Almond butter is full of healthy monounsaturated fats that our bodies need. Not only is it healthier than peanut butter due to its higher concentration of minerals, vitamins, and fiber but it is super easy to make yourself. This article will look at the benefits of almond butter, how you can rustle up a jar yourself, some meal ideas and answering any questions you may have such as does almond butter go bad? The answer being yes... Almond butter is perishable.
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Benefits Of Almond Butter
There are lots of benefits of eating almonds and because almond butter is essential pure almonds blended, each teaspoon is loaded with these benefits too. They are packed with antioxidants, vitamin E and magnesium. They actively reduce cholesterol, can help manage blood sugar levels and help you to feel fuller for longer which is great if you are on a diet!
Homemade Almond Butter Recipe
You can buy a great jar of almond butter from the store, but they are generally much more expensive and don't taste anywhere near as rich and creamy as your homemade jar will do. The recipe is super simple and takes around 40 minutes from start to finish.
What you need:
- A good food processor
- 16 ounces (3 cups) of raw almonds
- tsp salt
- tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey (optional)
- tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Instruction
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spread your almonds over a baking tray and roast for ten minutes turning halfway through.
- Allow your almonds to cool, not cold but warm (approximately ten minutes)
- Add your almonds to your blender or food processor. Here patience is the key. It can take a good 20 minutes to get the consistency right and you will need to keep pausing and scraping the paste into a ball. Keep an eye on the heat too, if your mixture gets too hot - pause and let it cool for a few minutes.
- When you have the smooth and creamy mixture you can add your optional extras, if you prefer to keep it plain it still tastes delicious!
What to Eat with Almond Butter -
Meal And Snack Ideas
Swap out the peanut butter for almond butter in your PBJ sandwich, and for a twist go for a black cherry jam, it really makes the almonds pop.
Mix it up with some low-fat Greek yogurt or cream cheese and you have yourself a nutty dip which goes great with crudites.
Add a tablespoon to your morning cereal stirring it into your milk (or milk alternative - black sesame milk) and it gives your bowl a nice nutty taste - a great way to start the day or a good afternoon snack.
Spread it on warm toast, freshly fried pancakes or waffles, it is super delicious!
Does Almond Butter Go Bad?
As with any nut preserve, almond butter will perish. The fats in the almonds over time will attract elements that will eventually make your almond butter go bad. If you purchase almond butter from the store it can last a few months before it starts to perish due to the added preservatives but homemade butter has a much shorter shelf life.
How To Know If My Almond Butter Is Bad?
The biggest indicators of spoilt almond butter are visual - the start of mold will begin to show and the butter will darken starting at the edges. The texture will change from creamy to hard and you may start to see some separation. And it will lose its glorious nutty smell and instead, it will smell sour and rancid.
How Can I Extend It's Shelf Life? Does Almond Butter Need to be Refrigerated
First, buy quality organic almonds as these will last longer when blended. Second try not to buy pre-roasted almonds as you do not know how long ago they were roasted, and their cells may have already begun to break down. And finally store in a clean, sterile airtight container in the refrigerator.
So if you haven't already started blending up a jar of your own almond butter, then you should consider it because it is not only cheaper, healthier and tastier than a store-bought option, you can also easily make it last a few weeks before it starts to go bad which means you can use it in lots of dishes and snacks!
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