Introduction
Oh, the smell of roasted peanuts! It just takes me back to lazy summer days, movie nights with family, and that irresistible urge to just dip a finger right into the jar. There’s something truly magical about homemade peanut butter. And guess what? It’s SO much easier than you might think! Today, we’re whipping up a batch of pure bliss: Honey Sea Salt Peanut Butter. Forget those store-bought jars with a mile-long ingredient list – this is the real deal, made with just a few simple ingredients and a whole lot of love. Get ready to have your mind blown by how quick and delicious this can be!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast: Seriously, you can have creamy, dreamy peanut butter ready in under 15 minutes!
- Easy: If you have a food processor, you’ve got this. No fancy techniques needed.
- Giftable: Package it up in a pretty jar with a ribbon, and you have the most thoughtful homemade gift for any peanut butter lover.
- Crowd-pleasing: From kids to adults, who can resist the classic combo of sweet honey and salty peanuts?
Ingredients
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to peanut butter paradise. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 16-ounce jar of dry-roasted unsalted peanuts: This is your star! Dry-roasted gives you that toasty flavor without any extra steps, and unsalted means you control the saltiness.
- 2 tablespoons honey: For that touch of natural sweetness that makes this peanut butter truly special. You can adjust this to your liking!
- 1-2 teaspoons coarse sea salt: The “sea salt” part is key here for that delightful little crunch and savory pop that balances the sweet honey. Start with 1 teaspoon and add more if you’re feeling it!
- 1-2 tablespoons avocado oil or another neutral oil, optional: Sometimes peanuts need a little coaxing to get super creamy. Avocado oil is fantastic because it’s neutral in flavor, but any light-flavored oil like canola or grapeseed will work.
How to Make It
Alright, let’s get our hands (or rather, our food processors) dirty! This is where the magic happens.
- Peanuts in the Processor: Grab your food processor and dump in that entire 16-ounce jar of dry-roasted unsalted peanuts. Make sure your food processor is big enough to handle it – you don’t want peanuts flying everywhere!
- First Pulse: Now, pulse those peanuts. You’ll see them start to break down, turning from whole nuts into a coarse meal. Keep going until they look like thick crumbs.
- Sweet & Salty Additions: Time to add the flavor! Pour in your honey and sprinkle in your coarse sea salt.
- Keep Processing: Continue to process. This is the most important part! You’ll need to be patient here. Stop occasionally and scrape down the sides of the food processor with a spatula. This ensures all those peanut bits get to hang out with the honey and salt.
- Achieving Creaminess (The Optional Step): If, after a few minutes of processing and scraping, your peanut butter is still looking a little thick or not as smooth as you’d like, it’s time for our secret weapon: the oil! Add the avocado oil (or your chosen neutral oil) one tablespoon at a time. Process after each addition, scraping down the sides. You’ll notice it start to get smoother and more spreadable.
- The Final Smoothness: Keep processing until your peanut butter is gloriously smooth and creamy. It might take a few minutes, but the result is so worth it! You’ll see it transform from a crumbly mess into luscious, spreadable goodness.
- Jar It Up: Once you’ve reached your desired consistency, carefully spoon your beautiful homemade Honey Sea Salt Peanut Butter into an airtight container. A clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid is perfect.
Substitutions & Additions
Feeling adventurous? Or maybe you’re out of honey? No problem! This recipe is super flexible.
- Sweetener Swap: Instead of honey, you could try maple syrup for a different, delicious flavor profile. Agave nectar is another good option.
- Nutty Neighbors: While peanuts are classic, you could try this with dry-roasted almonds or even a mix of peanuts and cashews!
- Spice It Up: A pinch of cinnamon or a tiny dash of cayenne pepper can add an interesting kick!
- Seeds, Please! Add a tablespoon or two of chia seeds or flax seeds towards the end of processing for a nutritional boost and a slightly different texture.
Tips for Success
A few little tricks can make your homemade peanut butter journey even smoother!
- Patience is Key: Seriously, don’t rush the processing stage. It takes time for the peanuts to release their natural oils and become creamy.
- Scrape, Scrape, Scrape: I can’t emphasize this enough! Regularly scraping down the sides of the food processor ensures even processing and prevents the nuts from getting stuck.
- Room Temperature Matters: Using room temperature ingredients (especially the honey) will help them incorporate more easily.
- Prep Ahead: You can absolutely make this ahead of time! It’s a perfect make-ahead treat for busy weeks or when you want a delicious snack on hand.
How to Store It
Your homemade treasure needs a good home! Store your Honey Sea Salt Peanut Butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep wonderfully for about 2-3 weeks. Since there are no preservatives, the natural oils might separate a bit over time – just give it a good stir before enjoying. It’s always best to use it within a few weeks to experience its freshest flavor!
FAQs
Got questions? I’ve got answers!
Can I make this without a food processor?
While a food processor is by far the easiest and most effective tool, you could theoretically try it with a very powerful blender. However, it will likely take much longer, and you’ll need to be very careful about overheating the motor.
Why is my peanut butter so chunky?
This usually means you just need to process it for longer! Keep scraping down the sides and let the food processor do its work. Adding the optional oil can also help achieve a smoother texture.
How much salt should I use?
Start with 1 teaspoon of coarse sea salt. You can always add more to taste after you’ve processed for a bit. Remember, you can add, but you can’t take away!
Can I use salted peanuts instead of unsalted?
It’s best to use unsalted peanuts so you can control the salt level yourself. If you only have salted peanuts, omit the added sea salt entirely and taste as you go.
Honey Sea Salt Peanut Butter
Equipment
- Food processor Must be large enough to handle 16 ounces of peanuts. A powerful blender can be used as an alternative, but may take longer and risk overheating the motor.
- Spatula For scraping down the sides of the food processor.
- Airtight container For storing the finished peanut butter. A clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid is recommended.
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 16 ounces dry-roasted unsalted peanuts This is the star ingredient. Dry-roasted provides toasty flavor, and unsalted allows control over saltiness.
- 2 tablespoons honey For natural sweetness. Can be adjusted to taste.
- 1 teaspoons coarse sea salt Key for crunch and savory pop. Start with 1 tsp and add more to taste.
- 1 tablespoons avocado oil or another neutral oil Optional, to help achieve creaminess. Neutral oils like canola or grapeseed also work. Add 1-2 tablespoons as needed.
Instructions
- Dump the 16-ounce jar of dry-roasted unsalted peanuts into your food processor.
- Pulse the peanuts until they break down into coarse meal or thick crumbs.
- Add the honey and coarse sea salt to the food processor.
- Continue to process, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a spatula.
- If the peanut butter is still thick or not smooth enough, add 1 tablespoon of avocado oil (or neutral oil) at a time, processing and scraping after each addition until desired smoothness is achieved.
- Process until the peanut butter is gloriously smooth and creamy.
- Carefully spoon the homemade Honey Sea Salt Peanut Butter into an airtight container.