I want to try making nut and seed butters at home, and guessing its interesting to mix different nuts and seeds.

Thinking almonds, macadamia, seasame, flax as a start.

Is anyone doing this, and can say how they do it, and recommend any machines that are good?

Many thanks

There are special machines for making nut butters.

I do not own any, but I have used them.

I normally use a "miracle mincer" (since it was cheaper) for this task .

Others use food processor or heavy duty blenders. You may need to add oil when using these.

some WFSs have machines to make your own nut butter instantly, once you purchase the quantity of nuts you wish to grind, right?

Yes.

But some people question how clean they keep the machines.

(In the US, it is more common to weigh the nuts after grinding than before.)

I use a food processor, and it makes nut butters that are as creamy as store-bought.  Always grind the nuts before adding oil because sometimes you don't need oil.  Roasting the nuts first brings out the flavor and the oil.

I have not attempted to make nut butters yet but if a food processor can do it, I am definitely trying! Thanks, everyone!

I've been afraid to buy nut butters from the stores that have it grinded. I read about the toxic mold. Didn't Dr. D post something about that it's better to buy them from the manufaturers because they have more stringent health laws on cleaning of their equipement and therefore there wouldn't be mold growing in the machines as with the stores that sell it 'fresh ground'?

I tried to make almond butter in my Vitamix and it over heated the motor. Annoying.  I was making it raw though. I haven't tried roasted yet. That's next.

Cook Right for Your Type, pg 33, states: 'Do not grind your own nut butters at HFS. This can result in dangerous levels of aflatoxin, a fungal poison.  All prepared nut butters are already tested for aflatoxin."

Quoted Text

I tried to make almond butter in my Vitamix and it over heated the motor.

Add a little oil


----

Hint on cleanup-Since you are never going to get all the butter out of the VitaMix jar; add a little water after removing most of the butter and make nut milk.

Other people use the left over butter as a base to start a smoothie.

I tried this once, but my food processor wasn't powerful enough. I had "sticky almond meal" (past almond meal but not quite almond butter) by the time I stopped because I was afraid I'd burn out the motor- it was already starting to overheat.

Quoted from Mayflowers

I tried to make almond butter in my Vitamix and it over heated the motor.

According to my Vita-mix cookbook, when making butter with almonds, add 1/2 cup oil for 4 cups of nuts.  I usually use olive oil, but whatever is compliant for you and tastes good to you should be fine...  Also, don't grind for longer than 4 minutes in the Vita-mix...

Hope this helps...

I use my champion juicer to make nut butters.   It is very easy to clean.   When making almond butter, I do use a little olive oil but also add dates to the nut butter.  It is delicious stuffed in celery.  

Nut butters are EXTRAORDINARILY easy to make...Copied from another thread on the subject -

"I use a food processor for this and feed some nuts in batches and grind until they stick to the sides of the processor.  You'll know this when the ground nuts don't "cave-in" on the blade any more.  Open, scrape down the sides and then run it again.  Check the consistency now... it should be soft and relatively finely ground, but not "buttery" yet.  

2. Put the ground nuts/seeds into a bowl and do another batch.  Repeat until you have the amount that you find acceptable.

3. Transfer the whole thing to a mixing bowl and whir at top speed with electric mixer (I use a Kitchen Aid mixer Paddle)  I recommend the Kitchen Aid with the paddle attachment if you have one, but if you do not I THINK a hand mixer would work, too.  

4.  Blend it top speed until it becomes creamy.  There is technically no reason that you would NEED to add oil to the mixture, as nuts have enough of their own natural oils in them.... they just need to be pulled out (that's why the mixer in the second step is needed).

5.  Mix in any desirables, such as salt, sweeteners, and spices (if wanted)..."

Looked in the recipe file with no luck... Has anyone got a recipe that makes an equivalent taste to peanut butter (without peanuts) that you can use for sates? Cheers

Quoted from Possum

Looked in the recipe file with no luck... Has anyone got a recipe that makes an equivalent taste to peanut butter (without peanuts) that you can use for sates? Cheers

Hey Possum

I do this with almond and macadamia nut butter, crushed garlic & onion, sea salt, chilli flakes, 1 x juice of lemon or lime and some blackstrap molasses. Have also used pineapple juice & ginger if at hand.

Sounds great!! Thanks so much!!

Quoted from C_sharp

Add a little oil.

I did. Still over heated the motor.


That's a good idea to use up the butter and clean the vitamix at the same time. thanks.

Quoted from ABJoe

According to my Vita-mix cookbook, when making butter with almonds, add 1/2 cup oil for 4 cups of nuts.  I usually use olive oil, but whatever is compliant for you and tastes good to you should be fine...  Also, don't grind for longer than 4 minutes in the Vita-mix...
Hope this helps...

I added oil but not a 1/2 cup. Wow that's a lot of added fat and calories!    Would it be easier to make in the food processor with less oil?

Quoted from Mayflowers

I added oil but not a 1/2 cup. Wow that's a lot of added fat and calories!    Would it be easier to make in the food processor with less oil?

I haven't been able to justify purchase of a food processor to make almond butter...  I have considered purchasing a juicer that will also make nut butter, but alas, funds and space being short, decided not to.

I've used my food processor to make nut butters, and it depends on the nut whether I add additional oil...walnuts, yes; almonds, no. Soaking the nuts also makes them less dry...

Quoted from Drea

I've used my food processor to make nut butters, and it depends on the nut whether I add additional oil...walnuts, yes; almonds, no. Soaking the nuts also makes them less dry...

Do you toast them before making butter after soaking?

I haven't, but I do like roasted almond butter from the store...hmmm. Remember, though, that toasting a soaked nut will render it dry again...

I love my Vitamix for sesame tahini and have never had a problem with the motor. I followed the directions from the recipe book. No oil needed. Seeds are slightly toasted.

I also made pumpkin butter but that was too dry without any oil.

I can't do much more than that since we have a life threatening nut allergeric son living in the house, so only uncontaminated seeds.

Lisa

Thanks all - appreciated!

I make nut butters and have blogged about them several times.

http://www.dadamo.com/B2blogs/blogs/blog1.php/recipes-sg/new-nut-butters

http://www.dadamo.com/B2blogs/blogs/blog1.php/earlier-blogs/nut-butter-variety

Great thread.