Last June, my blog buddy Ashley came for a visit! It was our first time meeting ‘in real life’. I was nervous and basically had hot flashes anticipating her arrival.
Luckily, we hit it off. :)
We bonded over foodie gifts..
Oatmeal.
[That would be my favourite VOO –> Cherry Chocolate Bomb Vegan Overnight Oats]
Photography…
And hiking!
Oh, and nut butter. It was on this visit that Ashley gave me some of her Maple Cinnamon Almond Butter and Salt-Kissed Cashew Butter. Before then, I was always a Homemade Raw Almond Butter kinda gal, but she inspired me to experiment with other homemade nut butter flavours!
I have since made 4 Ingredient Dark Chocolate Almond Butter…
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Pecan Butter
Clearly my nut butters are simply another vessel for chocolate. I blame PMS.
Yesterday, I made a spin-off of Ashley’s Vanilla Bean Maple Almond Butter. It was also inspired by Naturally Nutty’s Cinnamon Vanilla Almond Butter made with chia, flax, and hemp seed that I spotted on Kath Eats. I thought the idea of adding chia, flax, and hemp seed was a great way to sneak in more nutrients.
And I’m totally down for anything that gives me another reason to eat nut butter!
Maple-Cinnamon Superseed Almond Butter
Yield
1 1/4 cups (310 mL)
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
This is easily the most delicious almond butter I've ever tasted! The secret to this incredible nut butter is to coat the almonds in maple syrup, hemp hearts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds, and then roast it all until fragrant and golden. After processing for about 5 to 10 minutes, it turns into the creamiest, "drippy" nut butter ever. I love adding a healthy portion of cinnamon, fine sea salt, and pure vanilla bean powder (or extract) to take it over the top. You'll be enjoying this spread straight out of the processor bowl—I can promise you that! I recommend using a heavy-duty food processor when making nut butters; the smaller machines just don't have the power to do the job and might burn out.
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole raw almonds
- 2 tablespoons whole flaxseeds
- 2 tablespoons hemp hearts
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 3 tablespoons (45 mL) pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tablespoon (7 mL) coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, to taste
- 1 teaspoon (5 mL) pure vanilla extract or 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) pure vanilla bean powder
Directions
- Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix together the almonds, flaxseeds, hemp hearts, chia seeds, and maple syrup until combined.
- Spread the almond mixture onto baking sheet in an even layer. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
- Remove from oven and allow the almond mixture to cool for 10 minutes before placing into a food processor.
- Add the almonds into the food processor along with the coconut oil. Process for about 5 to 10 minutes, stopping to scrape the bowl every 60 seconds, or as needed. (Be sure to leave the processor chute uncovered so the steam from the almonds can escape.) The mixture will be very drippy and smooth when ready.
- Add in the cinnamon, salt, and vanilla and process until combined.
- Remove the almond butter and store in a glass jar or a container with an airtight lid. If the almond butter is still warm, allow it to come to room temperature before securing the lid.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
Have you ever made homemade nut butter before?
It is really quite easy if you have a processor or blender that will do the work. This recipe requires more time than any nut butter recipe I have made before (due to the almond roasting), but it was so worth it in the end!
Mix together the almonds, chia, flax, hemp, and maple syrup. Spread out onto a lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, stirring once half way through, at 300F.
After 30 minutes of roasting:
Eric came into the kitchen when I was making this yesterday morning and he said, ’Mmm it smells amazing in here! WOW!
When I told him that I was making nut butter, he was crushed (he hates nut butter).
He thought I was making waffles!
I pity the fool.
For the first 5 minutes of processing, stop and scrape down the bowl every 30-60 seconds as needed. In the initial stages, I stop every 30 seconds or so.
After 5 minutes (half-way point):
After 5 more minutes of processing, my nut butter was ready! I added in the cinnamon, salt, and vanilla around minute 9.
I won’t tell you how much fun licking the bowl is. That would just be mean.
