And I have a major thing for peanut butter. And cookie dough. This is all of that, in one.
In a way, it’s a very amped-up version of Biscoff Spread or TJ’s Cookie Butter, although that’s not what I was trying to create. I already have a recipe for Homemade Biscoff/Cookie Butter. It’s boldly flavored with molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, and has much more pop than Cookie Butter or Biscoff.
If you’re never tried making your own peanut butter, please change that. Homemade peanut butter tastes nothing like storebought. It’s creamy, drippy, comfort food in a jar. It’s like trying to compare from-scratch Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with dough-in-a-tube. Not the same.
The recipe is inherently gluten-free, and it’s easily kept vegan by using plain peanuts and vegan white chocolate chips. For most of my homemade peanut butters, I use Trader Joe’s Honey Roasted Peanuts ($2.99 for 1 lb). You can use (lightly) salted peanuts too, but since most of the peanut butter I make is dessert-style, honey roasted peanuts are a nice touch.
The process of making this peanut butter follows the same general process of making plain homemade peanut butter. Add peanuts to the canister of the food processor. You’ll need a decent quality food processor that’s up to the task of running for at least 15 minutes. I don’t think this is a job for a mini food processor. I don’t think this is a job for a Vita-Mix. I love mine dearly, but you need the action of the blades in a food processor rather than the whirring action of a Vita for this job. I fear a Vita would overheat very quickly and you’d end up with a paste that never breaks down and cleanup underneath the blade would be a hot mess. I’m sure some people have done it in a Vita, but I’ll stick with my food processor. Turn it on and watch it go. Wheeee! I find the less I stop, start, and scrape down the sides of the canister, the better. Turn it on and leave it alone. There peanuts go through various stages in the approximately five minutes it takes to go from peanuts to peanut butter: crushed peanuts crushed into a fine powder a paste a thicker paste and a big peanut butter “dough ball” will form And then the big ball magically breaks down. And turns into gritty peanut butter. Keep processing and the peanut butter will get smoother, creamier, and thin out. Keep processing until you’re certain the peanut butter is smooth enough for your liking, another minute or so. No harm in ‘over’-processing. Add the molasses, spices, and white chocolate. I used one 10-ounce bag of white chocolate chips and didn’t melt them first. I have a ferociously strong food processor and given the heat that’s already generated from making the peanut butter, it’s enough to soften and integrate the chocolate chips for me. However, if you have an older or less powerful machine, melt the white chocolate first, then drizzle it in.
Although I usually don’t need to add oil to my peanut butter, to this batch, I drizzled in about one-quarter cup coconut oil because my peanut butter was very thick and paste-like. Peanuts are a natural product and it figures that some are just drier than others. I blame winter weather, everyone’s dried out, even peanuts. This bag was a dry batch and a little coconut oil did the trick. There’s way too many other bold flavors present for the coconut oil to be detectable, but use canola or vegetable oil if you’re more comfortable. I’m comfortable keeping all of my nut butters for at least a couple weeks at room temp, although it’s rare they last past 1 week. In the fridge, I have stored homemade peanut butter for 5 months (got lost in the back of the fridge) and it was fine. There are no preservatives, so use common sense.
It’s creamy, smooth, it’s nut butter-as-dessert and it’s dangerous to have around. Make this when you’re not trying to squeeze into that little holiday dress. It’s sinfully decadent and ignorance is bliss.
Related Recipes
Homemade Peanut Butter (GF, vegan depending on type of peanuts used) The spread that started it all and one of the most pinned and my most popular recipes. Fresh homemade peanut butter is like nothing else, and there’s no comparison to storebought. Even the grind-your-own options at natural-food grocery stores are nothing like making it at home Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes!
Five minutes, a bag of nuts, a food processor, and voila
Honey Roasted Butterscotch White Chocolate Peanut Butter (GF) – This peanut butter and the Cinnamon Chip are my two favorites of all time
Cinnamon Chip and White Chocolate Peanut Butter (GF) – If you like cinnamon, this is the spread for you. Sweet with a nice pop of robust cinnamon flavor
Homemade Cookie Butter Peanut Butter – A homemade spin on Cookie Butter or Biscoff Spread, made by blending peanuts with gingersnap cookies and cinnamon, which give the spread a slightly grainy texture, similar to the texture of storebought
Chocolate Peanut Butter Decadent, rich, and perfect for all of us who know that one of the most perfect flavor pairings ever is chocolate + peanut butter
Homemade White Chocolate and Butterscotch Sunflower Seed Butter – My first attempt at homemade sunflower seed butter
Chocolate Coconut Cashew Butter (vegan, GF) – A cross between coconut butter, cashew butter, and Nutella, this is so creamy, rich, and soothing
Soft Molasses Coconut Oil Crinkle Cookies
In my cookbook, Peanut Butter Comfort, there are 27 recipes for homemade peanut butter flavors and variations. Plus the 10 or so on my blog. I love making my own and getting creative with the flavors. Have you ever made your own nut or seed butter?
