With their numerous health benefits and versatile taste, almonds make the perfect alternative to dairy for making butter. Almond butter retains the buttery taste and comes with additional health benefits of the nuts. Homemade almond butter has the flavour of warm, freshly roasted almonds and is incredibly thick and creamy. So, let’s take a look at how one can make almond butter at home.
Here are the ingredients required:
3 cups raw almonds
¼ teaspoon salt
Optional: ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional: ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Set the oven’s temperature to 176.6 degrees Celsius. Spread the almonds out over a sizable baking sheet with a rim, and roast them for 10 minutes, stirring once.
Allow the almonds to cool for about 10 minutes, or until they are warm (not hot).
Almonds should be added to a food processor or blender at high speed. Blend until creamy, pausing occasionally to scrape down the sides. It will take some time to blend, so have patience! As you continue to scrape down the sides and break up the ball, the almonds will transform from clumps that resembled flour into a lusciously creamy consistency. Stop and let the mixture cool for a few minutes if it starts to get really hot while cooking.
You may incorporate additional ingredients of your choice once the almond butter is very creamy and smooth (but not before!). Additionally, you may add vanilla, or cinnamon for a hint of spice.
Blend the ingredients until they are uniformly distributed. Some ways in which you can enjoy homemade almond butter are with berries on top of whole-wheat bread (fresh berries, defrosted frozen, or chia berry jam). It can also be used to top muffins and other breads like banana bread. For a dash of protein, you may also add it to smoothies or yoghurt.
That’s enough about taste. Now let’s dive into some of the health benefits of homemade almond butter. Almond butter provides almost the same health advantages as whole almonds because it is derived from crushed almonds. Almond butter has a lot of calories, but it is also abundant in healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. So here are a few of these benefits:
- Heart Disease Prevention: Monounsaturated fats are abundant in almond butter. Monounsaturated fats assist in raising good cholesterol while reducing bad cholesterol. Almond butter also contains a variety of additional nutrients that support heart health and reduce the chance of developing heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids guard against erratic heartbeats. Your arteries’ plaque build-up may be prevented by vitamin E.
- Bone Health: A tablespoon of almond butter without salt has 60 milligrams of calcium, or 5% of the daily required amount. Your bones need calcium for healthy development. Your body also absorbs calcium more efficiently thanks to the magnesium in almond butter.
- Blood Sugar Control: After a meal, almonds can help regulate insulin and blood sugar levels. Additionally, the magnesium in almond butter may improve insulin sensitivity. Your chance of acquiring diabetes might be reduced as a result.
- Nutrition: A single serving of almond butter has about 26% of the required daily intake of vitamin E. Your immune system can benefit from consuming this vitamin E-rich food. L-arginine, plant sterols, and omega-3 fatty acids are additional ingredients in almond butter.
So, now that you know how homemade almond butter is beneficial to health and delicious at the same time, head over to Zantye’s online store and buy the nutrition-rich nuts to make the perfect almond butter! Also, take a look at our very own cashew butter and its wondrous health benefits.