[sarasprings]

The peanut butter/egg allergy question below had me thinking...

Is it possible to make nut butters in a food processor? I was thinking of trying it (we eat cashew nut butter, but I want to branch out), but haven't had the nerve to experiment.

Also, my cousin told me recently that walnuts are suppose to be good for us -- something about reducing dementia. Has anyone else heard that? IS there any nut that is "better" to use for nut butters? Would mixing nuts for a nut butter be good?

I know I have a cooking light from last year that had nut butter recipes. I guess I should try finding it!

Thanks for your help.

 

[Mothernature]

I have that same Cooking Light issue and I was also inspired to start making my own nut butters. I have made almond butter, hazelnut butter and cashew butter. I could not get the nuts to turn into butter with just the food processor. In fact, what I got was nut dust. I set my processor and went away and came back and still had just dust. I ended up adding almond oil to the recipe which turned out great.

I don't know why you couldn't mix nuts. That actually sounds pretty good. My favorite is almond butter, but the hazelnut butter turned out very good. Don't be afraid to play around with it. You may have to add some oil to it like I did. Remember not to use an oil with too strong of a flavor. Also, since you won't be cooking the butter, you don't have to worry about the trans fats from certain oils. I chose almond because it was the least costly of the nut oils I had to choose from (and because I made almond butter first.) I suppose sunflower seed oil would work too. I wonder how sunflower seed butter would taste? Hmmm. Now I have a new project.

 

[BusyMommy]

Hey, I've always just assumed you pour in a bag of nuts and the butter appears at the other end w/no oil, etc.

:

But, I do know you need a special "machine." I'm saving my pennies to buy the Omega juicer which makes nut butters easily. It's about $300 in town. I really no nothing about juicers but our health food store said this was the cheapest one that does it.

 

[Mothernature]

I have an Omega Juicer (gift from dh's grandmother) and I really can't imagine putting nuts in it at all. I would think the nutbutter would really muck up the machine. I guess I could try it and let you know.

If it makes a nasty mess I can save you some $$$. I'll make that a project for when dh is at work.

 

[BusyMommy]

Hmmmm...are there diff kinds? The guy recommended it to me! But, not that that means anything ya know...

:

Thank you!

 

[MamaMonica]

I have a Vita Mix which is supposed to make nut butters- but I haven't used it for that. I do throw sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and walnuts directly into the machine with garbanzo beans to make hummus and everything comes out creamy, so I'm guessing it would work well.

I also threw a whole carrot in with the stuff for hummus and it came out delicious and was ground up smoothly- just turned the hummus a beautiful orange.

 

[MaggiesMom]

Quote:

I wonder how sunflower seed butter would taste? Hmmm. Now I have a new project.

I've been wanting to try this, so if you do make it, let me know how it turns out.

(dd hates the noise, so I don't get to experiment much.)

 

[ChristieB]

The Champion Juicer makes nut butters. I have one, but I have yet to try it. If I try it soon, I'll let you know how it goes. It's in the owners manual, though, with instructions and everything. I don't know how it compares in price with the Omega Juicer. Ours is about 10 yrs. old and a gift at that.