This post is sponsored by California Walnuts
Remember back in the day when the blog world was discovering a new nut butter every 10 minutes? Nuttzo, hazelnut butter, Barney Butter, homemade butters, drippy butters – the works. One of the nut butters I tried was walnut butter. It’s, well, it’s buttery! It’s also a bit earthy. A nice change from your typical peanut butter. It needs to make a comeback!
Walnuts are one of my favorite nuts for both taste and nutrition. They are so versatile (I use them in my pesto recipes) and they are one of the healthiest nuts packing in 2.5 grams of alpha-linolenic acid (aka ALA) into a one-ounce serving. Research has found that omega-3 fatty acids have positive anti-inflammatory effects and are therefore good for the whole cardiovascular system. February is Heart Health Month, so eat up!
So knowing they are good for you, let’s dive into this delicious recipe!
Two things inspired its creation: my love for toasted walnuts and this coconut extract I’ve been dying to use. You can easily make this recipe without the extract if you don’t have any, but it amps up the flavor a bit!
To get started making your walnut butter, preheat the oven to 350*. Once it’s ready, bake 1.5 cups walnuts for about 6 minutes, until they are fragrant.
When the walnuts are done, add them to the food processor.
Toast 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut in the same pan for 4 minutes. Watch carefully so it doesn’t burn!
While the coconut is cooking (and you are watching it in your peripheral vision!), process the walnuts with 1/4 tsp kosher salt, 1.5 tsp light oil, like sunflower or canola (bonus if you have walnut oil on hand!), 1/2 tsp maple syrup and 1/2 tsp coconut extract.
It only took about 60 seconds for mine to turn into butter. And since the walnuts had just been toasted, the butter was warm!!!
For the final step, pulse in the toasted coconut for about 5 pulses – just until combined. You want to maintain a bit of its crunch!
The texture is perfect – like warm cookie dough with crunchy coconut bits!
Toasted Coconut Walnut Butter
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups walnuts
- 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1.5 tsp sunflower oil or other light oil
- 1/2 tsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp coconut extract optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350*
- Toasted walnuts for 6 minutes, until fragrant.
- In the same pan, toast coconut for 4 minutes, being careful not to burn.
- Add walnuts, salt, oil, maple and extract to a food processor and process for 60 seconds or so - until a nut butter the consistency of cookie dough forms.
- Pulse in the coconut for 5-6 pulses, until combined.
I served my walnut butter on an epic sandwich with some local Apple Pie Jam and Cinnamon Chip bread.
Now that’s what I call breakfast…or lunch…or a great post-soccer snack!
To celebrate those yummy walnuts, I have a copy of Mollie Katzen’s Get Cooking: 150 Simple Recipes to Get You Started in the Kitchen to giveaway! Enter below : )
This post was sponsored by California Walnuts.
Colleen says
I use them in a homemade granola recipe from the smitten kitchen cookbook
Amanda says
My favorite way to enjoy walnuts is in baklava
K says
I enjoy walnuts on a yummy creamy salad!
courtney says
I love eating walnuts in salads! yum. Your sandwich looks good, but way too sweet for me!
Hannah @ eat, drink and save money says
I can’t wait to try this! Walnuts and pecans tie as my favorite nuts so I’m surprised I’ve never had walnut butter. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it anywhere which is a great excuse to make my own!
Jess @ The Baguette Diet says
I’ve never tried walnut butter, but this looks delicious! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Amy says
My favorite way to enjoy walnuts is toasted, in cookies or banana bread.
Melissa @battleofmarathonblog says
Weird timing! I have what I think is a mild and unconfirmed allergy to almonds (almond milk seems to be okay when I just use it in a smoothie), but I don’t react well to almond butter…it makes my throat tickle strangely. Walnuts, on the other hand, are a staple in my house! Does walnut milk exist??
Val says
I love walnuts and mainly just eat them right out of the bag. But this walnut butter sounds amazing, definitely going to try it out!
Jennifer says
I love walnuts on salads!
Could you sub coconut oil in place of the sunflower? (Rather than adding the coconut extract if you don’t have any on hand.)
KathEats says
Yes but keep in mind this time of year it’s pretty solid and might change the texture
Becky@TheSavedRunner says
I need to buy some more coconut so I can make this recipe ASAP! 🙂
Tina says
It took us over in Germany ages to discover nut butter and we mainly stick to almond butter – but not many are trying to make their own…have to admit I never tried it too and I doubt my foodprocessor will make it that easy
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
I love walnuts! I eat them every day in my chicken salad!
Pat says
I eat walnuts on my cereal – hit and cold – plus i use them to make pesto. If we’re going hiking or biking, i make a quick trail mix with raisins and walnuts. I always have some in my cupboard, and since i buy them at Costco, the rest are in my freezer.
