Homemade Cashew Butter
Ginny McMeans
Published:
May 2, 2020
Last Modified:
November 26, 2025
Whole cashews are blended into the creamiest homemade nut butter, no additives needed! My homemade cashew butter takes just a few minutes and turns out savory, rich, and delicious.
Homemade Cashew Butter is more of a how-to than a recipe, but I really wanted to share with you how easy it is to make. Being a very versatile spread, you can substitute it for peanut butter in almost any recipe.
Cashews have a naturally rich and buttery taste which makes them perfect for a homemade spread.
My recipe does not have any salt or sugar, so you can use it for baking, to make salad dressings, or for making treats like Cashew Butter Chocolate Truffles. It’s of course perfectly delicious on its own too! Spread it on toast, muffins, or–my favorite–dip crisp apple slices straight into it.
In just 5 minutes you’ll have a homemade cashew butter that is so delicious and naturally vegan. Let’s go!
Ingredient Notes
- Cashews – Use dry roasted cashews, or get raw cashews and roast them yourself. The most important thing is to avoid any flavored cashews or those roasted in oil. I also like to go with unsalted cashews so that I can add salt to my own preference after the nut butter is blended.
- Neutral oil – Cashews are naturally rich in oils, which they will release as they blend. However you may need a bit of extra oil to help smooth out your cashew butter. Have a neutral oil such as safflower seed oil, avocado oil, or sunflower seed oil on hand in case you need a few drops. Avoid things like olive oil and coconut oil here, as they will add too strong of a flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add cashews. Place the whole baked or roasted cashews in the bowl of your food processor or high powered blender.
- Process partially. Apply the lid and process for about 10 seconds, until you have a coarse mixture. Stop the motor and stir briefly to make sure everything mixes evenly. Process for another 20 seconds, until the mixture starts clumping together–this means the cashew nut components are releasing their oils! Scrape down the sides to re-incorporate any larger nut pieces and blend for another 20 seconds.
- Process until smooth. Scrape down the sides again before blending for about a minute. Keep going, scraping down the sides as needed if you see larger nut pieces getting stuck, until you see the mixture becoming smooth and creamy. If you are still not seeing as smooth a texture as you want at this point, add a tablespoon of neutral oil and continue blending. If you prefer a slightly crunchy cashew butter, stop the blending sooner!
- Transfer and enjoy. Put into a different container and enjoy.
How To Store
Refrigerating Store in a lidded mason jar or other airtight container for up to 4 weeks in the refrigerator.
Freezing For an even longer shelf life, pack your cashew butter into a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Make sure to label it, as frozen cashew butter can look like any number of other typical freezer items like vegan gravy, vegetable stock, or other homemade nut butter.
Thawing Transfer the frozen nut butter to the fridge and let it thaw overnight, then stir to re-incorporate any oil that may have separated.
Homemade Cashew Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups cashews
- 1-2 Tbsp neutral oil, if needed
Instructions
- Place the cashews in the bowl of your food processor or high powered blender.
- Cover and process for about 10 seconds, until you have a coarse mixture. Stop the motor and stir briefly, then process for another 20 seconds, until the mixture starts clumping together. Scrape down the sides to re-incorporate any larger nut pieces and blend for another 20 seconds.
- Keep blending, scraping down the sides as needed if you see larger nut pieces getting stuck, until you see the mixture becoming smooth and creamy. If you are still not seeing as smooth a texture as you want at this point, add a tablespoon of neutral oil and continue blending, or stop it sooner for a more crunchy cashew butter.
- Put into a different container and enjoy.
