When it comes to making nut butter, you can work with almond, cashew and sesame seeds, etc. Most people out there believe that making nut butter is actually a daunting task. In fact, it is quite the opposite. All you need is the right ingredients and technique, and you are good to go. If it is your first time experimenting with nut butter, you can expect some mistakes.
Important Tips for Nut Butter Recipes
Making the Right Amount of Nut Butter
Making the right amount of nut butter is the first thing you need to consider. It is assumed that the process will require a lot of nuts. In fact, you need more nuts to make the right amount of nut butter. Plus, you are going to need a blender as well.
To come up with the right amount, fill the blender with nuts to cover the blade. The amount should also go well above the bottom of the temper. Depending on the type of nut butter you intend to make, the minimum amount will vary.
However, as a general rule of thumb, you should opt for 3 cups for a 32oz container, 3.5 cups for a 48oz container, 3.5 cups for a 64oz container, and 4 cups for a 64oz container. It is quite often that people tend to overfill the machine. As a result, you might end up with thicker nut butter, which is heavy on the stomach. Therefore, use a moderate amount.
Use Roasted Nuts for Your Nut Butters
You should always use roasted nuts for your nut butter. Not only because they taste better but also because they contain oils that help turn the nuts into butter easily. There are two ways of getting roasted nuts; either you can purchase them from a local store or make your own.
To make your own roasted nuts, simply grab a cookie sheet and lay the roasted nuts on it. Next, bake them at 350F for around 10-15 minutes. Roasting removes the oils from the nuts, and once they become hot, they will remain hot for several hours.
Remember that your nuts will continue to roast even after taking them out of the oven. Therefore, be careful not to burn them. Here are also some important facts about the benefits of Macadamia Nut Butter.
Store-Bought Roasted Nuts
There are two types of roasted nuts usually offered in local stores, roasted nuts and dry-roasted nuts. Roasted nuts are roasted in oil. These nuts not only contain the oils that are naturally released but also the oils they were roasted in.
On the other hand, dry roasted nuts are similar to roasting nuts at your home without any oils. However, dry roasted nuts, as compared to roasted nuts, are relatively difficult to turn into butter. Plus, these nuts are mostly preferred by health-conscious people.
Use Correctly Situated Nuts
While using nuts, you need to steer clear of using the ones with moisture. Even if there is a small amount of water, it will lead to an oil and water effect, ruining the recipe. However, you can soak the nuts before turning them into nut butter. Just make sure they are completely dried before moving on to the next step.
Experts suggest that you use chilled nuts and for a good reason. Nut butter made in blenders causes a lot of friction. Friction leads to heat, which is not bad, but the problem might lead to overheating. This will affect not only the machine but might also burn the nuts. So, if the temperature was to reach 250F, the container could melt, and that is the last thing you would want.
Using Oils in Your Nut Butters
Nuts having oils tend to make the process of making nut butter easy. The more the oil, the easier and creamier the butter will be. Different types of nuts have varying amounts of oils. Therefore, if you are using peanuts, almonds, or cashews, you need to first figure out the number of oils they contain. This will determine the number of nuts you are going to need.
Therefore, if you are using nuts that are not roasted, you will need a bit of oil. You should opt for oils that are flavorless and packed with micronutrients, such as hemp and flaxseed oil.
Use High Speed to Make Nut Butters
You need your blending machine to work at high speed to make nut butter. You can start from low speed but then quickly ramp up the speed to not harm the machine. Ensure that the fans are also working so that the machine is not harmed during the process due to overheating. Additionally, using the machine at a slow speed is going to harm the machine.
Using the Tamper Correctly
You are going to need a tamper if you plan on making creamy nut butter. Plus, you should utilize the correct technique for thick blends. Do not worry about the tamper touching the blade. It is designed to push the nuts down. In simple words, a tamper feeds the nuts to the blade so that it can turn them into butter.
Mastering the Timing
Using a blending machine to make nut butter is an art. You need to master the timing. This means that you should consider many variables such as the amount of oil added, oils in the nuts and types of nuts, etc. Once you begin processing, you need to hear what your blending machine is saying. The noise can tell a lot about whether things are going right or wrong. Moreover, you should not blend for more than two minutes to make nut butter. However, if you wish to come up with a creamy and thick final result, you should blend slower.
Use Different Nuts
If you are looking for a fuller and earthier flavor in your nut butter, then use a mix of various types of nuts. It adds a certain complexity to the butter that is unmatched. You can add a blend of almonds, cashews, and walnuts. Using cashews helps your butter achieve a natural sweetness that enhances the taste of the butter.
Tips for Serving Nut Butter
Nut butter is the tastiest butter that can easily add depth to any dish it is served with. Consider the following tips for serving nut butter and impressing your friends and family:
- Spread your favorite nut butter with a drizzle of honey on a warm toast.
- Add flavor to your oatmeal by swirling in your favorite nut butter.
- Add the prepared nut butter to the peanut butter dip and serve it with fruit slices.
- Make peanut butter cups with your creamy nut butter.
- Use it in frozen yogurt cups.
- Whip up delicious gooey fudgy nut butter stuffed brownies.
- If you have not tried baked sweet potatoes in breakfast yet, it is high time to have them topped with a drizzle of nut butter.
Storing the Nut Butter
Your nut butter will have a perfect consistency when you stop blending it in the processor because of the heat generated by the machine. This consistency makes it relatively easy to transfer the nut butter to an airtight container or jar. However, you should refrigerate nut butter immediately when it comes to room temperature. Refrigerating the nut butter will provide you with a spreadable consistency. You can keep the nut butter stored in the fridge for about a week.
Final Result
Making nut butter successfully does not require a lot of effort and hard work. You simply need to consider the types of nuts you intend to use the amount of oil and master the art of timing. Even though these are minor steps but play a huge role in determining how the final result turns up. Keep in mind that your machine is designed to handle the task, so go ahead and give it a try.