Homemade Peanut Butter

Okay this post was a long time coming. I made this back in February.

This was another one of those things I was super excited to try until I found out how it actually cost more, not to mention all the time and dirty dishes, than just buying it at the store.  In fact, the week after I bought a pound of peanuts to try this recipe, the 32 oz (2 lb) jars of peanut butter went on sale for the exact same price of the peanuts.  How bitter!

Out of annoyance I did not buy the peanut butter nor did I make my own.  Of course we go through a lot of peanut butter at my house and it wasn't too long before we ran out of peanut butter and my toddler really wanted some. (Side note- I just found out peanut butter on a spoon can be a choking hazard for toddlers, oops. We've been doing peanut butter with raisins for a long time now.  Oh well, not like I can do anything about it now.)

Back to making peanut butter.  I figured it was the best time to make the peanut butter.  How hard could it be put some peanuts, oil, a little salt in a blender and blend and blend and blend.  My poor food processor (yes I tried it with that to) could barely take it.  Once it started smelling funny I tried a real blender, thus you get my opinion of making peanut butter in a food processor versus a blender too.   Luck you!

First the recipe

Homemade Peanut Butter

• 2 cups peanuts
• 1 tablespoon oil (peanut is recommended, I used whatever I had- no way I was going to spend more than I had too for my already too expensive peanut butter.)
• Some salt
• Honey if you want it sweeter.

If you want crunchy peanut butter I would recommend and food processor.  If you want creamy a real blender works better.

Put it in the kitchen appliance of your choice (toaster not recommended) and blend, blend, blend.  At first is is lumpy, and then it becomes more liquidy.  It takes about five minutes so prepared to stand and watch the amazing process of grinding a solid into a liquid.  Awesome, science.

After it is runny, place it in a jar of your choice, cover and store in the refrigerator.  It will firm up a little. Then eat!  It doesn't store as long as the stuff with preservatives in it of course, but it taste very similar.

My Conclusion- that was a pain to make.  If I lived somewhere where peanuts (and peanut oil) were three or four times cheaper than peanut butter itself it would be worth it. Or if I loved peanut butter and was in a country where they don't sell peanut butter (I'm thinking of you, Jacob) then I would be all for making my own peanut butter.  It's also a cool thing to know how to do, although not as cool as making your own brown sugar.  In the end, why dirty dishes and stand for five minutes holding the blenders lid on if going to the store is faster and cheaper.  Now I'm sad I missed that sale.