Homemade Peanut Butter – Easy to Make at Home

This homemade peanut butter recipe is a snap to make at home with just a few simple ingredients. No unnecessary additives here!

Originally published in March 2016; this post has been updated.

Ingredients

The problem with most store-bought peanut butter is that it contains industrialized and often times hydrogenated oils. Amazingly, companies can also sneak in some processed sugar or high fructose corn syrup, which you want to avoid when making a healthier peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Peanuts — Search out roasted but unsalted for the best custom flavor. This way you get to control the saltiness of the finished product.

Oil — You can either use a refined coconut oil or a sustainably sourced palm oil. Remember that extra virgin coconut oil will add the flavor of coconut so if you want to avoid that select a refined coconut oil.

Sweetener — Add honey if you want things sweeter or just want a touch of that flavor. You can also leave it out completely.

One thing to note: This homemade peanut butter recipe will result in a spread that’s a little more gritty than store-bought peanut butter. A high-powered blender like a Blendtec or Vitamix, it’ll get you closer to that super smooth peanut buttery goodness you’re used to.

Either way, this homemade version is wholesome, spreadable, and oh-so-delicious with homemade bread and homemade jelly.

How to Make Peanut Butter

Place peanuts in a food processor or blender and blend on high for one minute.

Scrape down and blend again; it will be quite dry.

Scrape again – and blend some more! You will see it start to come together, but you’ll need to keep scraping as you blend.

Give it another whirl for a minute (so now we’re at 3 minutes). At this point, you’re close to the creaminess you love.

Scrape down the peanuts and add in the rest of your ingredients and blend once more.

Transfer to a jar, cover, and place in the refrigerator.

How to Make the Best PB&J

Homemade bread is really simple to make. It sounds a bit scary, and I was definitely intimidated the first time I made it, but I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was.

I typically either make a loaf of bread with einkorn flour because it’s my favorite to use (here’s why) or a really simple white sandwich bread recipe from my friend Tara (found below).

Here are a few homemade bread recipes on which to enjoy this homemade peanut butter recipe:

• Simple sourdough boule
• Classic Einkorn Sandwich Loaf
• Foolproof sandwich bread

If you want more information on yeast breads versus quick breads, check out this post. Also, if you’re taking the time to make homemade bread, don’t forget the linen wrap to keep it fresh and reduce the use of plastic in your home.

If you’re buying store-bought jelly, you want to make sure to read the label and look for any “red flag” ingredients: sugar (this often comes from genetically modified sugar beets), high fructose corn syrup, fructose, and any other ingredient that does not resemble an actual food product.

Making homemade jelly is a great way to regulate how much sugar goes into it, if you’re trying to watch your sugar intake. It’s also great if you have a bounty of fresh, ripe fruit that you either grew yourself or purchased in bulk from your favorite farmer. Here are a few homemade jelly recipes to get you started:

• Lilikoi (Passion Fruit) Jelly
• Peach Butter
• Strawberry Spread (a little thinner than regular jelly)
• Strawberry Chia Seed Jam

 

FAQs

Do I need to store fresh peanut butter in the fridge?

Some say it is shelf-stable, but from a food safety standpoint I’d much prefer to keep it in the fridge. Keep in mind that you may need to let it sit out some before using, as it will be quite hard. Especially if you used coconut oil, it will be very solid.

Are roasted nuts best for homemade peanut butter?

Absolutely! The roasting process loosens up the oils and also brings out the best flavor. It’s no different than toasting nuts before using in other recipes or placing atop salads. This way you will get the creamiest texture by starting with roasted peanuts.

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