I enjoy making things at home as opposed to buying the stuff that is loaded with preservatives, additives and chemicals at the store. I know I say this all the time but it is not until you taste the “real” stuff that you realize how much better, tastier, healthier and cheaper it is to try and make things at home yourself. Just turn any jar at the store around and try reading the long list of stuff that goes into your regular nut butter and you will be amazed, I don’t even know what half the stuff in there is! My kids love peanut butter and with them at home this summer I decided to explore making my own almond butter and peanut butter at home.
The kids were super excited to watch how almonds were transformed into almond butter and then into chocolate almond butter. Sure it was like a helicopter was landing in the kitchen when the food processor started working the almonds but the kids did not mind!
This almond butter was amazing as a spread for sandwiches, as a dip with some apples or simply by the spoonful 
This is a great snack to have around the house and it also makes for a unique and wonderful gift for the foodie friend in your life
Before I get to the recipe I have two things to say:
I want to wish my readers a Ramadan Mubarak if you celebrate the month of fasting. Wishing you all a blessed month.Ramadan is the month when muslims fast from dawn till sunset. It is a month of worship and feeling with those less fortunate. In Ramadan the streets are decorated with lanterns, stars and crescents. Families gather around for iftar to enjoy dishes unique to celebrate this month. I will be sharing a few of those unique dishes over the next few weeks and hopefully I will take my camera and take you on a tour of the streets and markets of Amman in Ramadan. If you are interested make sure you come back often and check for these posts coming soon
I also want to thank Maureen of Orgasmic Chef for having me as a guest on her food writer Fridays. Maureen is a wonderful interviewer. I enjoyed answering her questions.So if you want to know a little more about me, please visit my interview with Maureen . While you are there do take a look around Maureen’s wonderful blog. She is a talented blogger with a beautiful writing style, a sweet sense of humor and big passion for life and everything she makes.Her Vanilla Poached Pear and Apple Crumble , ekmek kataief and her dad’s beef straganoff are high on my must try soon.
Peppermint chocolate almond butter
2 cups toasted almonds
2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup coco powder
1/2 to 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Making plain natural almond butter
Add the almonds to your food processor and turn it on to medium speed (you might want to cover your ears at this stage)
Be patient! it will take a few minutes for the almonds to start releasing their natural oils. Slowly you will notice that the almond powder is turning into a paste.
Keep scrapping down the sides
After the almonds have turned into a slightly granular paste start adding in the oil slowly while the food processor is on. Check the consistency and stop adding oil when you reach the desired thickness.
You can stop at this stage and you will have plain natural almond butter. You may want to add sugar, honey, stevia or any sweetener of choice.
You can also add cinnamon, cardamom or any other flavoring you like.
Making chocolate almond butter
If you decide to turn your almond butter into a chocolate peppermint one and I strongly suggest you do
Add the coco powder, sugar and peppermint extract to the almond butter and pulse in the food processor until they are completely incorporated.
You may need to add a little more oil because the coco will make the butter thicker in consistency
Notes:
The amount of oil you add will determine the consistency of the almond butter. More oil makes the consistency smoother and more flowy
The quality of the coco powder you use will go a long way to determining the final taste and quality of your almond butter, so try to use good quality coco powder to get the best results
The amount of sugar you add is up to how sweet you want the butter to be
Almond butter serving suggestions
This chocolate almond butter can used as
Sandwich spread
Dip for fruits
As a topping or along side pancakes or waffles
The chocolate component in making chocolate granola (recipe coming soon)
Add a couple of tablespoons of this chocolate almond butter to your smoothy in the morning. It is amazing with bananas and milk
Or simply enjoyed by the spoonful lol
tonettejoyce
/ October 23, 2012Sawsan, I will be looking forward to the recipe when you get to it.In the meantime,I will try to find i t on my ‘travels’. I managed to get ‘exiled’ to a small town and often have to go out-of-town for interesting food…but I have to say it is finally growing here and there are newer, more exotic foods coming in.Also, with the TV chefs, people are finally trying new things.I will look for karakeesh. I love sesame.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ October 24, 2012I will do my best and I hope to be able to perfect the recipe real soon.
TV chefs have indeed changed so much in the way people around the globe think of food and aproach it
I am glad people in your town are trying new things, that keeps life interesting
tonettejoyce
/ October 21, 2012Sawsan, I heard that you had an interesting cooking blog, and they were right! Tell me, please, what is around the peppermint-chocolate-almond butter in the picture? That really looks very good.
