Vanilla Sea Salt Almond Butter Recipe

Creamy vanilla sea salt almond butter recipe made with fresh vanilla bean, chunky sea salt and lightly roasted almonds. The perfect spread for your toast, oatmeal or favorite smoothie recipe. Or just eat on its own with a spoon!

Anyone else prefer almond butter to peanut butter? It feels blasphemous to say something like this but I’m telling you, homemade almond butter tastes superior!

As a full-time blogger and recipe developer I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and while I sometimes reach for pre-made pantry staples, truthfully nothing tastes as good as this homemade almond butter recipe.

This is my go-to hostess gift or holiday treat. It is so easy to make and is a fantastic homemade spin on almond butter. So if you’re looking to make your own almond butter recipe, I have got you covered!

Here’s What You Need

• Good quality almonds – very key! Try to buy organic when you can, Trader Joe’s and Amazon both have great options
• Unsweetened coconut – this adds a sweetness without having to add sugar
• Vanilla bean/Vanilla extract – either works but I’m partial to vanilla bean since it’s such a burst of flavor
• Sea salt – try to get thick and chunky sea salt, I find it adds the best flavor
• Cinnamon – is it possible to make anything without cinnamon (FYI no it isn’t), but like the coconut it adds sweetness without adding sugar
• A powerful food processor – I use this one and while this CAN technically be made in a high-speed blender, I find it’s faster and better consistency when made in a food processor.

How to Make This Almond Butter Recipe

STEP 1: ROAST ALMONDS

Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and bake at 350ºF for 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Watch carefully so the nuts don’t burn!

STEP 2: PROCESS COCONUT

Add the coconut to a food processor and begin processing and breaking down for 2-3 minutes.

STEP 3: PROCESS ALMOND BUTTER

Add the almonds to the food processor and continue to process until the nuts have fully broken down and combined with coconut. Stir in the vanilla extract, sea salt and cinnamon and continue to process until smooth and creamy or desired texture is reached. This can take up to 5-10 minutes – be patient and be sure to scrape down the sides occasionally to ensure even consistency.

STEP 4: STORE

Allow the nut butter to cool and add to a mason jar or sealed container.

How to Use Homemade Nut Butter

There are so many ways to use this almond butter recipe! Here are a few ideas:

• Add to oatmeal and smoothies (I love this almond butter overnight oats recipe)
• Make almond butter, banana and honey toast
• Mix into energy balls
• Drizzle on French toast, pancakes or even waffles!
• Stir into your morning yogurt parfait
• Gift it as a homemade gift!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why won’t my almonds break down? It takes A LOT of elbow grease for almonds to break down in your food processor (even more so in a blender so beware!). It can and usually does take at least 5-10 minutes of processing to get your almonds to break down.

Do I have to use coconut and cinnamon? No you do not! I find it adds a nice sweetness without having to add any sugar but if you don’t have or don’t like either you can absolutely skip them both.

Can I use a blender? Yes you can but please be sure to use a high-speed blender like a vitamix which can withstand the pressure of making almond butter. Again, this may take a little more time.

Can I use a different nut? Sure! But keep in mind that all nuts require a different amount of time to break down. Walnuts and pecans for instance will break down quickly while almonds, cashews and hazelnuts require more time. See below for some different nut butter recipe ideas.

Why is my almond butter recipe so oily? Almonds are a great source of healthy fat but this also means that when you break them down some of the oil may separate. This is normal and good! Simply mix back in for a creamy consistency.

How to Store Almond Butter

Store your almond butter in a mason jar or an airtight container for up to two weeks at room temperature. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. It will harden slightly in the fridge but still delicious!

More Nut Butter Recipes

• Spiced Walnut Butter
• Maple Syrup Pecan Butter
• Homemade Cashew Butter
• Mocha Hazelnut Butter
• Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almond Butter

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