This homemade Pecan Cashew Nut Butter is smooth and creamy, with an irresistible rich and nutty flavor. It's easy to make and is great to keep on hand for a healthy and wholesome snack or spread.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why You'll Love This Homemade Nut Butter Recipe
• 🛒 Ingredients to Make Nut Butter
• 🔪 How to Make Cashew Butter
• 💡 Tips for Making Nut Butter
• ☑️ Storage Instructions
• 🍴 Ways to Use Nut Butter
• 🔄 Substitutions and Additions
• Can I Make Homemade Nut Butter Without a Food Processor or Blender?
• Is Cashew Pecan Butter Healthy?
• Why is it so Important to Toast the Nuts First?
• Is Homemade Nut Butter Better Than Store-Bought?
• 🍽️ More Healthy Recipes Using Nuts

❤️ Why You'll Love This Homemade Nut Butter Recipe

• Roasted pecans and cashews
• Blended until smooth and creamy
• Rich, nutty flavor
• Use it with a variety of recipes
• Healthy spread or snack

If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious addition to your morning or afternoon routine, you’ve just got to give this pecan cashew nut butter recipe a try! Using a few simple ingredients and a blender, you can whip up a nutty spread that's deliciously infused with warm spices and vanilla.

Some people assume that nut butter is the kind of treat that you can only get from the grocery store or health food stores. While you can buy them, gourmet nut butters come at a hefty price. Luckily, you can make this version at home, and it’s fresher and tastes way better than store-bought.  

This cashew pecan butter is a great choice for those wanting to ramp up their protein or needing to find ways to incorporate healthy fats into their diet. Enjoy it straight off the spoon or use it in a variety of healthy recipes.

It can even give a tasty twist to traditional PB&Js when you pair with homemade Strawberry Chia Seed Jam.

🛒 Ingredients to Make Nut Butter

• Raw cashews
• Raw pecans
• Vanilla bean paste
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground nutmeg
• Salt

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• High-powered blender or food processor
• Small baking sheet

🔪 How to Make Cashew Butter

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Spread the cashews and pecans out on a small baking sheet in one even layer.

Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until slightly toasted and fragrant. Allow them to cool slightly before adding them to your high-powered blender.

Blend for 5–6 minutes or until completely smooth and creamy, making sure to stop and scrape down the sides every 2 minutes or so.

First, you will get what looks like nut flour.

Then it will resemble the texture of wet sand.

Then you will start to see it become creamy, as the natural oils in the nuts are released.

This is the stage when you’ll want to add in the ground cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla bean paste, and salt.

Blending times will vary depending on the blender that you are using.  If you don’t have a high-powered blender, a good quality food processor will also work. Have patience with this process, it takes a good several minutes to get to the creamy stage, but I promise it will be well worth it.

If yours isn't as creamy and spreadable as you'd like it, add a little avocado oil. Start with ½–1 teaspoon, blend, and see how you like the texture. In this batch, it was so creamy because the nuts were still warm. I didn't have to add any to it.

Store it in the fridge in an airtight container for about a month.

💡 Tips for Making Nut Butter

• Making the recipe is not the time to grab that leftover bag of nuts from Christmas that's in your pantry. You want high-quality, fresh nuts to ensure you get the best flavor.

• Smell and taste the nuts to check for any signs of rancidity before starting.

• Stir the nuts halfway through toasting to make sure they are evenly browning and to prevent any burnt spots.

• If possible, blend the nuts while they are still warm from toasting. This helps release natural oils better, which creates a smoother texture.

• Experiment with the spice levels, depending on your preference. Feel free to adjust the ground cinnamon and nutmeg.

• As I mentioned above in the steps, patience is key. Allow the blender or food processor to run until the butter reaches a creamy consistency.  

• If you enjoy chunkier nut butter, save a handful of toasted nuts and fold them into the creamy mixture.

☑️ Storage Instructions

Fridge: Transfer the nut butter to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to several weeks. This helps prevent the natural oils in the nuts from going rancid.

Freezing: If you've made a larger batch and want to extend the shelf life, you can freeze it for up to several months. Just thaw it in the refrigerator when needed.

Oil separation: It's normal for natural nut butters to experience some oil separation over time. Simply stir the nut butter well before each use to recombine the oils and solids.

🍴 Ways to Use Nut Butter

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." This toasted nut butter can be enjoyed in so many delicious ways. Here are some great options:

• Spread for toast: A classic choice is to spread the nut butter on warm toast for a simple and satisfying breakfast. It’s great on toast made with this healthy Homemade Bread.

• Smoothie: Add a spoonful to your morning smoothie for a creamy texture and nutty flavor. It would make an awesome addition to this Banana Peach Smoothie or this Mango Smoothie Bowl.

• Banana roll-ups: Spread the cashew butter on a Homemade Tortillas, place banana slices on top, and roll it up for a quick and nutritious snack.

• Oatmeal topping: Swirl the nut butter into your morning oatmeal for a nutty twist.

• Fruit dip: Dip apple slices, banana chunks, or strawberries into the nut butter for a healthy snack.

• Pancake or waffle topping: Warm the nut butter slightly and drizzle it over the low-carb Pancakes or Waffles for a healthy breakfast.

• Layered parfaits or puddings: Swap the peanut butter and use this nut butter in this homemade PB&J Pudding, or any of your favorite layered parfaits.

• Ice cream topping: Melt the nut butter slightly and use it as a topping for sugar-free Butter Pecan Ice Cream.

• Protein snacks: Combine with oats, honey, and a touch of chocolate chips to make energy protein balls.

• Asian dressing: Mix it with a bit of soy sauce and honey for a savory dipping sauce for spring rolls, Asian tacos, shrimp, or chicken skewers.

🔄 Substitutions and Additions

• Almonds: Mix in a handful of almonds with the other nuts before toasting.

• Coconut: Add some toasted coconut flakes along with the nuts to give the nut butter a topical twist.

• Cocoa: Add about a tablespoon of cocoa powder for a nutty chocolate twist.

• Extract: Replace vanilla extract with maple extract, almond extract, or coconut extract.

• Sea salt: Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on the creamy cashew nut butter for extra flavor.

• Espresso: Mix in ground espresso powder for a coffee-infused nut butter.

• Cayenne: For a spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to balance the sweetness.

• Nutella swirl: Swirl in a tablespoon or two of this homemade Nutella for hazelnut-chocolate butter.

Can I Make Homemade Nut Butter Without a Food Processor or Blender?

You could use a mortar and pestle to grind the nuts into a paste-like consistency, but you'll need something more powerful to get the nuts creamy enough.

Is Cashew Pecan Butter Healthy?

You bet! Cashew peanut butter can be a healthy choice when consumed in moderation. Both cashews and peanuts are nutrient-dense nuts that provide essential proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.

Why is it so Important to Toast the Nuts First?

Toasting the nuts may just seem like an extra step, but it's very important. Toasting them enhances their natural flavors, providing a richer taste to the nut butter. It also helps to release the natural oils, creating a smoother and creamier texture.

Is Homemade Nut Butter Better Than Store-Bought?

Homemade nut butter uses super fresh and wholesome ingredients because you get to control what goes into it. It typically contains fewer additives, preservatives, and sweeteners compared to some store-bought varieties.

🍽️ More Healthy Recipes Using Nuts

• Cashew Milk
• Grilled Zucchini with Pine Nuts
• Pecan Crusted Salmon
• Thai Crunch Salad with Peanut Dressing