Make your own cashew butter with just a few simple ingredients, a food processor and about 10 minutes. Below you’ll find clear instructions for making it creamy or crunchy, storage tips, and favorite add-ins — all with no added sugar or unnecessary additives.
Cashew Butter is Everything
With a spoon, spread on toast, drizzled over banana, or swirled into yogurt — cashew butter is versatile, naturally sweet and luxuriously creamy. Many people prefer cashew butter for its delicate sweetness and silky texture, and because of its natural flavor we often leave out any added sweeteners. If you prefer a touch of sweetness, a little honey or maple syrup will do the trick. Below you’ll also find a short list of popular mix-ins to customize your batch.
How to Make Cashew Butter
This cashew butter recipe is simple and fast — essentially two steps. With a high-speed food processor you can have smooth, homemade cashew butter in roughly 5–10 minutes. Making your own also saves money compared to store-bought jars and lets you control texture and add-ins.
Step 1: Process the Cashews
Place 2 cups of roasted, lightly salted cashews in a high-speed food processor. Pulse and then process on high for about 5–7 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape the sides. The nuts will go from crumbly to pasty to smooth; the longer you process, the more fluid and drippy the butter becomes. If the mixture struggles to come together or seems too dry, add 1–2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil (or another neutral oil) to help achieve a creamier texture.
If you want crunchy cashew butter, reserve 1/2 cup of chopped roasted cashews and stir them in at the end for a pleasing contrast of smooth and crunchy.
Step 2: Store and Enjoy
Spoon the finished cashew butter into an airtight glass jar and store it in the refrigerator. Properly stored, homemade cashew butter keeps for several weeks to a few months; the flavor and texture are best when used within about three months, though many batches are eaten much sooner. Bring the butter to room temperature before spreading for a looser consistency, or give it a quick stir if separated.
Team Creamy or Team Crunchy?
If you prefer ultra-smooth nut butter, process the cashews until completely silky and leave out any chunky additions. For a textured, crunchy version, fold in 1/2 cup of roughly chopped roasted cashews after the butter is blended. The final result is entirely up to your preference — adjust processing time and chopped-nut quantity to get the exact mouthfeel you enjoy.
Cashew Butter Add-Ins
- Sprinkles (for a fun, dessert-style spread)
- Vanilla bean or vanilla extract
- Chia seeds for texture and nutrition
- Maple syrup for natural sweetness
- Honey
- Lemon zest for a bright, citrusy note
- Sea salt to enhance flavor
- Dates for natural sweetness and chew
Ingredients
- 2 cups roasted, lightly salted cashews
- Optional: 1–2 tablespoons melted coconut oil (if needed for creaminess)
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped roasted cashews (for crunchy version)
Instructions
- Place roasted cashews in a high-speed food processor. Process on high for about 5–7 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides occasionally. Continue until the nuts become smooth and creamy; processing longer will yield a drippier, more spreadable butter.
- If the butter seems too thick or dry while blending, add 1–2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil and process until incorporated and smooth.
- For crunchy cashew butter, stir in 1/2 cup chopped roasted cashews after blending until smooth.
- Transfer the cashew butter to an airtight glass jar and refrigerate. Use within several weeks to a few months for the best flavor.
Tips & Notes
- Optional: Add 1–2 tablespoons of coconut oil if the cashews don’t reach your desired consistency during processing.
- Optional: Stir in chopped cashews for texture and crunch.
- Yields: roughly 1 cup (yield may vary slightly depending on nut size and processing).
- Room temperature: If chilled, let the jar sit at room temperature or warm slightly to make spreading easier.
Nutrition (approximate per serving)
Calories: 180 kcal, Carbohydrates: 10 g, Protein: 6 g, Fat: 14 g, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 2 g. Nutrition information is an estimate and should be used as a guideline only.
More Nut Butter Ideas
- Vanilla bean almond butter
- Homemade peanut butter
- Chocolate vanilla swirl cashew butter
- Birthday cake–style cashew butter
- Vanilla cashew butter
This simple cashew butter recipe is an easy way to make a delicious, customizable spread at home. Once you’ve tried a batch, experiment with different roasting levels, add-ins, and textures until you find your perfect version. Enjoy it on toast, fruit, in smoothies, or straight from the spoon.