How to DIY Your Very Own Coconut Butter
You just need a little patience.
Yes, you can make your own!
If you haven’t tried this mildly sweet, ultra creamy, brain-fuelling, blood-sugar-balancing, healthy alternative to traditional buttercream icing yet, you’re certainly in for a treat.
Contrary to its name, coconut butter isn’t made with traditional butter but rather by blending dried, unsweetened coconut into a spreadable substance that is similar in thickness to a nut butter. The best kind will have no ingredients added and nothing removed. The act of blending — or food processing, if you’re making it at home — helps liberate the naturally occurring coconut oils and break down the fibres to create a smooth, eat-off-the-spoon or spread-on-toast consistency.
The benefits of coconut butter
If you’ve read more than five health articles in your lifetime (and this one counts), there’s a good chance that one of them has mentioned the benefits of coconut oil. Coconut butter has coconut oil in it, plus added fibre. As with the oil, coconut butter contains anti-microbial benefits and provides medium-chain fatty acids that are an excellent source of fuel for your brain and body. These medium-chain fats have been studied for their support in treating and reversing obesity and other metabolic conditions. Coconut butter is also rich in lauric acid, which has been associated with reducing the onset and severity of cold sores. As a high-fibre food, coconut butter can also help keep your bowels regular — and, really, isn’t that what we’re all after as a prime start to the day?
How to use this spread
If you want to follow my son’s lead, a spoon is all you need to make the most of coconut butter, and it might be just the trick to curb those night-time cravings without giving in to the usual row of cookies. Personally, I love mixing coconut butter with a little maple syrup and some natural food-based colourings to make amazing cupcake frosting. You can spread it on toast or a muffin, between stacks of pancakes or between two chocolate cookies, or drop a dollop in the blender to add a healthy kick of fat and fibre to your smoothie. Coconut butter will be your new favourite way to power up your breakfast and keep you fuelled throughout the morning (or night, as the case may be!). Plus, don’t miss our guide to every healthy nut butter out there.
Meghan Telpner is a nutritionist and author.
- Place coconut in a food processor and let it run. Use a spatula occasionally to scrape the sides. It may be wise to turn your food processor off every few minutes to let the motor cool. Have patience, as it will start to work all of a sudden.
