How To Make Sunbutter
ByI just wanted to share some quick tips about making sunbutter. I mentioned that I would experiment with it after learning to make peanut butter. I’ve been experimenting with it…and have come to a conclusion:
It is not as easy to make as the peanut butter is. 
Using raw sunflower seeds I tried to make sunbutter just like I had made the peanut butter. Except that I processed it and processed it, and it never turned creamy. It became kind of mealy…and stayed that way.
I added a few drops of olive oil and processed some more. No change.
I finally gave up. Sort of. I mean…I was determined to figure this thing out because Malachi won’t eat peanut butter (long story). And sunbutter is pricey.
So…I took the mealy sunbutter…and made it into mudballs because that’s one of Malachi’s favorite snacks. I just substitute the peanut butter for sunbutter. Ah-hah! Even though the sunbutter started out mealy…the mudballs came out perfectly! Score!
At least I know that the mealy sunbutter works when you mix it into other recipes!
Then…I added a bit of honey to the rest of the mealy sunbutter and put it into a jar and then into the fridge. The honey didn’t make it smooth and creamy, but it did make it less dry. I think it will work great to spread on toast or a tortilla.
By the way, I did a Swagbuck search and discovered that 1) There aren’t many ideas out there for making sunbutter and 2) Anyone else who tried to make sunbutter ended up with mealy sunbutter. It’s good to know that I’m normal. (At least in the area of making sunbutter.)
Do any of you have any experience making sunbutter or other nut butters?
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This post is linked to Kitchen Tip Tuesdays.
I am adding these ingredients to my grocery list this week. That looks so yummy. My daughter loves sunbutter and I never thought of making it myself. I’m gonna have to experiment with it.
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I just tried making almond butter last week and the family went NUTS (heehee!) for it! I thought it was a little harder to process than the homemade peanut butter, but it all worked out great! Both were wonderful!! Thanks so much for the inspiration to make it!
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Laura,
by any chance have you tried to soak/sprout these first?
Do you think that would make it smoother??
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Thanks for trying this out! We go through A LOT of Sunbutter in my house due to my 4 year old son’s peanut allergy. It is so pricey though! and I have always been curious about making it myself. I’ll be keeping an eye on these comments to see if anyone has any extra suggestions!
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I haven’t made sunflower butter yet but everything i read has said you need to add enough oil slowly and to keep processing it until it gets warm and then it will turn into a paste instead of a meal.
Think maybe I will give it a “whirl” this week! ; )
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I make it by roasting my seeds first- that’s what makes it taste “nutty”. Then I process it with a mild olive oil, sea salt, and honey. The homemade is not exactly like the Sunbutter- but it tastes the same. I don’t recall mine ever being “mealy”. I think it takes more than a few drops of oil:) Trader Joe’s sells their brand of Sunbutter for like half the cost of Sunbutter brand – it’s quite tasty too!!
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We use raw sunflowers a lot at our house. Most of the time we soak them overnight or sprout them for two days so they are even more nutrient-dense. As far as sunbutter, we don’t exactly do that, but we do make a pate by adding in savory things like onion, celery, ground carrots, lemon juice & herbs.
If you are making a sunbutter to use like almond butter, I would add in coconut oil. Our home machines (food processor and even K-tec or VitaMix) won’t be able to squash the seeds good enough to resemble the sunbutters sold in stores.
You did awesome improvising the meal into something else though!
Blessings.
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Wow, I never would have guessed it would be so difficult. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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I made the mud balls today after making the cheese nips (again, this time I added garlic) and corn dog muffins (big hit with the kids). I did not have sesame seeds so I used shelled sunflower seeds. They turned out very good. I will make a double batch next time. Thanks for the recipe:)
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I’m glad you posted this! I have tried to make it also, with the same results – I thought I just did something wrong. So do you have a recipe for the balls posted somewhere? Maybe I could use what I made in those…right now it is just sitting in my freezer…
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