I’ve been on a total nut butter gifting spree lately. By the time I’m finished rattling all these nuts in my food processor, I may need a very strong hearing aid. Eric is convinced I’m slowly going deaf, so I guess covering my ears for dear life while processing nuts isn’t helping much. These things should come with ear protection, don’t you think?
Mind you, this is coming from the guy whose subwoofer and surround sound used to blast me out of the house when he played his beloved Counterstrike game on his computer. He also likes to watch movies so loud, you feel like you’re sitting in an IMAX theatre and the floor is about to fall out from under you. Yes, I’m pretty sure he’s lost more hearing than I have.
Despite the noise, I love making nut butter – it just feels so gourmet and fancy, not to mention once you get the hang of it, it’s quite easy. Without a doubt, it has to be made in the right processor though. In the wrong processor, making nut butter can be a complete nightmare with engines blown out, powdery nuts, and even melted processor parts. I’ve experienced all of these in the past, which is why I don’t recommend making nut butter unless you have a high-powered, heavy-duty processor that can handle the task. I have a 12-cup Cuisinart processor and it works very well for making nut butter, although the lid can be a pain to clean at times.
There just so happens to be a lot of nut-butter crazed people in my life, all of whom are female. Coincidence? I made this Maple Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter for my sister Kristi, the peanut butter fanatic. I’m pretty excited for her to try this because I don’t think she’s ever been around to sample any of my homemade nut butters before! It’s currently traveling across the Canadian prairies and will soon be on her doorstep any minute now…that is, unless someone else gets to it first. Did I mention a customs dude once ate half a box of my Glo bars before proceeding with the shipment? I’m kinda paranoid now.
Chunky Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter
Yield
1 cup plus 6 tbsp
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
One of my all-time favourite homemade nut butters, if not the favourite!
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsalted roasted peanuts + 1/3 cup for later
- 1/2 cup raw unsalted macadamia nuts*
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon, or to taste
- 1/4 tsp fine grain sea salt, or to taste
- 5 tbsp Sucanat sugar*
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup raisins
Directions
- Place 2 cups of peanuts and macadamia nuts into food processor and process until the mixture resembles peanut butter, stopping to scrape down the side of the bowl if necessary. This can take up to 10 minutes.
- Process in the cinnamon, salt, Sucanat, and vanilla, adding gradually. The sweetener will at first thicken the peanut butter quite a bit, but keep processing and the heat will eventually melt the sugar and smooth out the nut butter once again. If it still looks too thick, keep processing!
- Pulse in the raisins and 1/3 cup of reserved peanuts, leaving it very chunky.
Tip:
- Macadamia nuts, thanks to their high oil content, create a super silky and decadent nut butter, however this recipe should work without it. It just might come out a bit thicker.
- I do not recommend subbing the dry granulated sugar for a liquid sweetener like maple syrup. Maple syrup has ruined batches of my nut butter in the past because it can thicken and create a strange texture in nut butter. If you don’t have Sucanat, brown sugar may work but you probably won’t need to use as much.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
Still to come – the double cookie dough balls and cookie dough nut butter I made for my sister Kerrie.
I’d love if some of you could share below if you’ve had success – or not – with your particular food processor brand (or blender) when making nut butter. I think this would be really helpful for those wondering if their machine will fit the bill! Share your horror stories and successes….
I’ll start with one of my own stories. Minutes after opening a brand new Kitchenaid food processor a few years ago, I decided to process some pitted honey dates. Did I mention they were dry as a bone? Yeah, bad idea. After only seconds of processing in my sparkly new machine, I managed to melt part of the plastic on the processing blade and overheat the machine rendering it useless. I had to send it back to be repaired (which luckily they did), but my processing confidence never fully recovered…
I want to dive into the canister of your food processor and never come out :)
Peanut butter, loaded with cinnamon-sugar, raisins – those are ome of my favorite things and flavors on earth! I bet this is just beyond words delicious! Your sister Kristi is a very lucky girl!
That is exactly what I was thinking! ;)
Looks SO good! I had one of those packets of Justin’s almond butter w/ maple and it was delicious so I can only imagine how amazing this would be!
