Cashew butter is a thick and delicious alternative to everyone’s favorite peanut butter. You don’t have to hop from one supermarket to the next in your area just to get your hands on a jar of it. That’s because it is actually very easy for you to make it from scratch — it won’t take longer than 20 minutes to whip it up!

You are not going to have a hard time coming across peanut butter as it’s so popular — you will surely spot one at any supermarket that you visit. However, the same thing cannot be said for cashew butter.

Fortunately, it’s something that you can make in your very own kitchen. So if you wish to have a jar of it, you simply have to get your food processor readied rather than drive around the city for hours on end just to hit upon it. With patience, you will be spreading a spoonful of rich cashew butter on bread or elsewhere.

Some recipes online involves soaking raw cashews in water and roasting them in the oven for a few hours at the lowest setting. But the recipe below will save you from such trouble — it’s the easiest one around!

Here’s how to make cashew butter with your own two hands:

Ingredients:

2 cups of supermarket-bought cashews (roasted and lightly salted) 

2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup 

2 tablespoons of coconut oil (melted) 

1/2 teaspoon of sea salt (finely ground)

Directions:

-Place cashews in the bowl of your food processor. 

-Process cashews for 8 to 10 minutes or until very sticky. From time to time, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a plastic spatula. 

-Add honey or maple syrup and sea salt. Process one more time. 

-If you want the finished product to be highly spreadable, add about 2 teaspoons of melted coconut oil. But if you want it really thick, add just about 1 tablespoon only. Process until very smooth. 

-Transfer to a clean jar with a cap. Keep in the refrigerator.

See how simple it is to make cashew butter from scratch? It’s a lot time- and money-saving than paying different local supermarkets a visit just to get your hands on a jar of it.

Your homemade cashew butter can be spread on just about anything that you can think of. You may also add a large dollop of it on your oatmeal or yogurt for added flavor, richness and nutrients. Every serving of cashew butter you make in your own kitchen brings the following benefits:

Reduced heart disease risk

Cashews are very rich in HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or good cholesterol that lowers LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or bad cholesterol. As a result of this, your risk of having heart disease may be reduced, according to doctors.

Lowered risk of iron-deficiency anemia

Nutrition experts say that cashews supply the body with both copper and iron, minerals that are necessitated for the formation of red blood cells or RBCs. In other words, regularly enjoying your homemade cashew butter can help in keeping iron-deficiency anemia at bay.

Increased immunity

The addition of cashew butter to your diet can help keep you from ending up with infections frequently. That’s because this homemade spread contains zinc, which is something that is known to assist your immune system in fighting off invading microbes.

Strengthened muscles

Every serving of cashew butter is packed with protein, which is important for building muscles and strengthening them, too. If you are a beauty-conscious person, you’ll be happy to know that homemade cashew butter also helps keep your skin, nails and hair strong and lovely.