Tara @ Living Light says
I always have walnuts at home because of their Omega 3! Love them!
I have never made homemade nut butter. How long do they keep in the fridge?
KathEats says
Mine is in a cabinet and will probably keep a week or so. Nothing in it needs refrigeration so it should be ok
Tara @ Living Light says
Perfect! Thanks 🙂
Dana | fresh simple five says
Sounds delicious!! I’d love to pack this as a snack for work with some apple slices.
Amy says
Toasted, on a salad!
Nicole @ Squash on Squash says
Yum!!! I bet this would go great on oatmeal, toast, and bananas! (To be honest I would probably just eat it out of the jar too…)
Katherine says
This sounds delicious! I love all the little extras that go into it!
kirsten burnett says
this is a very cool and yummy idea and alternative o things such as peanut butter or almond butter even though i absolutly love it and adore it this is also a great recipe.
em says
Atop a spinach and fruit salad!
Emily @ Life on Food says
The coconut addition sounds fantastic.
Katie Dawson says
I actually make a parmesan cheese like topping with roasted walnuts and nutritional yeast. So good on vegetables!
Liz R. says
This walnut butter looks amazing! I will have to try it. Currently my favorite way to enjoy walnuts is in a beet, blue cheese, balsamic vinegar salad.
Jillian says
I love walnuts on my salads!
Ben A. says
I’ve been enjoying banana walnut oatmeal lately, but this walnut butter looks like it would be another great breakfast option.
courtney says
i use walnuts for pesto, too!
Maggie says
I’ve been making a maple cinnamon walnut butter and can’t get enough. Going to make this tonight — sounds to-die-for!
jackie s. says
What a great looking recipe. I’m going to definitely try this out. I love nut butters.
Dani @ DaniCaliforniaCooks says
I love walnuts with a scoop of tuna salad over greens and a little balsamic vinaigrette. Also – this recipe looks dreamy!!
Laura says
I love sprinkling walnuts in my oatmeal!
Valerie B says
I use it in pesto too! I think it tastes mellower than pine nuts.
Isabel says
I love eating them raw on top of a yogurt parfait! They are also a great stand alone snack!
Beth says
I love them on a salad!
Becky says
So the apple pie jam on the cinnamon bread wasn’t too much cinnamon?
Ashley says
I also love walnuts in my pesto! Mmmm…
Sarah says
Looks amazing. I have to stay away from peanuts so I’m always looking for a great alternative nut butter!
Sally says
Love adding walnuts to salads!
Linda @ TheFitty says
I really love how simple this recipe is to make your own nut butter. I would also add some coconut oil. 🙂
Alex @ get big, go to work says
This sounds so delicious!! I love Nuttzo but my wallet, not so much!! I have been wanting to make my own nut butter for the longest time. Maybe this will give me the kick in the pants I need! Looks delish!
Melissa | HerGreenLife says
I started making my own peanut butter a few weeks ago, after getting a good deal on 30lbs of organic roasted peanuts. I want to play with some combo nut butters (was thinking peanut + sunflower seed), so maybe I’ll try peanut + walnut next. Love Mollie Katzen! (My parents spelled my sister’s name like hers 🙂 )
jen says
I love walnuts in overnight oats or hot oatmeal with maple syrup!
Dani says
I love walnuts best toasted in trail mix!
Caroline says
I love making walnut lentil loaf!
Dana S says
on oatmeal
Paige c says
I would add walnuts to my trail mix, I love the walnut pieces that is included in some!
Kel says
in cookies and trail mix – thanks!
Jeannine says
Candied walnuts on a salad 🙂
Taca @ A Side Of Dessert says
OH MY! Looks amazing!! I love walnuts on their own, in oatmeal and in salads but my favourite is definitely in baklava!!
Stacie says
Walnut butter–what a great idea!! I typically use walnuts in pesto, on salads or in homemade nut mixes I make and give away during the holidays.
Thanks for the giveaway and yummy recipe 🙂
Whitney says
I love walnuts on salads!! Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
Carol B says
I am going to try this tonight!! It looks awesome.
Ilene says
I love walnuts toasted and in a trail mix!
Mikaela Stewart says
I love walnuts on top of greek yogurt and berries!
Livi @ Eat, Pray, Work It Out says
This looks amazing 🙂
Pam B says
Hiya Kath!!! I love them straight up. So good to have a handful in the middle of the afternoon. Really hits the spot. Thanks for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!! Pam
pamspretties57 at gmail dot com
Claire says
I love walnuta in salads- especially with bitter greens and fruit!
Allison says
I love them on oatmeal mixed with raisins.
