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This Walnut Butter is an easy nut butter that can be made with any kind of nuts. Peanut butter is great, but switch up your breakfast spread with and use walnuts instead. This recipe has just 3 ingredients and takes about 5 minutes to make!

walnut butter in a clear jar with a spoon scooping it out.


Homemade Nut Butter

Sure you can spend a fortune to buy walnut butter (or cashew butter) at the store, but why? You can make it at home SO easily with just 3 ingredients. This same method can be used to make almond butter or pecan butter too – or even peanut butter!

walnuts in a clear bowl.

Ingredients Needed

  • Walnuts: Walnuts are a perfect option, but you could substitute your favorite nut.
  • Maple Syrup: Acts as a sweetener for the butter – you can also use honey or agave.
  • Salt: Adds some extra needed flavor – don’t add too much – a little bit at a time so you don’t over power the butter. You can use table, kosher, or sea salt.
  • You could also add in some flavoring – like a bit of cinnamon, if you want.

How to Make Nut Butter

  • I like to toast my walnuts before making nut butter. Place the raw walnuts in a single layer in a frying pan and heat over medium-low heat for a few minutes, stirring often, until you smell them. Don’t walk away from the stove! Learn all about how to toast nuts.
  • You’ll need a food processor or high-speed blender. Just add the walnuts and blend until smooth – use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the food processor occasionally. Once it becomes thick, keep running the processor and it will smooth out into a natural nut butter consistency.
walnut butter spread on a cracker.

Ways to use Walnut Butter

Homemade nut butter is great on bagels or toast for breakfast, as a topping for pancakes or waffles, crackers or even on banana slices. I also add it to oatmeal to add some extra protein and omega-3 fats to my breakfast – or swirl it into ice cream!

Expert Tips

  • I toast my nuts because raw walnuts bother my mouth – but if you don’t have that problem you can skip that step.
  • Depending on the power and speed of your blender or processor, it could take up to 8-10 minutes to fully blend and make a creamy nut butter.
  • Walnuts can get a sort of bitterness to them, which is why I like to add some sweetness and a bit of salt. Drizzle just a bit of honey or your desired sweetener into the mixer and taste as you go so you don’t add too much.
  • How much nut butter does this recipe make? 2 cups of walnuts make approximately 1 cup of walnut butter.
  • Store the walnut butter in a jar or airtight container in the refrigerator.
walnut butter in a clear jar with a spoon scooping it out.

Walnut Butter Recipe

5 from 2 votes
Homemade Walnut Butter, made with maple syrup! Maple Walnut Butter is great on toast…or just on a spoon!
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Yield 16 servings (1 cup total)
Serving Size 1 serving

Ingredients
 

Walnut Butter

  • 2 cups (217g) walnuts
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup (see note)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (to taste, see note)
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Instructions

  • To toast walnuts (this is optional, but I like my walnuts toasted), place them in a frying pan over low heat. Cook for a few minutes, stirring almost constantly. As soon as you notice little brown spots and/or smell the walnuts, remove from heat and place on a plate to cool. Make sure they are almost completely cool before continuing.
  • Place walnuts in a food processor. Process for about 1 minute, then stir and add a bit of salt and maple syrup. Continue processing until the mixture becomes thick then thins out (the oils in the nuts magically thin the butter). Scrape the sides of the processor during mixing. Taste and add more salt and/or maple syrup to taste.
  • Store in refrigerator; makes 1 cup.

Recipe Notes

  • Salt is subjective – and you don’t want it to be too salty. Start with a bit and add more to taste.
  • Same goes for the maple syrup (or honey) – start with 1 tablespoon and add more as desired.
  • If your nut butter ends up too salty – add a bit more syrup. Same goes vice versa – too sweet? Add a bit more salt.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 123kcal
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

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Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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86 Comments

  1. I love how affordable walnuts are compared to pecans and almonds in the regular grocery store. Pinning this!

    And one day, i’ll make all of this stuff of yours that I’ve pinned in the last few weeks. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. What an interesting tour of how walnuts are made! And this butters looks awesome.

  3. I’m so addicted to walnuts. And I just happen to love pie crust chips, so this is a match made in heaven!

  4. Love this! I’m drooling and will totally be making this. That’s the bag of walnuts I get from Costco, so yay. I had no idea that you lived in my area – I’m in Roseville! Thanks for sharing the deliciousness. ๐Ÿ™‚

      1. That’s crazy! Well, you be sure and let me know if you ever need help with taste-testing – LOL! ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. I don’t think I’ve had walnut butter yet! I wonder if it would be good made with candied walnuts?