Recently, I’ve been opting for other nut butters than just peanut butter.

I’ve always enjoyed munching on cashews and have developed a liking for cashew butter.

It’s smooth, creamy and quite delicious.

Cashews are more than just a tasty snack—they pack a punch when it comes to health benefits!

Cashew butter is packed with nutrients and offers several health benefits.

Here are some reasons to add them to your diet:

Heart Health:   Cashews contain heart healthy monounsaturated fats that may help lower bad cholesterol and improve overall cardiovascular health.

Weight Management:  Cashews are calorie dense, but they can support weight loss by making you feel full, thereby reducing the chances of overeating.

Blood Glucose Control:  Cashews also have a low glycemic index and may help regulate blood sugar levels, thereby making them a good choice for diabetics.  Cashews are rich in magnesium, which plays a role in energy production and blood sugar regulation.

Bone Strength:  Their rich magnesium content combined with manganese, are essential minerals for maintaining strong bones.

Immune System Support:  Cashews provide iron and copper, which are essential for brain function as well as immune function and energy production.

Skin & Vision Health:  Cashews also contain antioxidants that help maintain healthy skin and protect vision.

Cashew butter is quite easy to make.

Just take about 3 cups of natural raw unroasted cashews, spread them on a baking sheet and heat them in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.  This will bring out the natural oils in the cashews and will make grinding them into butter much quicker and easier.  However, if you can only get pre-roasted cashews, don’t worry, because you can then skip this step of roasting them at home.  Always get the unsalted ones.  I find that the pre-salted ones are a bit too salty.  I like to add my own salt to suit my own taste.

Remove them from the oven and let them cool a bit before handling them.

After they have cooled sufficiently, transport them to your high-speed food processor or blender.   Using the puree function on your food processor or blender, puree the cashews until they come to a creamy consistency.

You can then add whatever you like to the cashews.  I always add a pinch or two of salt to enhance the flavor.  For sweetness, I usually add some monk fruit sweetener to taste, some vanilla extract and some Ceylon cinnamon.  I apologize that I cannot tell you the exact measurements of these added ingredients.  I just eyeball it and add them to suit my taste.

The ingredients I’ve listed above are only a few suggestions.  You can add virtually any sweetener you want.  Pure maple syrup, raw honey, organic sugar or brown sugar, and black strap molasses, are some more suggestions for sweetness.

After adding your inclusions, run your food processor/blender once more to blend in the added ingredients.

Do you enjoy cashew butter as part of your diet, or are you considering adding it to your routine?

Well, follow the recipe above and you won’t be disappointed.

Bon Appetit!