Jodi@prairiekuchen says
That looks delicious! Especially on the cinnamon chip bread!
Heather says
I like to add walnuts to my salads at lunch!
Carla says
I love them in stresusel with apples..mmm!
Sara says
This is not related to this post (but the walnut butter looks great!), but out of curiosity, what are you doing to meet your continuing ed hours for your RD? I am graduating from grad school in August and hope to take the RD exam soon after, so I’m trying to get ideas on how to complete my continuing ed hours.
KathEats says
I am almost done with my 75 because I did a ton of them before having Mazen (knowing it would be a lot harder after). I do a lot of the online learning options (reading journal articles and things) and attend a lot of the professional meetings in Cville and Virginia. You can get a ton at once going to the meetings through all the information packed into a few days. There are also options to read nutrition books and take tests on them. I’m going to be an intern preceptor this spring and think that counts as well.
Sara says
Thanks for answering! May I ask what you have planned for your intern in the spring? I think that’s really cool that you’re going to be a preceptor, and I imagine that your intern will be able to get a really unique experience with you being a food blogger and bakery owner. I am leaning towards the food industry/food service/school nutrition myself, and I did have my own food blog once upon a time, so I know I would have appreciated a rotation that incorporated those aspects of nutrition/dietetics (versus all of the clinical experiences on which my program focuses).
Margaret@KitchenFrau says
I LOVE walnuts and am going to try this right now!
Melissa says
I love to enjoy walnuts on an ice cream sundae!
lisa @bitesforbabies says
Wow! This sounds delicious! I’ve only tried making homemade nut butter once…and failed miserably because my processor isn’t the greatest!! I love the walnut and coconut! I DO make homemade chia jam without any issues though, lol!
http://www.bitesforbabies.com/recipes/blueberry-chia-jam/
Kelsey says
When I make pitas stuffed with tempeh and greens I add walnuts for some crunch and pesto for some flavor! Yum!
Kari F says
I love walnuts!
lauren says
I always put walnuts in my oatmeal, but then I saw someone said baklava up above and while I hardly ever have it I have to say baklava beats oatmeal!
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
I know this is good because everything is toasty! Anything toasty is good 🙂
Renee says
Sounds delicious!!
Jennifer says
Glazed walnuts in a salad
Lexi says
Love them in a sweet cookie!
Sophia says
Walnut butter is a new one for me. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Rosie Lucchesini-Jack says
I’m lucky to have a cousin who’s property has numerous walnut trees so I usually have a freezer full of shelled nuts. I thought about making walnut butter last year so will have to give this recipe a try. Thanks!
Chelsea says
This recipe looks so good!!! I love baking with walnuts, especially banana bread.
PAMCARP says
I love them plain.
Jordan K says
I love walnuts in my oatmeal!
Kara T says
at thanksgiving I always make dates stuffed with a walnut and rolled in sugar! So good!
Laura says
Are those stick on chalkboard things on your jars? I’ve painted on chalkboard paint to the lids of my jars but it would be so easy to have something reusable to stick on the sides! Where are they from?
KathEats says
Yes these are them!! They are great.
Wendy says
I’m not very imaginative – I like walnuts on a salad!!!!!
Kathi says
Yummy recipe! I love to add 1 c. walnuts and 1 c. oatmeal to any box brownie mix. Delicious!
kat says
I love a handful of walnuts as a simple afternoon snack!
Hillary says
Walnut sourdough bread is one of my favorite things in the world!!
Maria says
How Fun1 love new nut butters!
Joy says
I enjoy walnuts on their own (love the flavor!) as well as in brownies.
Jenny says
I actually have walnut oil–will have to try this!
Daniela C. says
on baked goods.
India says
Raw — mixed in a trail mix. Thanks for the giveaway.
Alexa says
I must often use walnuts on oatmeal and in salads if there’s goat cheese. Yum!
Erin m. says
In chocolate chip cookies!
Anna B says
I love walnuts with raisins mixed into plain Greek yogurt!
meg says
In the topping of a warm apple crumble!
leatitia says
God, this looks so good!!! Craving nut butters!
elizabeth says
Plain and lightly toasted.
Susan says
Never would have thought to purchase or make this and it looks great – I’ll be giving it a try! I think I’d like it for a topping on my oatmeal. Thank you for the recipe and the chance to win!
debbie chimento says
I stuff a date with a walnut half for a quick and delicious snack.
Tracy says
That walnut butter looks delicious!
Mollie Katzen has been of favorite of mine for many years. Love all of her cookbooks and I don’t have this one!
Molly says
I love walnuts in my oatmeal or in chocolate chip cookies. Im definitely going to try out this recipe.
Shoshana says
I love sprinkling toasted walnuts on top of salads!