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…
Featuring all new, protein-packed salads, hearty toppers, flavour boosters, and dressings you'll want to drink, my new cookbook will transform the way you think about salads. Oh, and be sure to flip to the back for a surprise dessert chapter!
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.
Wow, what a GREAT idea! Thank you so much for sharing this- I never thought of cramming so much healthy, nutritious stuff into MIXED nut butter! You are brilliant. :)
Wow, I didn’t even know I wanted to make nut butter until I saw this. Funny the timing, I was just thinking I needed to break down and buy some nut butter. I have been off peanut butter for some time because of the aflatoxin issue (among other things). But, on a relatively tight budget these days, have a hard time shelling out (if you pardon the pun) for a better quality nut butter. This was ideal, I had all the ingredients on hand and have a 7-cup Kitchenaid – I thought it might be a stretch but after about 15 minutes of starting, stopping and scraping, it started to resemble nut butter instead of nut crumbs. Thanks Angela, the recipe is easy and super nommy, I know I will make this again and again :)
I never would have considered making my own nut butter! Challenge accepted!
I can’t even tell you how much I love homemade nut butters! These days, a nut butter with just one kind of nut or seed seems boring to me–gotta have at least 2 or 3 in combo! And this mix sounds divine. So glad you like the Cuisinart–I love mine! I also have the 14 cup but don’t have the crumb problem. . . but mine is an older model, so maybe they need to go backwards in their production? ;-)
Yum, Ange!
This look awesome! I love that you mixed it up- I love using a combo, recently I’ve been making peanut, sunflower, flax butter. Yummo
After I blew up two cheap processors and two blenders my hubby bought me a KENWOOD MULTIPRO and.. rather seriously, it is the third person in our relationship. I wanted a CuisineArt but they are hard to come by in NZ. I make a lot of nut butter. So far I have only managed to blow up the minimill part of it, which I was using for smashing the nuts before putting them in the main processor. I thought this might save the blades, but it only broke the minimill. At that point I discovered that it’s only the MOTOR that has a lifetime warranty (booyah!), not the plastic attachments. The only thing I’d love, that it doesn’t have, is a grinder for mulching things like frozen banana’s and making essene bread from sprouted grains. For that I’m fantasising about a champion juicer, but considering it costs as much as a trip to Europe to see my niece, it may be a long time before I fulfil that dream. :D
Oh yum, that sounds amazing, thanks for sharing!
I just wanted to tell you that I made this last night, and holy cow, it was SOOOOOOO good – especially fresh from the blender while still warm. It took all of my self-control not to eat the entire thing. :) Thank you so much for the recipe!
glad to hear that Lucy!
I have the same one! I LOVE it! I use him so much I named him Zach!! Have a great weekend!
If you don’t want to spend big bucks another good food processor is a Hamilton beach at target for 49 dollars. Really good one!
I didn’t get a chance to read this yesterday, but I have the same Cuisinart! Mine has three bowls — the 14 cup, 11 cup and a smaller one. I LOVE it. I use it all the time. I had a smaller Krups one before, and it just doesn’t hold a candle to the Cuisinart. I have the same problem with cleaning the lid — gunk always gets stuck up under the rubber gasket, and we have used creative methods to clean it out. All in all, though, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Glad you like yours!
Have you tried adding dried fruits to mixer along with nuts, especially coconut mixed in with a whole bunch of others. It is so good. Like PB and Jelly or candy in one bite!
Yes, I made one with dried cherries :)
Hi Angela – I want to make your Fruity Baked Oatmeal w Crunchy Cinnamon Almond Topping for breakfast tomorrow morning. My parents are in town and I know they’d love it! Is this something I could prepare tonight (the night before), and then bake in the morning? Or do you think it’s best done in the am? Have a great weekend!
Oh man this convinces me that I need to a food processor to my “necessary kitchen tools” list. Or any sort of blender.
I want to make butters!
Oh this looks awesome! Love how much nutrition you’ve packed into that nut butter. We have a cuisinart food processor (mind you it’s in storage atm) and it’s super reliable. It’s an oldie but a goodie!
i love your new cover photo! it suits you the best out of all you’ve had!
Several months ago we had to replace our ancient food processor (engine still worked well but the lid locking mechanism died, D:) and since discovering/falling in love with the shopping channel on tv, mom decided on a Wolfgang Puck model offered through by them.
It’s actually pretty handy and survived its 1st “let’s make some raw almond butter!” trial.
The Vita-Mix, on the other hand, did not do so well. Steamed almond butter? Not too palatable, I dare say… :/
My question is, since I’m not that adept at nut butters yet, are roasted/lightly-roasted nuts easier on the engine than raw ones?
I’d hate to overwork the Puck with churning out raw butters if roasted nuts aren’t as damaging…
P.S.: Wonderful new banner! I adore the colours and composition!
Love the new header!
& that nut butter sounds amazing. Did you know that sea salt has trace minerals that most people are deficient in?
Food processor is DEFINITELY the most important appliance in the kitchen. You can do ANYTHING with it!
Oh I’m glad your Cuisinart is working out for you – I just bought the 11 cup one, and the motor died in the first day :( Now I’m trying to get a replacement through the company, but unfortunately it’s becoming a very drawn out process…. argh I miss making nut butters!!!