What do you think of when you hear about almonds? If your first thought is that they are great for you, then you’d be right. Almonds are one of the healthiest foods that we can eat and have a historical reputation as a royal food. With almonds being superior to peanuts, it makes sense why almond butter has come along. This butter is crunchy, creamy, and keto-friendly!
Almond Butter or Peanut Butter
Although similar in appearance and nutritional value, there is a difference between the two kinds of butter. They are both equal in calories and sugar content. But they stand apart in the fat content. Almond butter contains 25 percent more monounsaturated fats than peanut butter. It is also high in oleic acid, which means it is more heart-healthy. Peanut butter also has a higher saturated fat content and can raise cholesterol levels. Almond butter contains more vitamin E than peanut butter. Vitamin E is an essential vitamin that helps stop the buildup of plaque on your arteries that can lead to a heart attack.
The Benefits of Almond Butter
The health benefits of eating organic almond butter are substantial. It can lower your cholesterol and help maintain a healthy weight. It can also regulate blood sugar levels and prevent heart disease. A single serving of almond butter helps boost blood flow to the heart because of the magnesium in it. It is a top choice for those who have diabetes or are at risk of diabetes. The reason is that it has a low glycemic index. As a result, the food won’t spike your blood sugar levels. Women can consume a tablespoon of almond a few times a week to lower the risk of developing gallstones. They are a high energy food thanks to the vitamins and minerals that they contain along with the high protein content.
How to Make Almond Butter
Making smooth or crunchy almond butter at home is so easy and only takes one ingredient. Making almond butter at home has a few perks. You get to control the quality of the almonds used and the salt content. You also get bragging rights to tell your friends and family that you made almond butter from scratch.
Choose Your Almonds
When making almond butter, it is essential to use high-quality organic almonds. You can use nonorganic almonds, but their chemical treatment could be harmful to your health. Choosing organic almonds not only guarantees that they are free from chemicals, but it provides a better flavor in the final product. To get one jar’s worth of almond butter, you will need 1 pound of almonds, which is equal to 3 cups. If you would prefer almond butter with some crunch, additional almonds will be required.
Choose Your Tools
A food processor is a gold standard when making almond butter as it doesn’t require anything besides the almonds to create a smooth butter. Using a good quality food processor is vital because it will be running for about 20 minutes. If you do not have a food processor and would prefer to use a blender, you can do so, but it would require an additional ¼ cup of oil. Oil is not needed for a food processor since the almonds are being ground. As a result, they are warming up in the processor. This process releases the almonds’ natural oils.
Steps
- Preheat your oven to 350 degree
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and lay almonds in a single layer
- Warm almonds in the preheated oven for 10 minutes
- Transfer the almonds to a food processor with a lid and grind the almonds for around 25 minutes
- Scrap around the sides of the food processor to make sure all of the almonds are incorporated
- This step is optional, but if you would prefer a crunchy almond butter take an additional 1 cup of almonds and chop them then fold them into the creamy nut butter
- Store your nut butter in a mason jar in the fridge up to two weeks
What to Use It For
Congratulations on following the steps and making almond butter at home! Now it’s time to eat it. You can use almond butter just like you would peanut butter by spreading it on toast, making almond butter and jelly sandwich, using it in place of peanut butter in recipes, and even adding it to your protein shake. You can go nuts!
In Conclusion
Now we know that almond butter is superior to peanut butter because of the health benefits it offers. We know how to make our own organic smooth or crunchy almond butter and what to eat with it. We can all be a bit healthier by incorporating this butter into our daily lives and sharing it with our loved ones.
