Healthy nut butter recipes (low carb, 2 amazing flavors)

Here's how to make two of my favorite flavored nut butters at home. You can make them with any nuts you have on hand and they easily fit into a low carb, vegan, or Paleo-friendly diet.

Both of these nut butter recipes are easy to make and you'll appreciate their lovely unique flavors.

Their super creamy consistency makes for an easy spread, but they also can enrich simple desserts,  chia puddings, or drizzle some on your pancakes and waffles!

Finger-licking good!

It's no secret that if you've already invested in a food processor or a high-powered blender, then making homemade nut butter is so much cheaper and so much better than anything store-bought.

You only need 1 ingredient, the nuts of your choice. And then there are the endless flavors you can add—a tad of salt, cinnamon, sugar-free vanilla extract, and the list goes on.

My family goes through a fair amount of nut butter throughout the week—it can go on anything. I sometimes have to hide the jars behind the bulky veggies in the fridge—I kid you not.

I have been experimenting with homemade nut butter in every flavor imaginable. And I always come back to these two:

• A HEALTHY NUTELLA ALTERNATIVE made with a good mix of nuts, cacao powder, coconut oil, roasted and olive oil-infused Rosemary leaves, and a tad of monk fruit sweetener.
• A NUTTY COCONUT BUTTER with a pop of zesty flavors made with a good mix of nuts, toasted and unsweetened coconut shreds, a tad of orange zest, and monk fruit sweetener.

So, let's make them!

What nuts to use

Usually, I make a new batch of nut butter when I have leftovers from a lot of different nuts in my pantry.

And that can be anything from peanuts, raw almonds, or slivered almonds to cashews, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios, salted or unsalted, roasted or raw.

It's a great way to clean out your pantry and I've found that a mixture of nuts used in nut butter adds a lovely flavorful complexity.

However, nothing is to stop you from using only one type of nut, or just combining two or three of your favorite nuts for these recipes—you can't go wrong with walnuts, macadamia, or almonds here.

Or just keep it simple by adding the same flavorful ingredients to homemade peanut butter.

Note: As you can see in the picture, I do like to toss in some Brazil nuts. But avoid adding too much or overeating them due to their high selenium levels.

Sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds sometimes also end up on the baking sheet.

Tips for making these nut butter recipes

ROASTING: whether you use raw, or a combo of raw and already roasted nuts, I suggest popping them briefly in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 10 minutes and until slightly brown.

It brings out their sweet and nutty flavor, and warm nuts will also help with quickly turning them into creamy butter.

• for the healthy Nutella alternative: add one to two fresh rosemary leaves onto the baking sheet, lightly coated with some olive oil. This herb becomes brittle and can easily be crumbled into smaller pieces with your hands and adds a sophisticated minty element to the chocolate taste.
• for the nutty coconut butter, add the coconut shreds. They go in the oven together with the nuts and get roasted until brown.
• Note: Keep an eye on the nuts while in the oven, as burned nuts will result in an unpleasant bitter taste.

IF YOU USE A VITAMIX BLENDER: you have to push the nuts into the blades with your tamper. I usually rotate it and make sure that I get all the corners of the container.

You kind of need to butcher the nuts at first, but this ungentle process is what releases their oils and starts making everything creamy.

You'll have creamy nut butter in a matter of minutes if you use a Vitamix blender. Continue to run the blender on high until you have almost a runny consistency.

IF YOU USE A FOOD PROCESSOR: it might take a little bit longer with a food processor to obtain the same creamy consistency—up to 10 minutes. And you might need to scrape the sides a few times.

You'll see the nuts go through a few stages. It starts with a crumbly consistency, to a ball forming against the sides of the processor (keep scraping the sides), and then as you keep going you'll get creamy goodness.

OPTIONAL, add extra virgin coconut oil: it helps increase the level of creaminess—I hardly ever need to do so.

Let's add some flavor

Chocolatey nut butter with cacao and roasted Rosemary leaves 

For this first flavor, I am going for a "Nutella"-like mix with chocolate flavors and rich, warm undertones—deliciously creamy, a bit festive, and utterly irresistible.

Here is what you need:

• Roasted nuts and rosemary leaves
• cacao powder
• coconut oil
• Monkfruit sweetener

Here is what you do:

• Blend the roasted nuts and 1 tablespoon of Rosemary leaves until you have creamy butter. Let it rest in the blender.
• In a small pan, melt half of the coconut butter over medium heat.
• Stir in the cacao powder and monk fruit sweetener.
• Add in the rest of the coconut oil.
• Keep stirring until you'll obtain a glossy chocolate mixture—about 3 minutes.
• Note: at first the cacao mix will look crumbly and dry, but as you keep stirring it will mix into the coconut oil and become glossy.
• Add the glossy cacao mixture to the creamy nut butter in the blender.
• Blend for a few seconds or until thoroughly mixed in.
• Immediately spoon the butter into a glass container with a lid.

Nut and coconut butter with orange zest

For the second flavor, I am going for a coconut butter mix with zesty flavors that lifts up the fattiness of the nuts and coconut shreds.

Here is what you need:

• Roasted nuts and browned coconut shreds
• orange zest (1 teaspoon is enough)
• Monkfruit sweetener
• A pinch of salt (optional and omit if you've already added salted nuts to the mix)

Here is what you do:

• Add all the ingredients into the blender.
• Blend until you get a creamy nutty coconut butter—you will smell the incredible aroma of the orange zest.
• Immediately spoon the super creamy mixture into a glass container with a lid.

Substitutions & Notes

• Cacao powder: you could substitute this for unsweetened cocoa powder. 
• Salt: This is optional, but a little—like a few pinches—is enough to improve the flavors of the nuts and enrich the chocolatey or zesty taste. Just omit, if you already use salty nuts.
• Sweetener: adjust this ingredient based on taste by adding a bit more sweetener if preferred. I use Monkfruit, a no-carb, no-sugar, no-calorie sweetener (also ideal if you want to make it Keto-Friendly and it also leaves no aftertaste here). If you prefer to work with other low-carb sweeteners such as Stevia or Erythritol and Swerve, you'll have to adjust the amount to your palate—start with a small amount and work your way up.
• If you prefer to use Agave, liquid honey, or maple syrup to add a touch of sweetness (not a low carb option), always mix this in after you have made your creamy nut butter and stir it in by hand. Processing any syrup in the blender or food processor with the rest of the ingredients results in sticky nut butter. Also, start with a small amount and work your way up based on taste—note: it will change the overall taste of the nut butter.

How long does homemade nut butter last—storage

Both flavored nut butters can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.

It's best to store the healthy Nutella alternative in the fridge because its super creamy consistency needs to firm up a bit. It also keeps a smooth consistency in the fridge and can be immediately enjoyed.

The texture of the nutty coconut butter will become a bit harder to spread after refrigeration. But that is easily fixed by letting it rest at room temperature for several minutes before serving.

Other nutty or fruity delightful recipes

You might also like my Chocolate peanut butter avocado mousse! Or try these flourless peanut butter cookies (gluten-free with variations)

I highly recommend these Rhubarb compote recipes that you can pair with sweet or savory dishes.

Love nuts, then try this grain-free apple crisp or this low-carb cheesecake in a cup for a healthier bite.

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