We have all heard the slogan "Choosy Moms Choose Jif" before. I mean, c'mon, I remember seeing those commercials when I was a kid! There's nothing wrong with Jif and its catchy slogan, but I think it's time we re-imagine peanut butter and it's possibilities in our everyday diet. Not only is peanut butter full of protein and healthy fats, but making it at home also saves you from the preservatives.
So I decided to venture into the world of making my own peanut butter, even though I'm in LOVE with Wild Friends Nut Butter (www.wildfriendsfoods.com) and have dedicated previous posts to their yumminess.
After some research, I learned that making your own peanut butter doesn't take much effort or require many ingredients...that's my kind of recipe!
I've made this for myself and have also given it away as gifts, always with great results!
Honey Cinnamon Peanut Butter
Peanuts
Honey
Cinnamon
(Yes I know, I don't have quantities listed....keep reading 😉)
Throw your ingredients in a blender or food processor. And before you do, make sure it's working well and has some power behind it. This isn't the recipe to whip out grandma's hand-me-down 20 year old blender that's on its last leg. It takes a lot of power to grind those peanuts into a creamy, delicious butter!
It will take time and frequent stirring to get the peanut butter to the right consistency. My blender has 3 speeds. I started on the lowest and worked my way up to the highest speed. When it was all said and done, it looked like this.
In regards to how many peanuts to use, ect....this is a recipe where you can use as much or as little as you want. When I made my first batch I used maybe 1 cup of leftover Christmas party peanuts and a tablespoon of honey. It made enough for two pieces of toast, and I was hooked. For a large batch, I used a whole container of Giant brand peanuts, 1/2 cup of honey, and about 2 tablespoons of cinnamon. Adjust according to your taste!
Store in an airtight container! Remember that with natural peanut butter, oil separation is normal. No refrigeration required.
The possibilities here are endless! My suggestion is to spread your new homemade peanut butter on toast or sandwich it in your next PB&J. That is, if you don't eat it all by the spoonful first 😉
I hope this post inspires you to break off your long term relationship with Jif and enjoy your own peanut butter from home. I hope to hear some of your own success stories soon!
Happy cooking, happy eating friends!