I will be looking at more of your recipes.I do like Middle Eastern cooking.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ October 22, 2012Hello Tonette
Thank you for the visit and the kind comment
The peppermint chocolate almond butter is surrownded with sesame crackers called karakeesh. I am still perfecting that recipe, that’s why it has not been posted yet
Mariam
/ September 19, 2012Love your blog, it is so refreshing. I am a reluctant cook and daily need heavy inspiration and emotional support, and you give it, girl! Do you have the recipe for those cookies that appear on the picture with the almond butter? Please, if you can, e-mail it to me or posted in the comments, I’ll settle for the pics for later. We all like these cookies but it is too expensive to buy them where we are. Love, Mariam
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ September 20, 2012Thank you so much Mariam for your sweet words. I am glad you enjoy my blog
I do have the recipe and will email it to you today
Mariam
/ September 20, 2012Thank you Sawsan. I have all the ingredients, I’ll bake them as soon as I get the recipe!
The White Pumpkin
/ July 30, 2012O MY… its like amlou…but a bazillion times better…I must eat this!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 31, 2012tanjascookingcorner
/ July 28, 2012Ramadan Mubarak to you, Sawsan! I am so bookmarking this, I am also a big fan of homemade food of any kind! The only thing that stops me from trying this recipe out right away (it looks fingerlicking good
), is that I am on a diet for the next few weeks with very low sugar intake. But I am looking forward to enjoy this yummieness!
The interview at Orgasmic Chef is wonderful, I really enjoyed reading it!!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 28, 2012Thank you very much Tanja, for the Ramadan wishes and for reading the interview.
Wishing you all the best of luck with the diet, I know this is not easy
Gina
/ July 27, 2012Hi Sawsan, saw you over at Maureen’s and I’m so glad. I love your beautiful photographs and knowing more about the Middle East, this California Girl hasn’t seen much of the rest of the world, so I love seeing it through other blogger’s eyes. How did you know I have a thing for chocolate and mint together.
-Gina-
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 30, 2012Hello Gina, thank you for stopping by my blog and for your sweet comment
I am realy glad you enjoyed my recipes and pictures and I hope to hear from you more often
Nami | Just One Cookbook
/ July 27, 2012This sounds very easy and delicious Sawsan! I’m looking forward to your special posts. I am so spoiled that I don’t know if I can ever fast… I might become so evil! I’m sure a lot of people practice and get used to it. As a foodie, it must be hard for you to look at the food during this time. Or maybe you know how to handle it so well. Anyway, I hope you share more personal experience about it too. I’m curious to know.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 30, 2012Almond butter is really easy Nami, I hope you will give it a try.
As for fasting, believe me you get used to it to the point that you enjoy it. It is more than just fasting of the body, sure you don’t eat or drink but what is more is that it is supposed to be the time to renew your faith observe God in everything you do and say and think..time to reconnect. It is also time to feel with those less fortunate,we fast from dawn till sundown but there are those who have very little all day long..all year long.
I will do my best to write a post about it soon
Courtney
/ July 27, 2012Holy smokes, that sounds pretty darn easy – and delicious!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 28, 2012it is both Courtney…easy and delicious
Asmita Kakodker
/ July 26, 2012Wow, this looks and sounds yummylicious!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012Thank you kindly
Louise
/ July 26, 2012Ah, long gone are the days of making “butters” with the kiddies. Way before there were food processors suitable for the kitchen:) We did however, make peanut butter using a Mr. Peanut Peanut Butter Machine. That was always fun. I’m pretty sure we could have made Almond Butter too. It’s been a while so maybe we did:)
I was at Maureen’s yesterday. She does have a lovely blog and is in search of more guest bloggers. I’m delighted to learn about the Muslim holiday. I would love to one day dig into the foods aspect of it, ah someday…
Thank you so much for sharing, Sawsan…You too have a lovely blog and I’m going to save this recipe for when I see the grandkids!!!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012Hello Louise, thank you for reading my interview and for stopping by for a visit
I remember as a kid that it seemed like magic when mom made something from scratch that we usually buy. I am sure your kids have fond memories of Mr peanut butter machine
I will do my best to post about the food aspect of Ramadan and Eid this year and I hope you will come back for a visit to check those posts out
scribbleofhappygoluckygal
/ July 26, 2012Oh My Good God.. this looks like heaven:):)
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012Thank you so much
liana
/ July 26, 2012I liked so much your interview, it’s so funny, and love to know thinks about you! Somehow I knew you are a tall lady
. And I’m impressed that you can manage with children, taking care of your family, having this wonderful blog and having a job! You are just wonderfull ! 
