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Cinnamon Cacao Nut Butter

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“Everything But the Kitchen Sink” Butter might be a more appropriate name.

Often on cloudy days I get wild hairs in the kitchen.  Today was no exception – for some reason I decided to clean out my nut collection.  Maybe it’s all the balls I’ve been making lately.

This spread was cinnamon-flavored before it the nut butter idea was born.  Someone once told me you can make your own cinnamon powder by grinding up cinnamon sticks.  Fresh cinnamon sounds like a cool idea, right?

Maybe I should have done some research or purchased a VitaMix.  My blender wasn’t up to the task.  I shifted gears and eventually used a coffee grinder (which does work, btw), but not before cracking the lid of my blender and adding some groovy permanent cinnamon marks to the bottom.

Anyhow, the cinnamon does taste good.

With a cinnamon-dusted counter top blender in mind, the nut butter idea was born.  Toss in some nuts, blend, and add more cinnamon.  Taste.  Eye coffee grinder.  Stream of consciousness wanders to cacao nibs (they’re like coffee beans, no?).

Result?  A winter-y nut butter with cocoa crunches and cinnamon swirls that makes you want to stir it into apple cider.

Perhaps dipping apples into it is a smarter choice… I’ve had enough kitchen excitement for one day. 🙂

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Cinnamon Cacao Nut Butter

  • 4-5 Brazil nuts
  • 1/2 C hazelnuts
  • 1/4 C peanuts (salted)
  • 1/8 C walnuts
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 T cacao nibs

Place the nuts in a blender and blend until beginning to become creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary.  Add cinnamon and continue to blend until smooth,  pausing once or twice to adjust taste as you may want to add salt depending on your preference.

Lastly, add the cacao nibs and pulse just enough to incorporate.  The goal is to have some crunchy bites remaining.

Notes: If your nuts aren’t blending into a cream, add a bit of olive, canola, or coconut oil.  You may also use chocolate chips in place of cacao nibs, or omit completely.

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Every time I make nut butter I wonder why I ever use store bought.  Check out this spiced almond butter for a more savory flavor.

Do you make your own nut butter?

What is your favorite spread?

Comments

  2. Ah, that’s so funny, we are on the same wave… am working on a nut butter post as well… love that you combined so many different varieties here and the cocoa is a great addition! Isn’t nut butter the best?? So health building too! Wonderful Laura.

  3. I have tried to make my own nut butter, but I can never get it smooth enough. It always turns out almost like pie crust. Still tastes good, but definitely not spreadable.

    • Sounds like you aren’t blending it long enough, but a lot of times it’s about the blender too. My old blender couldn’t handle it.

    • My old one wasn’t. I ended up getting a relatively cheap Black & Decker one from Target and it’s awesome (minus the cinnamon incident).

    • I know, I know… I though I was wearing out my welcome with the balls. Maybe I’ll make a come back tomorrow!

      Cinnamon rolls and nut butter… I think you’re on to something!

  13. I’ve made my own peanut, pecan and walnut butters in the past, but honestly, I like store-bought (whole foods or tjs) pb better and it’s cheaper lol.

    • Cacao nibs are more coffee-like to me. They won’t really add a sweetness, but complement the cinnamon quite well.

  18. This sounds pretty much like the perfect spread. Maybe it would benefit us all, if you had more cloudy days 😉 No, I really hope you feel better.

  23. What a great idea to combine different nuts! I like to have on hand big bowls of nuts on hand for holiday snacking and this will be great to do with whatevers left!!

    • That is an awesome idea! I bet if you made herbed nuts to sit out those would be a fantastic nut butter.

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