and dry nuts. I make my nut butter in my vitamix…no need for any oil it comes out so creamy!(From blendergirl.com) Some of the principle reasons why soaking is beneficial to our health:
it removes anti-nutrients like phytates, tannins and goitrogens
it helps to neutralise enzyme inhibitors
it increases the potency of nutrients such as Vitamin B
it makes proteins more readily available
it eradicate toxins contained in the colon and encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria like lactobacilli which we know is vital for intestinal and colon health
it promotes the growth of healthy enzymes vital for healthy digestion
Tell me whats your take-
Thanks for the refresher Katherine! I’ve heard this before, but never put it into practice.
Tell me, do you have to dehydrate after soaking before making nut butter?
Yes…thats what I have read and gathered. I read that when some just soak and blend, it would never get creamy just stayed gritty and I thought I read somewhere else there was a health reason too! Isn’t there always a health reason!! I thought I was doing good just to make my own nut butters now I find out it will take 3 days to make…whats next???
Genius idea. I don’t like eating too many nuts, so will try the seed idea and just add in a few raw almonds. Bueno! Thank you.
I am dying to get a food processor. This one looks great.
Looks great! I really should try my own nut butter… I love how you have flax and chia in there, too!
I have this food processor as well as a 20-year old cuisinart, and I must confess that I love the 20-year old one better. It is so simpler to clean (I find the big one to be a big nuisance) and works great. The only problem is that my bowl is cracking, so it is on its last legs. I will have to resort to the monster Cuisinart at some point, for sure.
Wow that is so amazing that it’s 20 years old and still going strong! I too find that some brands tend to complicate things as the years go by. Simple is often best!
You mentioned refrigerating the nut butter, I was wondering if there is a reason you do this or if you just prefer it better this way?
I don’t go through nut butter overly fast, so I keep it in the fridge to help it keep better. One recipe I made for the book has stayed fresh for over 2 MONTHS in a sealed container…crazy!
um, yum! i love the thought of so many awesome flavors and textures in there!
This looks so yummy – love the complexity of flavors! Definitely will give it a try! Thanks!
I have a food processor that I enjoy using, but I hate the noise. (I was never the margarita maker in college – the blender/processor noise kind of freaks me out for whatever quirky reason.) I’m such a wimp; I don’t know if I could handle it for 10 whole minutes! haha
Happy Friday!
Oh my! What a fabulous looking butter!
I have an older model Cuisinart food processor that I got about 13 or 14 years ago and it’s still going strong! Cuisinart really knows what they’re doing when it comes to making reliable, sturdy food processors. I haven’t had a single issue yet. However, I’ve been drooling over the new 16-cup version (similar to the one you have) and requested it for my birthday. I have about 8 days to go to find out if my request was granted! ;)
Thanks for the nut butter recipe and let me know if you end up needing recipe testers!
Yum. Good way to use up small amounts of various nuts/seeds!
I made a Maple/Vanilla Cashew butter yesterday with soaked raw cashews. Came together beautifully in no time flat (just 2 minutes or so in my mini cuisinart), and is super creamy and smooth, almost like sugar cookie dough.
Hi! I just wanted to say that I started eating vegan about 1 1/2 years ago or more. I had become a bit bored with my meals and your site has become my go-to! Love it!! They’re all soooo good!!!! Thanks for doing what you do :)
Thank you so much Nancy!
thanks for the recipe and the info. I want both! :)
I have a Cuisinart Food Processor too- but can’t remember exactly which model. I got it as a wedding gift from my mother-in-law!
The nut butter recipe sounds soooo good! I bet the flavor combination is just insane.
Aren’t new kitchen gadgets the greatest? Have fun playing with your new toy!
P.S. Next time you make nut butter, can I come over to help you “clean up?”
I love the mixed nuts butter. Why they don’t make this already is odd. I guess since they have different fat contents and oil types it makes it separate weird. Is that the case?
Thank you for this!! I have almost the exact same food processor and nut butters have left me defeated, twice. I came oh so very close!! I will try your recipe and know that the third try will be the charm :) Tank you!!!