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012Thank you for stopping by the interview Liana and thank you kindly for your sweet comment..I really appreciate it
Priya Sreeram (@priyasreeram)
/ July 26, 2012Ramadan Greetings ; this butter with the minty touch looks yum
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012I love the mint chocolate combination and thought it would work nicely with the almond butter..glad you like it
Kristy
/ July 26, 2012You are so creative and adventurous Sawsan! I’m sure the kids had a blast making this – mine just love the food processor, noise and all.
This looks like a fantastic treat that my kids would enjoy too.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012The quickest way to get my kids to the kitchen is to turn on the food processor!
Glad you like this Kristy..I think Miss A and Mr N can make this all by themselves ..they are really talented
kitchenriffs
/ July 26, 2012Making your own is almost always better. Though oddly enough I’ve never made my own almond (or peanut) butter. Nothing but laziness on my part, because I know it’s pretty simple. As your recipe shows. Oh, and have a wonderful Ramadan! Years (decades!) ago I lived in Morocco for a year, and although I didn’t observe Ramadan, it was an interesting and wonderful experience. Such feasting that takes place when the sun goes down! Anyway, nice post – thank you.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012Thank you very much for your kind wishes, I have never been to Morocco but it is on my wish list.
I hear that ramadan there is a very unique experience.
Almond butter is indeed very simple and the best part is that you can flavor it any way you like
Heather Wyckoff Brown
/ July 25, 2012Going to try this in just a few minutes for my kids, they found a bag of almonds I had “hidden” so I now have something to do with them lol How long does it stay good for?
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012Hello Heather, there is very little one can “hide” from kids lol
This stays good for a month in the fridge..but I think it will be gone long before that
Looking forward to hearing how it turned out
nisreen massad
/ July 25, 2012wow great post i love it , i have to make it soon,i visit your interview with Maureen and i love it , so nice from her to write about you. i love watermelon ,and i’m from jenin too .thank you for all the recipes
)
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012Hello Nisreeen, thank you very much for visiting the interview and for your sweet comment..it is a pleasure to know you are from Jenine too
Eva Taylor
/ July 25, 2012Ramadan Mubarak to you too, my friend. That certainly is an exercise in restraint, not eating during the daylight, here in Toronto, we have light until after 9pm and as early as 4am, so it would be a very long hungry day. I admire your dedication. And I look forward to the pictures of the celebrations. While we were in Marrakech, they celebrated Eid al-Adha and other than stores being closed, and some cooking of lamb heads in the streets, there was no decorations or celebrations so I am excited to see how lovely Jordan is decorated and celebrating!
My Mom used to buy us Nutella all the time (back in the day before sticter nutritional labelling — oops, I hope that doesn’t give away how old I am!).
It’s lovely to have a recipe for it after all these years.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012Thank you kindly Eva
I really appreciate your wishes.
Here in Amman dawn is at 4 am and sunset as 8 pm it is hard but I honestly look forward to this month all year
I am working on the pictures, hopefully over the weekend I will take my camera on a little trip around the city and I hope you will enjoy it Eva
thelady8home
/ July 25, 2012I have never peanut or almond butter at home. I really want to try, my older kid loved peanut butter. This sounds so good. Bookmarking it.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 25, 2012Thank you for bookmarking and I really hope to hear what you think of it if you do try it
bitsandbreadcrumbs
/ July 25, 2012I can’t decide which I enjoy more, Sawsan, your beautiful images or your creative flavors…thank goodness I don’t HAVE to decide! I had no idea almond butter was so easy to make. I make a lot of almond “flour” in the processor, so am familiar with the helicopter sounds in the kitchen! I always have raw almonds on hand, so will have to try processing longer and making my own butter, plain and chocolate.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012I deeply appreciate your kind comment
you put a big smile on my face Betsy..thank you
I look forward to hearing what you think of almond butter when you give it a go
ambrosiana
/ July 25, 2012This is a very fascinating, versatile recipe! I love the pairing with apples. I think it could also work well (by using less or omitting sugar) with meats such as chicken. The pictures as are stunning as usual!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012Thank you kindly for your comment about my pictures.
I actually did not think of using this with meat but now that you mention it..it is a really interesting idea
Wendy Irene
/ July 25, 2012I spend lots of money buying nut butters. I love them so much! You are really inspiring me to make my own. I love the idea of adding chocolate. I actually read an article on Oprah.com that the best time of day to have dessert is morning. This would be perfect for that! Have a great day
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 30, 2012The best time for dessert is in the morning..makes sense
I hope you will have a chance to try making nut butter at home. It is really easy and very tasty
Promenade Claire
/ July 25, 2012Love it – I’ve just been making Almond Butter cookies – almond butter was totally new to me, but you’v egiven me some more ideas – and your beautfully decorated plate, just beautiful.
