We’ve been lied to, friends. It’s hard to imagine, but for years we’ve been buying ultra expensive almond butter as a nice alternative to your standard peanut, paying at least double the cost. And I feel a little dumb, it’s true, for not figuring this out sooner, but it is possible to DIY almond butter. Making homemade almond butter is neither hard nor complicated, but for some reason it never crossed my mind. Which is weird, since I have made cashew butter AND I buy those huge sacks of almonds from Costco for baking.

As it is mid-January, and many people are tightening their wallets, here for you is homemade almond butter. It could not actually be any easier if it tried. It’s essentially one ingredient – two if you count salt – costs about $2, and takes 15 minutes (if you roast the almonds and/or have a tired food processor like me).

Here you go. You might never buy almond butter again.

Homemade Almond Butter

Ingredients
3 cups of almonds
Pinch of salt

Method
If you want to roast your almonds before making almond butter, preheat your oven to 400° and spread a single layer of almonds on a baking sheet. Roast for five minutes, then give the pan a shake and roast for five minutes more. Allow to cool slightly (although I did not, and it was all fine).

If the almonds you have are already roasted, pop all 3 cups in your food processor. Use the pulse function to get things started. This chops the almonds into little tiny bits, and then progressively into almond meal, and then finally into a gritty paste.

Do not despair. Turn your food processor on high and let her go. You can add a pinch or two of salt at this stage. After a while, the almonds will begin to break down completely, and turn into almond butter. It’s like magic.

This recipe makes a little under three cups. Store it in your old almond butter jar in the fridge for about three weeks.

Notes
You can also get funky and artisanal like our Canadian neighbors to the north and add all kinds of delicious things to your homemade almond butter. Maybe some cinnamon. Add some cocoa powder and a little sugar. Toss in a handful of chia seeds and coconut.

If you are making additions that need to be incorporated, but not necessarily puréed, add them after the DIY almond butter comes together and pulse to incorporate.