Toasted Coconut Butter

If the word butter is in the name of a food, I’m pretty much sold. But then if you put coconut in front of it? Now that’s something I need to be a part of. Coconut butter is one of those things that you see on a shelf for $10.97 and you’re like, “why?”. At least that’s what I thought every time I saw it. Unclear of what it even was, and definitely sure I wasn’t spending double digits on it.

Then I found out what it was: coconut flakes. That’s it. ONE INGREDIENT. I decided to take a stab at it myself and add it to my “butters” arsenal. I’m happy to report that it’s potentially one of the easiest things you could ever make.

By now you’re probably wondering what the heck you would even do with it. I get it. Think of it like a nut butter, but a little thicker and more mild in flavor (although you’d have to like coconut, for obvious reasons). It’s great smeared on toast, on top of ice cream, in your bulletproof coffee, added to a smoothie, or my favorite: by the spoonful.

Coconut is full of healthy fats and has a laundry list of nutritional benefits, from killing bacteria to boosting your metabolism. You’ll be surprised at how many different ways you could use this butter!

Some people say to strain it out with a cheese cloth when you’re done mixing everything for a REALLY smooth consistency, but I personally like the thickness of this one. That’s up to you!

I’ve added in some coconut oil and a pinch of salt to round out the flavor, but you could really make it with just the flakes if that’s all you have.

Cheers to more things with butter in the name and less money out of your pocket!

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups coconut shreds (unsweetened)
2 TBSP coconut oil
pinch salt

TO MAKE:

Spread coconut flakes evenly onto a sheet pan and toast in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes or so. Toss half way through and watch closely. They should be a nice golden brown.

Pour the flakes, coconut oil (doesn’t need to be melted) and salt into a food processor. Turn on for about 3 minutes. It should break down and become smooth very fast. Keep it running for an extra 30 seconds to ensure it’s combined fully.

Pour into a glass jar and store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. It will harden as it sits, but it’s still soft enough to scoop out easily.