Espresso Cacao Cashew Almond Butter – kind of sounds like something you would order at the coffee house right? Well I have to admit, this cashew almond butter would fit right there! Cashew almond butter with a kick of espresso and crunch from cacao beans, I can’t think of a better topping for pancakes, biscotti or banana bread, can you?
Have I ever mentioned how much I love to play with my food and food combinations? One of my favorite things to do is walk around the grocery store and see what new flavored nut butters are in the market. As soon as I saw one with espresso in the name, I knew I had to make something similar very soon.
All throughout college I worked as a barista and I love the way fresh coffee smells. I used to eat that chocolate covered espresso beans we had to top our mochas like it was going out of style. So of course I had to include some cacao beans in this espresso nut butter recipe as well. Not only do the inclusion of the cacao beans give that chocolate punch that I was looking for, but they also make this a very crunchy nut butter since I add them in at the end.
IN THIS FREE EBOOK
I was introduced to almond butter about four years ago and I have to admit in the beginning I just didn’t love it. Clearly I have come around since then :) I think I expected it to taste like peanut butter, which it doesn’t, but it does have its own unique flavor which I’ve come to love. Sometimes I find that adding cashews in with my almond butter creates this super luxurious spread that is a almost buttery from the cashews and of course that unique almond flavor still finds a way to shine through, although not as pronounced.
I have to say I am pretty obsessed with the way this turned out. It’s got a very unique coffee flavor which pairs beautifully with that slightly bitter cacao bean. I have found all sorts of ways to use this nut better. Some of my favorites include, stuffed inside of a strawberry (once you take the top off) or stuffed inside of a medjool date after the pit is removed. This espresso cacao cashew almond butter paired beautifully (almost too well) with my mocha banana bread that I’ll share with you soon.
The one thing that always gets me about making my own nut butters at home is that I can’t figure out how to get them to be crunchy. Give me the option and I will almost always choose chunky over smooth nut butter, but my at home butters are always smooth. Well all except this one! I love the little nibs of cacao that didn’t quite get broken up in the food processor. I’m sure adding whole coffee beans would have a similar effect but all I had on hand was pre-ground espresso.
Cashew Almond Butter Spotlight
Almonds and cashews are a great source of monounsaturated fat, which is an unsaturated fat, found mostly in plants. Unsaturated fats have been studied to show an improvement in blood cholesterol and ease inflammation in the body. They also have many other beneficial features and are recommended to be eaten on a daily basis.
Almonds also provide vitamin E, copper, E, magnesium, and protein to the body! They are a great portable snack, but I really love them ground up in almond butter as well!
Cashew Almond Butter Recipe Tips
I use my trusty food processor (affiliate link) to get these nuts all broken down into creamy cashew almond butter. I find the nuts are more likely to break down into smooth, creamy butter if they are first roasted. If you decide to use raw nuts and not roast them, you will likely have to add oil (melted coconut works well).
I used organic cacao beans in this recipe! They are one of my favorite superfoods, they are also great in chocolate crunch protein pancakes and single serve brownies!
Now excuse me while I go get my caffeine buzz with my afternoon snack!!
Espresso Cacao Cashew Almond Butter
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup raw almonds - roasted
- 3/4 cup raw cashews - roasted
- 2 tbs. cacao nibs
- 1/2 tbs. espresso powder
- 2 packet stevia
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Roast almonds and cashews in oven at 350 for 7-8 minutes until fragrant. Take out of oven and allow to cool slightly.
- Add cashews and almonds to food processor and allow to process 5-6 minutes until butter starts to form. You might have to scrape down the sides at this point. Process until a smooth butter forms (this takes a total of 8-9 minutes at my house).
- Once smooth, add ground espresso, stevia and cacao nibs. Pulse until combined and cacao nibs slightly crushed.
- Store in airtight container.
Nutrition Information
What about you?
- Do you like your nut butters:
- Smooth or crunchy?
- Plain or full of crazy flavors?
- What is your favorite way to eat nut butter?
Stephanie
This sounds amazing! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!
Sandra Laflamme
ooh! I would love this on toast. I love cacao. And thanks for the reminder to purchase a new food processor. My other one died recently!
Evi @ greenevi
This just sounds out of the world delicious! Perfection!
Toni
i love nut butters and this one looks awesome. I have not attempted to make my own yet, but maybe I will try this one!
Deborah Davis
This recipe takes nut butter to a whole new level. What a delectable combination of flavors! Thank you for sharing your healthy and delicious Espresso Cacao Cashew Almond Butter recipe with us at the Healthy, Happy, Green and Natural Party Blog Hop! I’m pinning and sharing!
Sarah
Perfection!!!! LOVE IT!
Jessica
I NEED to make this! I’m so glad you mentioned using stevia, too. I love using that as a sugar substitute. I eat a tablespoon of almond butter on a slice of Ezekiel bread for my post-workout meal, and this would be a delicious way to change it up without adding sugar. Thanks!
Katie @ Huff 'n Puff to Buff 'n Tough
This looks amazing and I bet it smells amazing.
Alisha Webster
ohh! I love both of these things. I’ll have to try it out soon – It might actually be up my picky husband’s alley as well.
jill conyers
2 of my favorite things, nuts and cacao! Your recipe would be an awesome topper or spread for so many things.
Ariana
This looks and sounds amazing! I’m a HUGE nut butter fan…my nut butter cupboard is actually a little ridiculous haha. I’ve always shied away from making my own because I don’t know if my food processor could handle it, but on the weekend I paid $18 for two small jars of nut butter than used to cost $11 for the two…it might be time to give it a shot, and I think this recipe is a great place to start!!
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment
That sounds delicious! A blend of two of my favorites.
Courtney
I bet that does pack a fun punch!! I started out hating almond butter too, it tasted like sawdust to me….so dry. But now it is on constant rotation for breakfast with my banana. Funny how that works.