Homemade Peanut Butter
Make the best homemade peanut butter with only 1 ingredient: peanuts! Smooth, creamy, delicious, ready in 5 minutes, and totally spoonable.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make homemade peanut butter, I promise it’s easier than you think. If you’ve made my homemade almond butter, pistachio butter, or hazelnut butter, you already know how easy it is to make your own nut butters at home.
You only need one ingredient to make your own peanut butter at home: peanuts. No preservatives, no palm oils, no sugar. Just good ole peanuts!
While it’s blending you get to watch whole peanuts transform into the smoothest, creamiest peanut butter ever. Its creamy texture beats the store-bought brands and that naturally sweet and nutty peanut flavor is just incredible. Permission granted to sneak a few spoonfuls (for taste test purposes..duh!)
Why I Love Making My Own Peanut Butter
I rarely buy store-bought peanut butter anymore. Once you make your own, there’s no going back!
- Only one ingredient (no added oils or sugars!)
- More affordable than store-bought
- The most smooth and creamy texture ever
- Naturally sweet, rich, and nutty flavor
What Type of Peanuts Are Best for Homemade Peanut Butter?
I love Valencia peanuts because of their naturally sweet flavor, but any variety of peanuts will work. I recommend buying peanuts that are already roasted and salted, since they’ll blend more easily, and the salt will enhance all that nutty flavor!
If you’re using unsalted peanuts, just add a pinch of salt while blending. And if your peanuts aren’t pre-roasted, you’ll have to roast them first. To do this, bake them in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes. Roasting brings out their natural oils, making them easier to blend.
How to Make Peanut Butter
Add the peanuts to a food processor and process for 2-5 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. The mixture will go from crumbly to creamy as the natural oils from the peanuts start to release.
Let your food processor blend for as long as needed to achieve that really smooth consistency.
Note: if your peanuts aren’t already roasted, you’ll have to roast them first. To do this, simply preheat the oven to 350°F and place the peanuts on a baking tray. Bake for 10 minutes, then, transfer to the food processor and proceed with the recipe.
Storing Homemade Peanut Butter
Store your homemade peanut butter in an airtight container or glass jars at room temperature for up to a week, or in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Megan’s Tips for Perfect Homemade Peanut Butter
- Use roasted peanuts. Whether you buy your peanuts already roasted, or roast them yourself, it helps them turn creamy faster since their natural oils release more easily once roasted.
- Be patient while blending. The peanuts will go from crumbly → thick → clumpy → smooth. Just keep blending, it can take several minutes depending on your food processor.
- Scrape down the sides as needed. This helps everything blend evenly.
- Make it crunchy! Stir in some chopped peanuts for a crunchy peanut butter.
- Add a flavor twist. Blend in 1–2 teaspoons of maple syrup at the end for a little sweetness (although it’s not needed). Or, try a small pinch of cinnamon for warmth.
- Store it in a glass jar. This keeps it fresher for longer.
How to Use Your Peanut Butter
There are so many ways to enjoy this homemade peanut butter! Here are some of my favorites:
- Drizzle it over oatmeal, an açaí bowl, or chia pudding
- Use it to make my healthy peanut butter granola
- As a dip for apples, bananas, or celery
- Spread it on toast or rice cakes
- Whisk it into a peanut dressing for my peanut noodles
- Blend it into a smoothie for extra creaminess and protein
- Add a spoonful to one of my stuffed date recipes
- Use it to make my peanut butter energy balls
- Make cookies! It works great in my 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies or fluffernutter cookies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does homemade peanut butter last?
When properly stored, homemade peanut butter will last up to a week at room temperature, or up to 1 month in the refrigerator.
Can I make peanut butter without a food processor?
To get the creamiest texture, I really recommend using a food processor. However, if you have a high-speed blender (such as a Vitamix) that should work. Just make sure to scrape down the sides often.
Does homemade peanut butter need oil?
You don’t need to add any oil to homemade peanut butter. If it’s dry and crumbly, it likely just needs to blend for longer. If needed, give your food processor a break to cool down, and then continue blending.
Is homemade peanut butter healthier than store-bought?
Yes, homemade peanut butter is considered healthier than store-bought because it contains no added sugars, preservatives, or oils like most brands. Peanut butter is a great source of protein and healthy fats!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ★★★★★ star rating below letting me know how you liked it! This helps others find my recipes. I appreciate your support, as always. xo, Megan
Homemade Peanut Butter
Ingredients
- 3 cups dry roasted peanuts, salted or unsalted
- pinch of salt, if your peanuts are unsalted
Instructions
- Add the peanuts (and salt, if your peanuts are unsalted) to a food processor. Blend for 2-5 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed, until it becomes smooth and creamy. It may take longer depending on how powerful your food processor is. Be patient – it will get there!
- If you’re adding flavors like maple syrup or cinnamon, add them once it’s creamy, then process for another minute.
- Once smooth and creamy, transfer your homemade peanut butter to small glass jars. Store in the pantry for up to a week, or the fridge for up to 1 month. This recipe yields about 2 cups of peanut butter.
Notes
- Use roasted peanuts. Whether you buy your peanuts already roasted, or roast them yourself, it helps them turn creamy faster since their natural oils release more easily once roasted.
- Be patient while blending. The peanuts will go from crumbly → thick → clumpy → smooth. Just keep blending, it can take several minutes depending on your food processor.
- Scrape down the sides as needed. This helps everything blend evenly.
- Make it crunchy! Stir in some chopped peanuts for a crunchy peanut butter.
- Add a flavor twist. Blend in 1–2 teaspoons of maple syrup at the end for a little sweetness (although it’s not needed). Or, try a small pinch of cinnamon for warmth.
- Store it in a glass jar. This keeps it fresher for longer.