And I’m looking forward to hearing about your Ramadam and seeing the streets of Amman
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 30, 2012Thank you Claire,
Almond butter cookies sound amazing, do you have a recipe posted for those?
Promenade Claire
/ July 31, 2012Hi, yes I blogged baout them here – http://promenadeplantings.com/2012/07/24/generosity-cookies-and-a-blogging-spree/ It was a recipe from Spree
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 31, 2012Thank you very much Claire for the link
Cher
/ July 25, 2012This is rather lovely & I really enjoyed reading more about you on Maureen’s site.
I always enjoy your posts
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 27, 2012Thank you for stopping by the interview Cher
I really enjoy your posts too, you have a unique voice
Rasha
/ July 25, 2012This looks yummy!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 25, 2012Thank you my friend
Rasha
/ July 26, 2012I can’t stop thinking about having a nice piece of toast with this.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012and I can’t wait to hear what you think of it when you do
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
/ July 25, 2012What a delicious combination of flavors! I’ve never thought to make peppermint chocolate almond butter – will have to try!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 25, 2012Thank you Laura. My kids like after eight chocolate so the peppermint and chocolate mix is a favorite here
Sarvani @ baker in disguise
/ July 25, 2012chocolate almond peppermint butter.. thats absolutely wicked Sawsan!!!
Ramadan Mubarak to you… and please please don’t forget to do that post on the streets of Amman during Ramadan evenings. I have seen the numerous delights on the Indian streets during Ramadan (thanks to all my Muslim friends).. and the mind boggles.. so would love to see it from your part of the world too!!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 25, 2012Thank you very much for the ramadan wishes Sarvani.
Hopefully by next week I will have the post about Ramadan ready, looking forward to hearing what you think of it
ChgoJohn
/ July 25, 2012This looks rich and wonderful, Sawsan. The photo with the apple slices is just so enticing! That picture sold me on your recipe, right then and there. I’ve pinned this for future reference. Thank you!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 26, 2012Thank you for pinning John. Eating this butter with apples is by far my favorite way. there is something about pairing the crunchy slightly tart apples with the creamy butter
Glad you like the idea too
Eha
/ July 25, 2012I looked at the title of this, sent a quiet greeting to you, Sawsan, and was going to pass onto the next mail as am not really into matters sweet and chocolatey! Just as well I did not, ’cause this sounds absolutely lovely! Almonds are so healthy and cocoa is a proven ‘medicine’ against high blood pressure [DO google Zuni Indians/cocoa!] – OK, sugar – it IS divided twixt a number of portions
!! Thanks heaps!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 25, 2012I appreciate the fact that you decided to take a look even when the title did not seem extra appealing
Almonds are indeed one of the super foods and I try to use it often. As for the sugar, you can adjust the amount or the type of sweetner to your liking
Norma Chang
/ July 25, 2012Oh, definitely adding good quality coco powder to make chocolate almond butter.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 25, 2012Glad you like it Norma
Playful foodist
/ July 24, 2012Aw… I love almond butter!
Playful foodist
/ July 24, 2012I do love everything almond butter!
Playful foodist
/ July 24, 2012I love everything almond butter! I guess I would leave out the peppermint though…
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 25, 2012It is really up to your taste..there are so many different flavor possibilites
Playful foodist
/ July 25, 2012Your right! I might like adding vanilla… or cinnamon!
Choc Chip Uru
/ July 24, 2012ThiS almond butter looks fantastic my friend, so many twists!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 28, 2012Thank you Uru, glad you like it
A_Boleyn
/ July 24, 2012PS: Sorry, Sawsan, I didn’t realize that you were posting on your own blog, not Maureen’s.
I subscribe to so many blogs these days that I get confused.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 25, 2012No worries..I know what you mean about following so many blogs
sallybr
/ July 24, 2012Loved this post, but loved loved LOVED your interview!
so nice to learn a bit more about you…..
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 25, 2012You are always so kind Sally..thank you for reading the interview
A_Boleyn
/ July 24, 2012Welcome to the blog, Sawsan. I love that you make something that would seem to be difficult to manage seem simple by describing the process clearly with observations along the way. I’m sure that your little ones appreciate the many healthy snacks and treats that you make for them.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 25, 2012Me and the kids really enjoy our time in the kitchen
glad you found the process clear and easy
Tales and Travels of the Tin Man
/ July 24, 2012Sounds delightful!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ July 25, 2012Thank you Emil