Have you tried to make your own nut butter yet?  It’s pretty easy.  Peanut butter only takes minutes.  Almond butter takes a bit longer, but it is so worth it.  I love maple, vanilla and almonds together.  If you have been reading this blog for some time, you know that my favorite breakfast is my Maple Vanilla Almond Granola.  This spread was inspired by those flavors.

This spread is great for when you need a little something sweet.  Use it on toast or waffles, dip fruit in it, or simply eat a few spoonfuls out of the jar.  That last one is my fave.    It would also be a great stepping stone if you are trying to get your kids off processed peanut butter. This recipe is for a very small batch. My food processor has an easier time with smaller batches of nut butter. It’s also faster if you do a small batch.

Maple Vanilla Almond Butter

1 cup raw almonds
2 T maple syrup
1 tsp ground vanilla beans (extract would work well too)

In a food processor, grind the almonds into a meal.  Wait a few seconds and grind some more.  Do this about every thirty seconds or so.  Grind and stop.  Grind and stop.  This allows time for the almonds to release their oils.  Once the almonds start to look moist, add the vanilla and maple syrup.  Keep grinding and stopping until you have something that looks like almond butter.  That’s it.  You can add 1 tablespoon of oil if you would like a richer taste.  I usually don’t though.