raw almond butter in vitamix 5200?

[flyinion]

Anyone have any tips on this? I think I missed something in the recipe book. I put in 3 cups of raw almonds and well over 1/2 a cup of oil that was called for and still ended up with a very dry and very HOT almond butter. I knew I was in trouble when I saw some steam start to coat the container It was the first time I've tried to make any nut butter at all in it, I've only had it about a week (bought last weekend at the CA state fair) so I'm still getting used to it.

[raweater]

Blenders and even food processors aren't too good at making nut butters, even a food processor will steam up making nut butter with almonds.

I now make butters in my green star juicer, it works much better. If you don't have one, a food processor is probably the next bext thing, but since it too will steam up, once the almonds start turning to butter, let it cool for maybe 10-15 minutes and then let it run for maybe 30-60 seconds and so on, you can stop and touch it to make sure it's not cooking, as it's extremely easy to cook a nut butter in a food processor too.

By the way, when I made almond butter in my food processor I did not add any oil at all.

[saxmaam]

So ... the Green Star does a good job of making raw almond butter? Do you have to add extra oil?

[Garlic]

when I make nut butter in my vitamix, as soon as I feel the outside of the container getting warm, I shut it off and put the whole container, covered, in the fridge for about 45 minutes.
then I take it out and run it again until it heats up (usually about 20 to 30 seconds does it).
and then back to the fridge.
keep repeating until the nut butter is the consistency you like.
average about 4 to 5 trips to the fridge to cool it off.

[Jenifae]

What is the process of making nut butter or better yet a reciepe? Does anyone soak them first? I saw that you put oil in with the almonds what type of oil. I would like to try this and need a reciepe I suppose if anyone would like to share.

THanks :)

[tvillemom]

I read somewhere that when you make nut butter in a FP (and I assume that making it in a vitamix would kinda be the same) you should mix, let it sit awhile (to cool it down) and mix several times through out the day until it is nut butter consistency. That was one way to make it to get it smooth without cooking it. Hope this helps.

[jacsam]

I love making the nut butters in my fp, when the side starts to steam it's is right on the edge of being finished and I've felt the nut butter at this point and it is only warm, no warmer than the dehydrator. I have found that a mixture of almond and cashew works the best. I don't add anything at all and it turns our nice and smooth. I have added a little sea salt and some agave before and that is REALLY nice.

[raweater]

Yes the green star makes good nut butter and keeps it cool, it's best to use the bread stick attachment though and to run the butter through several times for it to turn more into a sort of liquid.

[flyinion]

So it seems because I used raw almonds I should have used quite a bit more oil. Well, it called for 1/2 a cup, I put in somewhere between 1/2-1 cup. I think about 1 1/2-2 would have done it. I pulled the dryish "butter" out of the fridge this evening and after pouring a good cup+ of oil in the vitamix put the almond "paste" in and in about 30 seconds I had VERY uh no longer dry or pasty almond butter lol.

I'm following the directions to put it in the fridge overnight and pour off excess oil. I hope some of that oil comes back out or I'll end up just dumping this batch because it was very very runny when I put it in the fridge. It's sort of just an experiment now at this point. I figured if excess oil was going to separate out I'd just run it in a lot to see if it would "turn over" in the vitamix finally.

[goobygirl]

I've read the way to make the nut butter (which I tried making today, and kinda got a nut candy, ha ha) is to grind the almonds (not soaked, but put in the freezer overnight to get cold) to a fine powder. You can do this with a coffee grinder or the dry container of the vitamix.

Then you can continue to make the butter in the vitamix or transfer to a FP where you slowly drizzle in oil.

Mine came out kinda strange. I used the frozen almonds. Then I ground them in the vitamix dry container. Then I added some honey, agave, and oil. It didn't get real smooth. But I didn't use a ton of almonds either (harder to use the tamper and mover around) and later on I am going to throw it back in to the vitamix after it cools (it never got hot, just a little warm).

[Emma-Liza]

I made my first nut butter today in my Champion juicer--a blend of tropical nuts. The cashews I put in first were very dry and never made it out the other side, even after I added a little sesame oil. But when I put the macadamias in, and then the brazil nuts, they were super creamy and pushed the cashews on out. I stirred it up, added a pinch of sea salt, and it is goopy and oily and creamy just like commercial nut butters. Pretty smooth, too, with about 3-4 chunks that never got ground for some reason. They could easily be pulled out, but I like 'em!

[rawstrength]

I start with frozen nuts when making nut butters. I make them in my vitamix and they come out warm (100 degrees F) but still raw.
I don't use almonds, though. I only use softer nuts like walnuts and macadamia nuts. If I am using a harder nut/seed like pumpkin seeds, then I will mix them with a softer nut.

[deberaw]

I also use my Champion Juicer to make nut butters...very easy and relatively quick....just put nuts in with the homogenizer/blank plate so it all pushes thru the shoot {with juice there is a mesh plate and the juice comes out that while the pulp comes out the shoot thing}. I do add a little canola or safflower oil if needed, but not much is needed at all. I too like the butters sometimes with a little agave and sea salt, but usually keep them plain. Yummmy.................

[Crazy Healer Lady]

Hi there! I am using the basic Vita-Mix with the wet blade, and I was so intrigued reading these that I tried my blender for almond butter. I had about 1 1/2c almonds and 1/2c sunflower seeds with approx. 3-4 tbsp grapeseed oil. Now, I have to keep my almonds in the freezer due to moths, and I had no problem whatsoever with overheating. Here is what I did:

I blended the nuts and seeds at a low setting with just a tbsp oil to get it going, so it was like a food processor. Gradually, I upped the speed, and when it all started to get together I added the rest of the oil. When it was goey, I checked the temperature, it it was still cold, and not yet creamy. I blended until creamy and it was only a little warm, but colder than body temperature. So the key seems to be slow and steady, and start with at least half of the nuts frozen. I now have the yummiest raw nut/seed butter, about $15 worth in stores, for only $2. It's the perfect consistency.

PS EDIT TO ADD

I never went on the highest setting of the vita-mix. I turned the dial all the way up for a little bit, but never flipped the "overdrive" switch. Total blending time was about a minute to a minute and a half. :)

[Mary @ Fit and Fed]

Almonds definitely make the Vitamix work harder than softer nuts like walnuts. I start with frozen raw almonds. That way the nuts (and machine) won't get too hot during the blending process. I start with the variable speeds, turning the dial quickly up to the highest variable speed and then high speed. I then tamp and stir like crazy for about a minute on high speed. I like Crazy Healer Lady's idea of adding some sunflower seeds, that would make it easier since I think the sunflower seeds are softer. I don't add any oil or salt.