Thursday, January 23, 2014

Homemade Peanut Butter

You would not believe how easy making peanut butter is.
I absolutely LOVE anything homemade,
especially when it's this easy.
The reason why I make my own peanut butter, is not merely a money saving idea, 
although it's actually cheaper to make your own if you buy peanuts in bulk (1-5 lb)
What's scary about the peanut butter we find at grocery stores, are the other ingredients listed beside peanut butter.
Even organic and more natural pb, can contain high levels of sodium and sugar.
So what does my peanut butter contain?
All you need is really just peanuts, but I add some agave to make it slightly sweet.

I use unsalted roasted peanuts.
I buy them in 5lb bulk, and the price I paid for it varies from $2.50 to $4 per lb.

So here is how to make it.
Use 1 c of roasted peanuts (at the time), and put in your blender/food processor.
Blend until it looks like this
and some more until it looks like this
and a little more until it looks creamy like this.
It takes about 5 minutes to get from peanuts to peanut butter.
 It will have the same consistency of a natural peanut butter, but that will depend on how powerful your blender is. 
If you have a Vitamix, it will make it super creamy...even with a  Ninja blender.
I just have a regular blender.
I don't add any oil(s) in mine, since peanuts have enough "oily fat" on their own.
When it's all done and creamy, I add  
1 Tablespoons of agave OR honey.
No salt added for us.
You could really leave it as is. 
Just Peanuts.

***1 cup (250gr) of peanuts makes about 1/2 cup of peanut butter. You can keep it in the fridge (like other natural peanut butter) and it will last for a couple of months, but we keep it out and usually eat it within a week***

I also make Almond butter as a spread, when I have almonds available.  
For that, I do add coconut oil to it.
See here for the recipe.

An healthy diet does not have to cost an arm and a leg...and it's not rocket science.

Stay Frugal,
Daniela

Linking to
Savvy Southern Style


16 comments:

Ivy, Phyllis and Me! said...

Good Afternoon Daniela, I love anything homemade, but I have never thought of making peanut butter, but now seeing how simple it is, I am certainly going to be making it.
Like you, I was surprised to learn how much sugar was added to peanut butter.... actually the amount of salt and sugar was staggering. Can I ask how long the homemade peanut butter lasts, because as there is only George and I, it will not be eaten in huge amounts.
Thank you for the instructions, next time I visit the market I will be buying peanuts.
Best Wishes
Daphne

Colleen said...

Thanks for the recipe.
I will be making this in small batches at a time being it's just hubby and myself.
Would also like to know just how much the creamed mixture it makes;1 pint, 2 pints? Also, how long will it keep in the frig?
Thank you
Colleen
Texas

Donna@anangloinquébec said...

I agree. I really get turned off of all the extras. I buy mine at a health food store...it says it is simply peanuts but now I wonder? I don't eat enough peanut butter but the almond butter is something we really love so I will make that. It is really expensive to buy and they seem to sell more of the roasted almond butter which I don't like.

Amy of While Wearing Heels said...

You are impressive. I don't think I would have thought to make my own peanut butter. You make it sound so easy.

Kelly said...

I bet that's really good. I've never made homemade peanut butter before. How do you store it and how long does it last?

Carla from The River said...

Wow...I never would have known. Thank you for posting.
I enjoy Almond Butter, yet I had no idea it was that easy to make.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Great idea. Hmmm, I have a bunch of peanuts left over from Christmas.

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Daniela,
Oh, most people will have no idea about how much sugar peanut butter contains + sodium. I only buy almond butter at Trader Joe's but making our own would work just fine, like making your own peanut butter.
Hugs,
Mariette

Marissa said...

You make it sound so easy. I would probably ruing it. I need to eat more peanut butter..

NanaDiana said...

Dani- I used to make our peanut butter, too. I don't make it anymore now that the kids are gone. We don't use much of it at all. You are such a smart cookie! xo Diana

td said...

Years ago, my brother used to work in a natural food store and would bring home freshly ground nut butters all the time. i remember I gained so much weight and actually became sick of PB for a while. My FAVOURITE was cashew butter. I still use them all for cooking and sometimes get the powdered peanuts at Indian stores.They are delish, but I'm going to try to make some fresh now that you've inspired me. definitely no stevia for me, but maybe a little honey!

Danni@SiloHillFarm said...

I have never made my own peanut butter, but I should, because I love it! I'm intrigued. Do you have to keep it in the fridge and is it thicker and harder to spread if you do? I kind of like it on toast when it gets all melty, but I'm wondering if having it in the fridge would just make my toast cold. What do you think?

Unknown said...

I love peanut butter and would probably love it home made since it's even healthier! I may just give this a try.

Heather @ The Beating Hearth said...

What a great idea. I am often shocked at the additives that go in our food. That's the reason I started making my own bread and yogurt from scratch. Great post!

andi filante said...

Am I the only one who LOVES peanut butter on bread with her chili? Some people think I'm crazy. Or nuts. :P And I just happen to have some chili in the fridge...now I have to get peanuts!

-andi

Libby said...

Perfect recipes! Thanks for sharing them. My grandmother lives in a town with a peanut factory and my mom always purchases those to send as gifts for Christmas. This year I gave some raw peanuts for gifts and decided to keep some for myself to try to make my own peanut butter. So, thanks for this recipe. :-)