How to Make Sunflower Seed Butter (no oil!)

sunflower butter in a jar with a spoon lifting it up.

How to Make Sunflower Seed Butter (no oil!)

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: sunflower seed butter

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 25

Servings:

Calories: 176kcal

Author: Megan Gilmore

Homemade sunflower seed butter is an easy, nut-free alternative to peanut butter. Unlike the store-bought brands, you can make it at home without any added oil, plus I've tested this recipe with various sweeteners to help you control the flavor. It's perfect for nut-free school lunches and snacks!

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US Customary - Metric

Ingredients

12 ounces hulled sunflower seeds (unsalted; raw or dry roasted)
¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ cup coconut sugar

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and spread the sunflower seeds out into an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast the seeds for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they smell fragrant. When you stir the seeds, they should glisten from their natural oils being release. Let the seeds cool for at least 10-15 minutes, so they won't melt the plastic of your food processor or blender container.
Add the warm (but not piping hot) seeds to the bowl of a food processor or blender and process for 2 minutes. Stop and scrape down the sides of the machine, as needed.
Continue processing the seeds, until they start to stick together and form a thick paste. This is a good sign! The seeds will need to process for roughly 5 more minutes, until a gritty sunflower seed butter starts to come together.
Keep processing the seeds for another minute or two, until the sunflower seed butter becomes more runny and drippy in consistency. When it looks relatively smooth, you can add any seasonings you like, such as salt and granulated sugar, if you want to counter-balance the bitter flavor of the seeds. Process briefly to evenly distribute the seasonings, about 60 seconds.
Transfer the sunflower seed butter to a glass jar, and let it cool completely before securing the top with a lid. (This way the jar won't steam from the heat, which could cause it to spoil faster.) Sunflower seed butter can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.

Notes

Nutrition information is for approximately 1 ounce of sunflower seed butter, equivalent to about 2 tablespoons. This information is automatically calculated and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.

Nut Allergy Note: If you are making this for someone with nut allergies, be sure to check the package of your sunflower seeds to make sure they aren't processed in a facility that also handles tree nuts.

Sweetener Note: You can use any granulated sugar you prefer, but avoid using liquid sweeteners, such as maple syrup or honey. Adding liquid will cause the sunflower butter texture to seize. This means it will thicken up and become very difficult to spread. Avoid using liquid sweeteners or any other liquids (like vanilla extract) when possible.

Nutrition