I tried making nut butter in my regular blender. Let’s just say it didn’t work! :(
you ned a heavy duty one… =/ (like a vita mix or omni blend….)
Wow I didn’t know raisins could be put into nut butters what a wonderful gift and a great snack; I am hoping to get a food processor for Christmas!!
Oh my gosh!!! This sounds amazing!! I can’t wait to try it out, your sister is a very lucky girl!
Oh man! That’s not good for that Kitchenaid! I killed my mom’s old Cuisineart food processor trying to make almond butter a year or so ago. I think this recipe sounds great, almost like a gourmet PB&J in a spread. Wholesome though, not like those weird ones they sell at the grocery store. I use my Vitamix to make nubutters, but it is hard to control the chunkiness. I’ve been wanting a good food processor to do this stuff. One day.
This looks amazing.. anything packed with nuts and dried fruit is to die for. The best things about these types of butters is that they go great on ANYTHING and are a filling addition to toast, muffins, breads, etc. I peeked at my X-mas gifts this year and saw a little Vitamix sitting in the closet :X hehe can’t wait to make this with the new blender!
Can you get the Vitamix to make nut butter in the regular jug? I find it just sticks to the bottom and sides and never turns into butter.
I make nut butter in my regular Vitamix jug all the time. It takes a lot of “tamping” and a lot of “spatula scraping,” but it does work. Blend on high speed for longer than you think you have to!
OK thanks, I will just be more patient!
How did it turn out Clare??! Any luck nut buttering in the Vitamix?
I used to eat this kind of peanut butter by the spoonful while I was stressed in college. I bet your version is MUCH healthier!
I love macadamia nuts, especially with the maple flavors. I feel your pain on the liquid sweetener. I had a little accident with agave and a very expensive bag of mixed nuts. Nut syrup! :)
What a great sister you are! That looks awesome! I can’t believe someone ate your Glo bars, but then still delivered the package. You’d think they’d either not eat them or not deliver them. Weird.
I can’t wait to read all about the food processor’s- if I don’t get one for Christmas, I’m buying myself one in the New Year! Then I can start making so many more recipes that you post! First up- nut butter :)
yea it was so strange. They ate several of the bars (or someone did anyway) and then left the empty wrappers in the box! My customer sent me a pic of it. Of course, she got a new box shipped to her, but still it was embarassing!
I love making nut butters too, but the sound drives everyone in the house crazy (including myself)!
I just got a Hamilton Beach food processor. Does anyone know how they do with nut butters?
I bet using maple sugar instead of the sugar would really make this thing shine.
I have a cuisinart and I keep telling my self that I need to try making nutbutter, but I just never have even though I’m a total nutbutter fanatic. That’s it…I’m going to attempt this, this week! Can’t wait to see your recipe for the cookie dough nutbutter!
Another winning nut butter recipe! I’m making your vegan nutella for my family!!
Oh yeah babe! I’m so making this. Macadamia nuts make everything better!
I’m on my first food processor, a cheapie which has served me well. I wanted to prove to myself I’d actally use it before investing in a better one. Sometimes if I’m processing something requiring a little more oomph like this it’ll smell like it’s going to catch fire. Good times!
I still have never tried making nut butter at home, but you are starting to convince me!!
I’m really hoping I get a food processor for Christmas!
This nut butter looks great. I’ve been wanting to make my own nut butters, but, alas NO food processor! (hint, hint to my family!)
Yum! How do I get on your holiday gift list?!
Just wondering what makes this maple. What am I missing?
In the recipe is says you can use maple syrup, but it sometimes messes with the texture. I was thinking the same thing.
I should have clarified more in the post that it has a bit of a maple flavour to it, which I think was from the Sucanat. Sorry for the confusing name, I will clarify.
AMAZING! This looks just unbelievable. I wish I lived near you and was friends with you so I could get such splendid gifts. Alas, an ocean is very inconveniently separates us. I hope to get myself a Vitamix in the new year, so I should be able to make this myself!