If you’ve ever been to Canada, then you know this country’s obsession with maple. The second you cross the border you are bombarded with all things maple. If you didn’t know any better you would think Canadians lived off a diet of maple cookies washed down with pure maple syrup.
Though I can’t speak for all, many Canadians struggle with what it means to be a Canuck. Besides Celine Dion, hockey and definitely maple syrup we don’t have anything that stands out as distinctly Canadian. Okay, maybe poutine. As a result Canadians can be extremely pushy about their maple syrup. Unless you’re my roommate who insists on Aunt Jemima, you proudly eat the real stuff (I still love you Sab!).
Unlike most grade schoolers who go on field trips to the zoo or the acquiarium, Canadians visit The Sugar Shack where we stand in the freezing cold and witness the arduous task of making maple syrup. It’s sad to me that Canadians try so desperately to find an identity. What I love most about this country is how multicultural we are. This is especially true in Toronto where you are surrounded by an infinite number of languages and cultures. We should pride ourselves on the fact that everyone is different, rather than one cohesive personality.
Maple is pretty damn good, but Canadians are so much more than a sugary condiment!
Maple Cinnamon Sunbutter
by
Prep Time: 10 mins
Keywords: blender raw dairy-free gluten-free vegan nut-free sunflower seeds
Ingredients (Yields: 1 cup)
- 2 cups raw, unsalted sunflower seeds
- 1 T coconut oil, melted
- 1 T maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions
1. Add sunflower seeds to a food processor and process for 2 mins.
2. Add in coconut oil and maple syrup and continue processing until butter is smooth. May take several minutes. Scrape sides as necessary.
3. Add in vanilla, cinnamon and sea salt and process until well-combined.
4. Keep at room temperature for several weeks or longer in refrigerator (but will harden in fridge).
Have you ever been to Canada? Does your country have a national identity?
JOIN THE THM NEWSLETTER
Join 20,000+ members of the THM Community to get access to exclusive recipes, healthy lifestyle tips and behind-the-scenes news from our team!
117 Comments
Becky @ Olives n Wine
January 9, 2014 at 5:56 pmAunt Jamima??! I can’t get over that! But this nut butter is something I could definitely get down with. Real syrup fo sho!
Rose
January 9, 2014 at 4:50 pm100% Canadian here 🙂
I don’t know, does any country have such a specific “identity”? I’m not really sure what I’d call Americans.. (welll I can think of a few choice words… just kidding!!!).
Canada to me is overly polite, hockey loving, maple syrup and butter tarts, and that good ‘ol accent, eh?
When I here Mike Babcock speak I laugh because he just sounds sooo Canadian.. and I’m not sure anyone reading a healthy cooking blog will know who that is but it sure helps my Canadian ID? 😉
Recipe looks delish, I keep meaning to see what the hype is over sunbutter!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
January 12, 2014 at 11:05 pmI actually had to google him haha and then watched a youtube video and he sounds SO Canadian! Woah!
How could I forget butter tarts?!?! The best Canadian invention ever!
Maria @ Little Miss Cornucopia
January 9, 2014 at 4:37 pmHonestly, I am not such a big fan of sunbutter. But gosh, the stuff you made here sounds incredible! If I take a jar of sunbutter and add the ingredients you list here to it..I wonder if that might work? I’ve done that before with other nutbutters..added pure maple syrup (of course), cinnamon, salt, chocolate, and more. I may have to try it out.. 😀
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
January 12, 2014 at 11:00 pmDefinitely an acquired taste! I used to hate it and am very particular but I have so come around!
Mitchell
January 9, 2014 at 4:35 pmThere are three things I associate with Canada: Maple Syrup, Joni Mitchell and Poutine.
I’ll let you guess which is my favourite of them 😉
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
January 12, 2014 at 10:58 pmohhhh Joni! Each has a special place in my heart, not sure that I could choose a favourite! And if you’re anything like me then you couldn’t either 😉
Arman @ thebigmansworld
January 9, 2014 at 4:18 pmI just messaged my mum telling her I’m forwarding her a recipe to make in her food processor. Since I ran out of Sunbutter and love the hint of sweetness- You got me covered. STOP CHURNING OUT RECIPES! I already have the morning glory muffins on my list to make first thing in Sydney for food prep!
Why didn’t I know you in 2011? fail.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
January 12, 2014 at 10:57 pmYou wouldn’t have wanted to know me in 2011. Height of my rave days. NSFW big time!
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves
January 9, 2014 at 3:55 pmCanada is basically my second home country! I actually have dual citizenship— US and Canada. Nearly all of my relatives live there, so I’ve been up there almost every year of my life. I must say, the maple syrup is pretty fantastic. As are the maple cookies and poutine 😉 The best thing in Toronto though? The Asian food…the DIM SUM? Can’t beat it.
I’m obsessed with sunflower seed butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon, so this looks like the perfect recipe! Thanks for sharing, Davida!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
January 12, 2014 at 10:56 pmLOVE Dim sum!!! Did you go in China town? So good!
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves
January 13, 2014 at 9:18 amAll the time! We go to dim sum on a daily basis whenever we’re there.
Parita @ myinnershakti
January 9, 2014 at 2:51 pmI haven’t been to Canada in years! Would love to visit again – all the pics I see are gorgeous!
And your post reminded me that I need to buy a better food processor. I’m missing out!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
January 12, 2014 at 10:55 pmI really think you should visit again 😉
Jess @ JessieBear What Will You Wear?
January 9, 2014 at 2:49 pmStooooop, we have the same brain. I literally made maple sunbutter last night with some cinnamon, coconut sugar and maple extract (didn’t have any on hand and my grocery closed down so now I have to walk a reeeeeally long way to get anything… definitely going to start getting more creative in the kitchen with what i have on hand haha)
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
January 12, 2014 at 10:54 pmGreat minds think alike 😉
Em @ Love A Latte
January 9, 2014 at 2:17 pmI went to Vancouver in August 2012 and loved it so much. I went to Toronto to see the Lion King play when I was little and don’t remember too much. That sunbutter looks so tasty!!! Makes me want toast.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
January 12, 2014 at 10:52 pmI think that means you should probably come visit Toronto again 😉
Shikha @ Shikha la mode
January 9, 2014 at 2:11 pmWow, this is so unusual and awesome! I’ve visited Toronto a couple times and definitely come back with loads of maple syrup in tow. Also, I love poutine and am jealous that you guys have it, so flaunt those fries!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
January 12, 2014 at 10:51 pmYou better bet I flaunted them last night at 2:00 AM 😉
Kat
January 9, 2014 at 1:48 pmI loooooove sunbutter!! I seriously eat sunflower seeds by the BAGful, so that probably explains it 😉 And seeing as how Im a huge Celine fan as well as a hockey lover, you think you’re country would accept me? 😉
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
January 12, 2014 at 10:50 pmStamp of approval from me!
Amanda
January 9, 2014 at 1:33 pmMaking this! National identity: obesity. 🙂
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
January 12, 2014 at 10:49 pmEver been to an amusement park in New Hampshire? Obesity at it’s finest!