It makes about 1 and 1/4 cup.
The result is an almond butter with a deep roasted flavour and layers of nuttiness with just a hint of sweetness. I didn’t detect the chia, hemp, or flax flavours specifically, but I was happy knowing they were in there!
I enjoyed some apple slices spread with nut butter and strawberry jam.
I
Unreal!
The clean up for this photoshoot was also a good time. ;)
If you’d like to make chunky almond butter, you can process or chop some almonds and then stir it back into the almond butter. I think I will try that next time!
Does anyone know if I can make nut butter in my Vitamix without a DRY container? I’m scared to ruin it!
Have a great Monday!
Wow, you’ve inspired me… I really need to branch out and try making something other than plain almond butter. Now if only I could hand in some homemade nut butter to my prof instead of the 10 page essay I have due…
That was the most delicious looking post I’ve ever read. That creamy, drippy, sweet stuff is almost too much for me to bear. If I had a food processor and a bag of nuts in my office I’d be whipping up some of that goodness right now.
hehe thanks!
This looks amazing! I want to make all your nut butter recipes– but I have one question (and sorry if it sounds silly!) but I only have a blender (not a food processor or super awesome blender). Is it possible to make the nut butter in it? I’m assuming it’s possible, it’ll just take longer?
I’ve heard it is possible using a Vitamix, but I don’t think it would work with a normal blender. Some commenters above even said it was tough with a Vitamix.
Aw, that just means I get to invest in a good food processor;) Have any advice on a good brand?
I use a 12 cup Kitchen aid and it works pretty good, although not flawless.
Awesome! Thank you:) I’ve always wanted a Kitchen Aid mixer– both that and a food processor are just going on my wish list for now:)
Such a good idea to cook the other seeds with your almonds! And what a nice tribute to Ash!
You can use the wet blade to make nut butters. I do it all the time. The cd I got from vitamix made it in wet blade so don’t be scared! I’m definitely going to make this today! Yummy!
OMGOSH! Looks tasty! I need a food processor STAT!!!
Do you make homemade Jam? Or what kind do you get?
…I have no idea if my comments are even showing up…I don’t think they are..
Nope, that was just store bought PC strawberry jam. Love that stuff.
I checked my comments and I didnt have any in my spam for you, although occasionally I will miss some.
I love that Jam! Love the big strawberry chunks :)
I love nut butters!!! YUM!
Ashley has the best nutbutter recipes! This looks delicious.
Yea, it’s absolutely no problem making nut butters in the vitamix wet container. I’ve done it for almond, walnut, and peanut butters before. That said, a food processor is better than the vitamix just for ease of cleaning. It takes a while to scrape all of the nut butter out of the vitamix; it’s so much easier to take out the blade of the food processor and gather up every last bit of the butter, or so I imagine. I don’t have a food processor, so I stick with the vitamix.
This looks delicious, Angela! I’ve made nut butter in the wet container of my Vitamix many times, and it worked just fine. I had to keep it at a low speed for much of the process and keep pushing down with the tamper, but it came out really smooth. I’m totally inspired to try new ad ins now! I’ve been debating getting a small food processor. I used to have a food processor attachment on my blender, but then my blender broke and I replaced it with my Vitamix.
Do you think it’s worth it to buy a food processor if i already have a Vitamix? What kinds of things to do you think are better done in a food processor, if any?
Wowww~Delicious! I have made nut butters at home many times, but they never come out creamy like that b/c of the processor i think. But maybe I just didn’t process as long as I should have?
I can’t comment on your processor…but I can tell you that I am sometimes tempted to stop too soon, but if I process a couple minutes longer, it become soooooo drippy. I think it is because the machine also heats it up a lot as it processes! The blade was SO hot I almost burned my finger on it!
ohhhh kkkkkkkk thank you so much for comment! now it’s not so discouraging to keep churning it, b/c sometimes i’m scared it’ll break haha :)
Ohhh my gosh goodness gracious. Those are my four favorite ingredients in the whole entire world. I am making this now!!
