cocoa-nut magic
February 16, 2011 Have you ever bought new appliances before? Big appliances, like washer/dryer/dishwasher/oven/etc. It’s really quite difficult + time consuming. I think I spent 4hrs reading consumer reports + cross referencing items on Sears.com and then googling reviews for each item. Holy cow. Consumer reports has definitely helped! Then it was on to getting prices for refinishing wood floors. Unfortunately, consumer reports is of no help there.
On to more important things.
Like FOOD.
Today’s breakfast is a work in progress, that will soon be recipe worthy!
Blueberry Coconut Cream stuffed buckwheat bake anyone?
I put too much coconut cream in the middle, so this guy was a bit on the sloppy side.
While it didn’t hold it’s shape, it tasted quite delicious and was oozing with creamy coconut filling. Hope to have a recipe for this variation soon!
A recipe that does not need a round 2, is this next one. I haven’t made almond butter in for-ever. Way too long, to be exact. I’ve been on a bit of a peanut butter kick and have been too lazy to make almond butter.
That changed today!
Even though I admitted a few months ago, vanilla holds my heart, I’ve been obsessed with cocoa powder lately. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve also been obsessed with coconut.
I made a new batch of coconut butter today and I urge you to do the same. It’s the easiest “butter” to make. There are a few important things to know about making coconut butter:
- unsweetened, shredded [not flaked] coconut – I like this brand the best. It works perfectly and costs about $2.50-$3 at Whole Foods.
- If your coconut has been opened and sitting around for awhile, it may have become dried out. It’s best to use a fresh bag so the oils can work their magic.
- I don’t find any need to refrigerate coconut butter.
- It hardens at room temp. I get a lot of emails asking about this and it’s perfectly normal. To melt, you can scrape out however much you want and heat in the microwave or in a pan over low heat. When I top it on oats or a breakfast bake, I scrape it directly onto the bake and it melts in less than a minute.
- If you’re using an 7c food processor, process 1.5-2c shredded coconut. If using an 11-14c, process 2-3c. If you don’t put enough in, sometimes it has a hard time getting buttery.
Melty coconutty goodness.
Now add some almonds + cocoa and you’ll have one of the most lovely nut butters you’ve ever tasted.
This took some patience, as the cocoa powder really gunked things up in the food processor. But nonetheless, it finally got there.
Drippy, chocolaty, coconut, almond butter.
Oh.my.peas.
Yeah…who’s coming over for breakfast at my house?
Cocoa-nut Almond Butter [yields ~1 1/4c]
- 1.5c raw almonds
- 2T coconut butter, melted
- 1.5-2T unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2-1T pure cane sugar
- 1t vanilla extract
- pinch of salt [optional]
- In a pan over medium heat, toast raw almonds, until golden brown. Stir frequently + watch closely so they do not burn. ~10min [you can also do this in the oven at 325* for 20min, stirring once half way through]
- Let cool for a few minutes and then dump into your food processor.
- Process + scrape bowl until it turns to creamy almond butter. ~7-10min depending
- Add in cocoa powder, coconut butter, cane sugar, vanilla + salt.
- Process + scrape until it returns to a creamy consistency. This take some patience + quite a bit of bowl scraping. It turns from liquid into a thick crumbly dough, but eventually turns into creamy, dreamy, nut butter. ~7-10min
*Start with 1.5T cocoa. If desired add another 1/2T. Same goes for the sugar. I used maple syrup but it made it much more difficult to process. The cane sugar should melt + incorporate much more easily.
*I have an 11c Cuisinart food processor. If you have an 11-14c you may be able to double this but never triple it. If you have a 7c, high power food processor, you should be fine making this quantity but do not double.
I’m not sure what’s on the menu for breakfast, but it will definitely involve my new best friend.
Beddddddddd.
Ashley
p.s. I’m so glad you like my balls.
p.p.s. My recipe page is updated!
p.p.p.s. You can click directly to my Etsy store page from my right sidebar now!
Reader Comments (74)
I just made AB yesterday and now I want to hit myself in the head. Or maybe I'll just through the AB with cacaonpowder and coconut butter in my vita and have the same result? amazing recipe!
That nut butter looks amaaaaazziing. I can't wait to see breakfast tomorrow!
And I hope those baaaaalls are for me! I can't wait to get them in my mouth! ;)
i'm on the first redeye out of here ;)
MMMMMM!!! It should be called "Ashley's butter" Yeahhh I wondered how your coconut butter was so perfect! haha
Breakfast at yours? I'm in!
That nut butter sounds amazing, like chocolate almond butter but better! :)
we just purchased ALL of our kitchen appliances for the new house. We must have spent 3 hours in the store but my one word of advice is to choose ALL of the same brand. We also found some really great deals on Energy Efficient appliances too. ;)
Be right there for breakfast!
I made chocolate almond butter with melted chocolate the other day, next time I'll try your method with cocoa powder!
Swoon! That looks awesome!
coconut almond butter? this might be your best creation yet!
I seriously miss your face.
Your breakfast bake already looks recipe worthy to me. Share, please!
When my husband and I first met, he talked about making this pear bread. I said that almond butter would go well with it, so I made him some in my food processor (which has since died), and delivered it to him at work. He never said anything about it. A year later, I asked him about it and he said "oh...I thought it was apple butter, and I was confused about why it didn't taste that way!" It's sort of our joke now...or more my joke, becuase I tease him for it.
