Maple Walnut Butter

In the last couple months, I've been trying out different flavors of nut butters trying to come up with just the right flavor varieties.  Clearly, you could mash up some plain nuts into a paste and spread it over some bread and call it a day.  I get that.  But, what if you could fancy it up with a little extra flavor and pizazz.  And yes, this girl just used the word 'pizazz' and meant it.

That's exactly what this is though.  A little oomph in your sandwich spread.  As a person who can't keep a jar of peanut butter stocked in my house for more than a week, I am no stranger to the draw of nut butters.  In a sandwich, in a cookie, on a big, big spoon.... I'll eat it pretty much all day, every day.  So, with that in mind, I set out to create some interesting flavors that would provide a little creativity in my daily snacking regimen.

Maple walnut butter came to me from my personal love of maple walnut ice cream.  Growing up, my family tapped trees and harvested sap for maple syrup.  That experience... well, that actually made me hate maple syrup.  I loved the process of making it and many of my most treasured memories involve maple syrup, but I definitely got sick of the sticky sweetness real fast.  It became something I could indulge in on rare occasions and really like, but after one taste, I was good for a few months.

I think this butter will be like that.  I'll pull it out occasionally for a special occasion, but it won't make a frequent.  I encourage you to make this, though, and make it appear on your table as frequently as you can muster.  It's gooooood.  I mean it.  I'm telling you that in earnest as someone who can't tolerate a lot of maple flavoring.  It's balanced in flavor.  It's not overpowering.  It's sweet and nutty and smooth.  I could see this making a decent spread over sweet potato rolls.  Or, as a slash of flavor running through an ice cream sundae.  Or, as the flavor base of a cookie with some chopped walnuts running through it.  These are just my ideas, but I'm sure you could improvise in some more creative ways.

What would you use maple walnut butter for?   Comment below and let me know.  I'm open to suggestions and I'd definitely be willing to try some of your ideas!










Maple Walnut Butter

2 cups shelled walnuts
1/2 cup Confectioner's sugar
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp maple extract
1/8 tsp salt

Preheat oven 375F.

Spread walnuts onto a baking sheet and toast 10-15 minutes, or until nuts are browned and fragrant.

Let cool.  Use a dry washcloth to scrub the skins off the walnuts as best you can.

Place wallnuts in a food processor with the rest of the ingredients.  

Blend ingredients until a smooth butter forms.  

Spoon into jar and refrigerate.