Hi Angela – when I bought my vitamix at the home show the rep told me I could make nut butter in it. I only have the wet blade. He told me the dry blade was if you were grinding your own flour. I haven’t tried it yet though.
The nut butter looks amazing and I bet your house smelled WONDERFULLY with the smell of roasting nuts, maple, cinnamon. Oh my. :)
The posts of you and Ashley. I remember those! It feels like a lifetime ago…and just a minute ago. I would love to meet both of you!
I would love to have a hike, have photography chats, and have a drink or two with you amazing ladies :)
You are welcome any time! I suggest post-May though when it warms up… ;)
what a great idea! you are so creative, it continues to amaze me!
I’d love to try this recipe- thanks for sharing it! How long can you keep homemade nut butters? I think we’ll eat this one far before it’s expiration date!!
I would guess they would keep as long as store bought natural nut butters. Ive never had one go bad on me before. I would guess at least 3-4 weeks.
Where do you get those teeny mason jars, they are too cute. Must find some soon. I’m in Ontario, do you usually find them at the grocery store???
Thanks!
I think I got the small ones at Wal-Mart in their canning/kitchen section :)
Oh boy I could just dive into that!
Also, meant to say I love your new favicon :)
Thanks!
I won’t tell you how long it took me to create one. LOL
I’m sure we could compete for “most hours wasted figuring out favicons” :)
Why do you always make the BESTTT recipes?! I wish I could come up with the amazing things that you do! Thanks for sharing girly :)
Oh my goodness, hemp, chia, almonds, and flax? What a nutritional powerhouse nut butter this is indeed! I am SO on it when I find some free- time in my busy schedule! Good call on ingredients!
Hey Angela,
I have two recipes from the vita prep cookbook, if you want to send your email to me I can scan them and send them off to you. One is hazelnut and the other is peanut or cashew butter.
Thanks Jennifer! I think I have the cookbook you speak of, I will have to check!
I’m sorry I can’t answer your question, but I do have some rather ground-breaking news: I finally got around to making my own coconut butter. I used my plain jane Oster blender, and it did a pretty great job. I wanted to make your vegan macaroons for a party this coming weekend, and am relieved/happy that the first step worked out so well.
That is great!!!
I have heard such great things about the Oster!
o.my. must make asap :)
I miss my almond butter!
This looks fantastic.
I’m with Eric, I HATE nut butters, peanut, soynut, almost – you name it – what is wrong with me? I enjoyed the post nonetheless, I just cannot get excited about ground up gooey nuts!
I’m dying to make my own almond butter but I’m not sure if my food processor can handle it. Do you think a small 3-cup Cuisinart will do the job?
I have never made my own almond butter because I don’t have a food processor … but this recipe is reason enough to go and buy one!
Oh man, I came buy to drool over the nut butter again before I leave work for the day (I’m sad) and I read a little more closely about the hubs coming into the kitchen. I read “I pity the fool” and totally laughed out loud in a dead silent office. Nice.
You can use the wet container to make nut butters with your vitamix. Just so you know, in the Vitamix recipe book, whenever you need to use the dry blade container, it is specified in the recipe. It is not specified for nut butters. There is an online demo on the vitamix site (can’t see the blade tho’), you may want to check it out.
Oop! here’s the link to the video on the vitamix site…
http://www.vitamix.com/household/infocenter/livedemo.asp
I’m pretty sure the dry VitaMix container is for milling flour from grains, not for nut butter. I’ve made nut butter in my VitaMix before, though, and it is such a pain to clean out from under the blade. It’s easier in a food processor. :)
Good Morning! This might help you to clean your Vitamix. Whenever I make something “gooey” that is hard to clean I put a few drops of dish soap and fill about a quarter of the way with water. Then I put the blender on high for about a minute or so… VIOLA! CLEAN!
Great photos, keep it up!!!