I think it's time for me to make my own coconut butter. I tried before, but got frustrated because it wasn't breaking down enough. I think I was just impatient.
i'm on my way right now!
Too much coconut cream? Is there such a thing? Your buckwheat bake looks absolutely amazing. :D
it's been a long time since i made any kind of butter, this one is on my to-do list for today :)
Okay, I'm convinced. I am definitely making my own coconut butter very soon! YUM!
I'll be right out ;) I want your buckwheat bake and almond butter!
Oh man I really need to make my own nut butters. For now, I'm catching the next flight to Colorado- see ya soon! ;)
xo
WOW..... is all i have to say. both recipes looks divine!!
OMG stuffed buckwheat bake?! This has to be the most unique and wonderful creation EVER. I can't wait for the recipe!
Hi Ashley! I just ran across your blog and I'm so glad I did! I never realized making almond butter was this simple! Now I want to go make it pronto! Thanks for sharing this. :)
Count me in for breakfast! Coconut butter is the thing I'm itching to make next.
I wish I was looking for new appliances. There are so many cool things out there.. many of which I'll never be able to afford. Like that Electrolux oven with the blue interior that they have on display at Lowes. Soooo pretty..
all of this is almost too good to be true. your previous post of balls and bars look so great, and i just bought another 2lb box of medjool dates so you know what i'll be up to :)
So I tried to make coconut butter a few weeks ago after reading lots about it on the blogs, and it TOTALLY failed. Nothing happened to it...it just stayed like regular coconut. I keep my coconut in a ziplock, so I don't *think* it's dried out, but I'm not 100% sure. I was wondering if you need to use a certain amount to really make it work? I only used about a cup of coconut...should I up that?
That looks dreamy! I don't think I could live without my food processor, it's definitely my most used appliance. Such a time saver!
Me either...secretly, I love it more than my Vita Mix!
What size food processor do you have? If you're using an 11c you'll definitely need to up it to 2-3c, which will make you about 1c of coconut butter. You're using shredded, not flaked right? What brand? I only had a problem once out of about the 8 times I've made it and it was because my coconut bag had been opened [even though I keep it closed with a clip] for a few months. Hope this helps!
Heck yes!
Some of the most expensive appliances don't even get that good of reviews. I've been learning that you can't just go into a store and pick something out...read + read + read reviews! :)
Thanks for saying hi Rach! It's always fun to hear from new readers. :) I hope you enjoy the almond butter if you make it. I have a bunch of other nut butter recipes on my recipes page! [vanilla bean almond butter, maple cinnamon almond butter, etc.!]
Round 2 is in the oven right now! ;)
I am so obsessed with coconut right now! That almond butter is calling my name for SURE!!
Well, it kind of just fell apart, hehe...round 2 is about to come out of the oven! :)
Make sure to use 2-3c of coconut, if you're using an 11-14c food processor, which will give you about 1c of butter. Anything less and it has a hard time processing.
Hmmm, maybe I'll do another video post...hehe
Somehow through our realtor we get really good discounts at Sears and even better on Kenmore appliances. Even having that narrowed down, it's still taking forever! hehe
See you soon ;)
They are most definitely for you and were sent out yesterday!
I forgot to add on the note, they'll keep best in the refrigerator. :)
Mmm...I love coconut butter and have never even bought store-bought, since i learned how to make it myself from blog world!
Also, yes, appliance shopping is very time-consuming. When we bought our front loader washer I think we took months to decide! Consumer reports, online reviews, it was crazy.
YUM. I've been doing the same thing lately. I make a big batch of coconut butter, take half out to have plan, then dump in cocoa for a chocolate version. The almonds must take it up a huge notch though, I will definitely have to try that.
While my butter is still drippy I spoon 1 tsp servings into mini silicon baking cups, then pop out and store in an old coconut oil jar. This way I have little portions divided out, no melting or scraping required.
You have outdone yourself - coconut almond butter?! Amazing. I can't wait to try this!
You should start a nut butter company. Seriously. You're nut butters are so amazingly creative and yet loaded with good for you, whole ingredients. Just a thought! :) In the meantime, I'm just glad you enjoy sharing your nut butter creativity with us!
Coconut almond butter - I must make this! I saw it over at Healthy Exposures and now here! YUM
Wow, this looks amaaazing!! You should do a give away of some of your nut butters...and then let me win! :)
Consumer Reports is awesome. We use it all the time! And yes...buying home appliances is a nightmare but the good thing is that after you do it once hopefully you don't have to do it again for a long time! :) I will say this...when it comes to washers...don't (let me repeat that: DON'T) buy a front loader. They break all the time and are insanely expensive to fix! Thankfully we didn't go that route when we bought ours and everyone I talk to hates them and talks about what a nightmare they are. Another lesson I learned was that LG appliances manufacture all their parts overseas so if something breaks and you need a replacement part it takes FOREVER to get it and it the shipping is INSANE!! Just me two cents...
I made almond butter with dark chocolate, next time, I'll add some coconut too. It's so amazing making nut butters at home.
Love your breakfast bake today :)
I'm impressed you spend the time researching--I'd be inclined to just buy the first one I found!