Homemade Pistachio Butter
Homemade pistachio butter has a creamy texture and a nutty, subtly sweet flavor. This versatile spread can be used in many different ways from toast to smoothies to desserts and beyond. This easy recipe is dairy free and can easily be sweetened.
Looking for more homemade nut butter recipes? Try my cashew butter, granola butter, or peanut butter.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy pistachio butter:
- Raw or roasted unsalted pistachios – the pistachios only gently get roasted so they don’t lose their vibrant color.
- Pinch of kosher salt or sea salt – brings out the flavor of the pistachios.
How to Make Pistachio Butter: Step By Step
Here are some quick visual instructions. The full instructions and ingredient list will be in the printable recipe card below!
- Roast the Pistachios. Spread raw pistachios on a bare baking sheet into a single layer. Roast for a few minutes to release the natural oils but still retain their beautiful green hue.
- Cool. Place the pistachios in the bowl of a food processor or a high-speed blender and let cool for a few minutes.
- Process. Blend in intervals, scraping down the sides as needed. The mixture will go from crumbly to a thick paste before transforming into smooth butter. This can take anywhere from 5-10 minutes, depending on your machine.
- Add-ins. Add the salt and a sweetener if desired. Then blend again until completely smooth.
- It’s ready. Transfer to a jar and enjoy how you wish!
Helpful Tips
- Use a food processor. A food processor is ideal for making nut butter since it doesn’t have any liquid. However, you can make it in a blender only if you have a high-powered blender.
- Roasting enhances flavor. Lightly roasting the nuts gives the butter more depth of flavor and helps release the natural oils so it’s easier to blend.
- Let it cool. If you roast the nuts, allow them to cool slightly before blending to avoid overheating your machine.
Quick Tip: Be patient. The blending process takes time to break the pistachios down into a smooth paste. If you don’t have a butter-like consistency, keep blending.
Storage
Store pistachio butter in an airtight container or jar with a tightly sealed lid in the fridge for about a month.
If it’s difficult to stir, let it sit out on the countertop at room temperature for a few minutes, or run the jar with the lid on under warm running water to loosen it up.
Make It Your Way: Substitutions & Variations
Please remember that recipes are just a starting point.
How can you make this pistachio butter recipe using what you already have? Here are some ideas…
- Make it sweet – add 1-2 teaspoons of maple syrup, honey, or powdered sugar, to taste.
- Add-ins – avocado oil or another neutral oil to make it extra creamy. vanilla extract or ground cinnamon for a different flavor profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but taste the finished butter before adding more salt.
It may need more blending or a bit of oil to improve the texture. Older pistachios are more dried out and not as oily as fresh pistachios. To counteract this, you can add oil to make it creamy.
Roasting the nuts first helps break down the natural oil to achieve a silkier consistency. Even if your pistachios are already roasted, roasting them briefly can make them easier to blend.
More Homemade Butters
I hope you love this Pistachio Butter Recipe! If you make this recipe, please leave a comment & a star rating below. Thank you!
Homemade Pistachio Butter
Ingredients
- 3 cups raw unsalted pistachios see notes about roasted pistachios
- pinch of kosher salt omit if using salted pistachios
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spread raw pistachios on a bare rimmed baking sheet into a single layer. Roast for 3-4 minutes, shake the pan, and roast for another 3-4 minutes.
- Place the pistachios in the bowl of a food processor or a high-speed blender. Let the nuts cool for a few minutes before proceeding.
- Blend in intervals, scraping down the sides as needed with a rubber spatula. The mixture will go from crumbly to a thick paste before transforming into smooth butter. This can take anywhere from 5-10 minutes, depending on the strength of your machine.
- Add the salt and a sweetener if desired. Then blend again until completely smooth
- Transfer to a jar and enjoy how you wish!