After reading the pasta post where you mentioned that Eric “forgot” to eat lunch, and now reading that he hates nut butter…I think I’ve come to the conclusion that he’s nuts (pun intended). Your nut butters look more amazing than any others I’ve seen! I’m afraid to think about how much nut butter I would eat if I lived in your house.
By the way, those almonds look like they’d be a yummy snack straight from the oven!
I love the addition of all the seeds in this!! I love experimenting with nut butters, too. that moment where it goes from a lumpy ball to a smooth, spreadable nut butter… It’s like magic :]
I just read your posts of your visit with Ashley, how fun! The nut butter sounds amazing! I will definitely be making this as soon as I return from Florida :) Your recipes have inspired me to try vegan diet for a week. I never realized the vast variety of vegan food! If you are ever in upstate NY, I would love to meet up with you!
Thank goodness for you + Ashley! You have both saved my life with these nut butters – not to mention my wallet! Naturally Nutty’s is my absolute FAVORITE nut butter around because of the smooth yet gritty texture, but at $8.99 a jar, they’re a little pricey. I will need to go pick up some hemp seeds to try your recipe out! Thanks for all your amazing recipes!
This post just seals the fact that I need a food processor!! Those voo and the nut butter both look so delicious- can’t wait to try them! :)
Okay, I’ve GOT to replace my burned out food processor so I can start making some of these delicious nut butters!
I can imagine how much fun the cleanup was. This nut butter looks tasty + delicious! I love adding flax to my nut butter to give it some crunch but I’ve never thought to add chia!
I didn’t read through all the comments (119!) so I’m assuming you already got your answer, but just in case you didn’t, YES you can make nut butter in the wet container of the Vita Mix. Actually the recipe book it comes with recommends using the wet container, not the dry. I always use the wet.
This nut butter looks amazing!! All of yours look amazing.
YUMMY, YUMMY, and MORE YUMMY! I live for nut butter and this one packs so much flavor and nutrition! Can’t wait to try it out! If only I had a vita mix :(
Some of my closest friends are women I’ve met through blogging, so I know the amazing feeling of really connecting in person for the first time when you were a bit nervous! Also… this nut butter…. YES YES YES.
I’m watching the Food Network as we speak (type) and Sandra Lee just sprayed her measuring cups with cooking spray so the honey and peanut butter easily come out of the measuring cups…pretty nifty, eh?! (thought it might be useful, lol)
Anywho, that almond butter looks heavenly!
LOVE your blog!! I make EVERYTHING in my Vitamix. I only have a “wet” container and all dry ingredients do fine. I just make sure that I mix all my dry ingredients first and set aside, if necessary. You can have nut butter in seconds! Just use the tamper that came with the blender to push down the ingredients to keep them moving. I’ve had my vitamix for almost 6 years, it was the BEST Valentines Day gift my hubby has ever gotten for me!!!
I’ve never tried making my own nut butter which is silly considering nut butter is really difficult to find where I live. I guess I always thought it was really complicated and difficult to make! Thanks for sharing, I will have to try this – it looks pretty easy!
This maple almond butter looks so good and makes me want to step out of the box a bit and try and make my own. YUM!
I don’t think you need a dry blade for the vitamix to make nut butter. I don’t have a dry blade although I have made “cookie dough balls” (all dry ingredients; cashews, dates and all) and it was totally fine! It was a bit scary because it made a bit more noise but there was no problem. I was worried.. actually scared I was going to ruin it too.. BUT thankfully it didn’t!
If you try it, please let me know how it works and maybe i’ll try my own.
Wow, this sounds and looks amazing. I don’t have a food processor and am afraid to try making nut butter in my blender. At least I can drool over you pictures!
How could someone not like nut butter? :)
Seriously, it’s probably my all-time favorite food – I’m not sure I could live without it!!
I love that I posted my own Cinnamon Maple Almond Butter inspired by Ashley on the same day as your fantastic post. I think next time we should just make a double batch together and share the clean-up.