How to Make Peanut Butter

Co-authored by Jennifer Lease, RD, CDN

Last Updated: February 24, 2024 Approved

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Peanut butter is a delicious spread commonly used in sandwiches, baked goods, candy, and even milkshakes. Making peanut butter at home can help you save money while creating a healthier, tastier snack.

Ingredients

2 cups (470 ml) peanuts
1 ¹⁄₂ teaspoons (7 ml) peanut oil or vegetable oil (optional)
¹⁄₂ teaspoon (2 ml) sugar (optional)
1 ¹⁄₂ teaspoons (7 ml) molasses, honey, or brown sugar (optional)
pinch of salt (optional)

Makes about 1 ¹⁄₂ cups (350 ml) of peanut butter

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Making Peanut Butter

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1
Prepare the peanuts. Before you use your peanuts to make peanut butter, you should rinse them under cool water to get rid of any excess dirt. You can then pat them dry. If they're unshelled, then you should shell them by hand, which is a bit easier when they're dry; they don't have to be perfectly shelled, either.
- Spanish peanuts are a good choice for peanut butter due to the high oil content.^{[1]
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2
Roast the peanuts (optional). Some people prefer to roast their peanuts before processing them, to give them that additional crispy, crunchy flavor. However, this is completely optional and does make the process take quite a bit longer, so it's up to you to decide whether or not you want to roast them; you can also buy pre-toasted peanuts. If you do decide to roast them, however, then here is what you'll need to do:^{[2]
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- Place the peanuts in a bowl and lightly toss them with the peanut or vegetable oil.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C).
- Spread the peanuts on a single layer on a baking pan. You want to make sure they aren't on top of each other so they are fairly evenly cooked.
- Cook them for about 10 minutes, until they're lightly covered in oil and are golden brown.
- If you'd like, you can gently shake the pan they're in every 2 minutes or so to take extra precautions against burning.
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This should take just a few pulses. For best results, do this while the peanuts are still warm.^{[3]
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The mixture should begin to look more creamy and more like that peanut butter you've been craving.
5
Scrape peanuts down from the food processor bowl into the bottom, as needed, when processing the peanuts. Continue processing the mixture, processing for 1 minute, scraping it off the sides of the processor, and repeating, until it is of your desired consistency. At least 3 minutes of processing should do the trick.
- Just remember that this peanut butter will never look as creamy as the kind you may be used to from Jiffy. That's because it's more natural. Don't expect that it will ever look as creamy as it can from the jar—though it will taste more delicious!
Use a big spoon to do this.
Taste your peanut butter and see if it needs a bit more salt and sugar. If it tastes the way you like it, then there's no need to add salt or sugar!
8
Add small quantities of brown sugar, molasses, or honey, if you prefer a sweeter taste. You can also substitute molasses or honey for sugar, if you like. Some people prefer to place these ingredients in the processor and to blend them together with the peanuts; it depends on whether or not your processor will be able to handle all of the honey or other ingredients.
- If you're adding these ingredients by hand, then make sure to stir them until they are thoroughly incorporated.
9
Spoon peanut butter into an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for a day or two so it can set in to a lovely peanut butter paste. Of course, the shelf life of homemade peanut butter is shorter than commercial counterparts, but chances are, your homemade peanut butter will have all been gobbled up even before you get the chance to consider its storage life!
- You can store this kind of peanut butter in the fridge for up to a few weeks.

Part 2

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Using Your Peanut Butter in Recipes

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Make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What better use for your tasty peanut butter than a classic PB&J? You can stick to the original recipe or add some extra frills for an added delight.
Make peanut butter cookies. You can make these easy, tasty cookies with your peanut butter, some flour, brown sugar, and a few additional ingredients. These cookies are even more delicious when enjoyed with a glass of milk!
. If you're looking for a rich, decadent peanut-butter flavored treat that you can pop in your mouth, then this is the recipe for you. All you'll need is your peanut butter, some powdered sugar, chocolate chips, and just a few ingredients.
. If you want to make your own delicious peanut butter cups with your own peanut butter, all you really need is some chocolate, your peanut butter, and some molds for shaping those cups.
Who says you have to use your peanut butter for sweets? You can make a yummy peanut butter soup with only milk, cinnamon, and your own tasty peanut butter.
. This creative and delicious dessert is made with peanut butter, Oreos, butter, flour, and a few other key ingredients.

Community Q&A

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Question

Can I use fried peanuts to make peanut butter?

Community Answer

Yes, it will have a bold flavor.

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Question

As I processed the peanuts, the butter became drier and drier. Why does this happen and how do I make it right?

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As you process the peanuts, it will seem to become a dry powder. If you continue to process the peanuts with the food processor on, not pulsing, the powder will start to warm up from the friction and the oils inside the peanuts will come out and start to make a paste. Stop it every minute to scrape the sides, check consistency, add salt or sugar and let the motor cool for a little bit. It usually takes about 3-4 minutes before getting creamy smooth, depending on the power of your machine and ingredients used.

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Can I put peanuts in my food processor and then use that peanut flour in my recipe?

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Yes, but you will want it in much thinner than the picture shows, and they should be roasted.

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Tips

If you like chunky peanut butter, set around 1/4 cup of peanuts aside while chopping up the rest in the food processor. Throw them into the food processor only when the rest of peanuts are almost done and are smooth in consistency, and process them for a few more seconds to create the chunks.

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If it's too salty add more sugar or honey.

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In some cases, products from stores show you how to make peanut butter at home using their ingredients. This is an alternative for those who have attempted peanut butter making using the above methods and want to stick to the store produce.

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