How to Make Homemade Peanut Butter

Are you ready to give it your go on this classic pantry staple? I’ll walk you through how to make homemade peanut butter using just nuts and salt. 

What You Need

All you need for this one is peanuts, salt  and a high-powered blender or food processor. I recommend using a food processor, but a high-powered blender, such as a Vitamix, can also be used. A food processor is more efficient than a blender. 

This is my favorite food processor.

What Kind of Peanuts to Use

I recommend using unsalted, shelled peanuts and toasting them in the oven. Toasting the peanuts creates a deep nutty flavor and the heat from the oven releases the oils which helps to create a creamy consistency. 

If you’re short on time you can absolutely skip the toasting process. If you do skip toasting you’ll want to add a tablespoon or so of oil to help loosen the spread (toasting the nuts releases their oils).

How to Make the Best Homemade Peanut Butter

1. To toast the peanuts, preheat your oven to 350º F and spread the peanuts onto a rimmed baking sheet. 
2. Toast the nuts until you smell a rich nutty flavor and the peanuts are a light golden brown, 10–14 minutes. Allow the peanuts to cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes.
3. Add the peanuts and salt to the bowl of a food processor or blender. Pulse the peanuts until they are chopped and crumbly.
4. Process or blend the chopped nuts, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Watch as the peanuts break down and start to form a ball or large clumps in the food processor. 
5. Keep on processing! The peanuts will take several minutes to process, eventually the nuts will turn into creamy peanut butter.  
6. At this point you can blend in any desired sweeteners or spices to taste.

What Kind of Sweeteners to Use

If you prefer your peanut butter on the sweeter side you can add 1 tablespoon of honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup. Only add 1 tablespoon of your sweetener of choice—the more liquid sweetener added, the thicker/stiffer this spread will become (counterintuitive, I know). An additional option (and a sweeter option) is to use ¼–⅓ cup of Confectioner’s sugar. 

Flavor Variations

Want to take your peanut butter to the next level? Try adding the following spices or oils to customize your peanut butter with different flavor variations. 

• Add a couple teaspoons of cocoa powder to your peanut butter for a delicious chocolate peanut butter spread. Yum! 
• Try sprinkling ground cinnamon or nutmeg into your peanut butter for a sweet and spicy take.
• Pumpkin spice lover? Add a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice into your peanut butter to embrace your inner fall flavor palette. 

How to Make Crunchy Peanut Butter

Like your peanut butter with a little crunch? After pulsing the peanuts until they are crushed, remove some of the crumbs from the bowl of the processor and set them aside. After processing the remaining peanuts into creamy peanut butter, stir in the crushed peanuts. 

How to Make Drippy Peanut Butter

Like to drizzle your peanut butter over a banana, on top of oatmeal, or on ice cream? Toasting the peanuts releases natural oils that make them easier to blend into butter. Adding additional oil can make a looser peanut butter for those of you who want to drizzle your peanut butter over your favorite foods. 

I recommend mixing 2 tablespoons of grapeseed or canola oil into your peanut butter for a more pourable and creamy consistency. Both canola and grapeseed oil are neutral oils, meaning they will not add additional flavor to your peanut butter. 

How to Use Homemade Peanut Butter

Use homemade peanut butter in your favorite peanut butter cookie recipe, on top of toast, or drizzled over a smoothie bowl. It also makes a fabulous gift!

Check out some of my favorite ways to use homemade peanut butter below! 

How to Store Natural Homemade Peanut Butter

Homemade peanut butter will last for up to 1 month in the refrigerator in an airtight container (we like glass).

Did you make this homemade peanut butter recipe?!  Let me know how it went—leave a comment and star-rating below. And if you snapped a pic, share it on IG and tag me @zestfulkitchen. I love seeing what you make!

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