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Pecan Butter Recipe: How to Make Homemade Pecan Butter

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Dec 7, 2024 • 2 min read

Pecan butter is a rich, spreadable nut butter that’s chock full of healthy fats and tastes like pecan pie.

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What Is Pecan Butter?

Pecan butter is a spread made by grinding pecans into a smooth paste. When ground, pecans release natural oils that create a smooth-textured nut butter. Pecan butter is an excellent source of fiber, magnesium, potassium, antioxidants, and vitamins A, B, and E. You can make homemade pecan butter without added oils, but a spoonful of coconut oil before blending will make your pecan butter silky and smooth.

What Does Pecan Butter Taste Like?

Pecan butter is a rich spread with a slightly bitter aftertaste. You can tone down this bitterness by toasting the pecans and removing the skins before grinding them into butter.

4 Ways to Use Pecan Butter

Pecan butter is a versatile spread that you can use in sweet and savory applications:

  1. 1. Mini pecan pies. Make single-serving pecan pies by lining mini-muffin tins with pie dough and dolloping each tiny pie crust with sweetened pecan butter.
  2. 2. Swirled banana bread. Pecans and bananas are a classic combination. Add a swirl of pecan butter to your favorite banana bread recipe for a nutty twist on the dessert staple.
  3. 3. As a substitute for tahini. Use unsweetened pecan butter as a substitute for tahini in Middle Eastern dishes like hummus.
  4. 4. Pecan butter cookies. Use sweetened pecan butter in place of peanut butter to make pecan butter cookies.

Homemade Pecan Butter Recipe

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makes

prep time

10 min

total time

25 min

cook time

15 min

Ingredients

  1. 1

    For a more flavorful spread, start by roasting the pecans (optional). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread pecans on an ungreased rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Toast pecans until fragrant and golden brown, about 10–15 minutes.

  2. 2

    Rub hot pecans between two clean kitchen towels to remove the skins. Let cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.

  3. 3

    In a food processor or high-speed blender, pulse toasted pecans until finely chopped, about 30 seconds. For chunky pecan butter, remove ¼ cup chopped nuts and set aside.

  4. 4

    Process until nuts form a smooth, thick paste, about three minutes, pausing every minute or so to scrape down the sides of the food processor.

  5. 5

    Add salt, oil, and maple syrup and continue to process until fully incorporated, about a minute. For chunky pecan butter, add the chopped nuts back in and pulse a few times to incorporate.

  6. 6

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month. If oil separation occurs, simply stir until smooth.

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