Every day, new discoveries highlight the incredible healthy foods that Nature provides—foods packed with nutrients and brimming with health benefits. If you follow health news online, you’ve likely heard about the amazing properties of coconut oil. Perhaps you’ve been using it for years and already love it!
Now, there’s something even more remarkable: coconut butter. Unlike coconut oil, which is just an extract from coconut meat, coconut butter is made from the entire coconut meat, blended into a smooth consistency and allowed to solidify. If coconut oil is already incredible, imagine how amazing coconut butter can be!
Here’s how to make your own coconut butter at home:
How to Make Coconut Butter
Coconut butter is incredibly simple to make because it requires just one ingredient: coconut.
- Choose Your Coconut
- Ideally, get a whole, mature coconut. The browned coconuts often sold in ethnic grocery stores are perfect—they are older, with dried-up water and hardened, thick meat. This is the same type used to make coconut milk.
- If you can’t find a whole coconut, unsweetened dried coconut flakes or shreds will work. Be sure they are fresh and not sweetened, roasted, reduced-fat, or desiccated.
- Prepare Your Blender or Food Processor
- A high-powered blender, like a Vitamix, is ideal for making coconut butter. A food processor works too, though it may take longer and result in a slightly less smooth texture.
- Blend the Coconut
- Measure about 6 cups of coconut flakes and pour them into your blender or food processor. This amount blends more efficiently and yields a smooth butter consistency.
- Blend on high for 4–6 minutes, or until smooth. If using a food processor, you may need to stop occasionally to scrape down the sides. Continue until the coconut transforms into a thick, creamy butter.
- Cool and Store
- Once blended, you’ll notice the delightful aroma of fresh coconut. Pour the warm, liquid coconut butter into a jar and let it cool to solidify. In hot climates, refrigeration may be necessary.
- Enjoy Your Coconut Butter
- Coconut butter is versatile and delicious. Spread it on toast, stir it into coffee or smoothies, use it in cooking, or flavor it with cinnamon or other spices. The possibilities are endless—and it’s wonderfully addictive!
