How to Make Peanut Butter in Vitamix Ascent X5
I’m usually hesitant to suggest making peanut butter in a blender, but the Vitamix Ascent X5 is an exception. This is the best blender I’ve ever tried and you should definitely make nut butters with it. Not only is it the fastest nut grinder I’ve ever tested (less than a minute in some cases), but the resulting peanut butter is incredibly smooth. Here’s how to make any nut butter in the Vitamix Ascent X5 .
How to Use the Nut Butter Feature on the Vitamix
1. Prepare nuts if necessary.
I prefer to toast the nuts in the oven first because I like their sweet, toasted flavor. To do this, spread the nut of your choice (today I used walnut chunks) on a baking sheet in a single layer and place the baking sheet in a 350°F oven for five to 12 minutes. This time will vary depending on the nut, the size of the pieces and the thickness of the pan, so use your nose as a guide. Once you smell the toasted nuts, stir them with a wooden spatula and assess whether you need a few more minutes. They should be golden, without burnt areas. Let the nuts cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes. However, if you prefer raw nut butters, skip this step and start from step two.
2. Add nuts to Vitamix container.
Pour the nuts into the container and close the lid, but keep the middle plug flush with the notches (see picture) so it can be opened easily. You will need to use a tamper to help the nuts (the tamper is the black plastic thing that looks like a baseball bat that comes with the Vitamix Ascent X5), breaking them towards the blade for one minute of mixing time. It’s best to keep it next to the blender – the set timer will go off before you know it.
3. Select the nut butter setting.
Click the button on the left above the handle with three horizontal lines. Several cute little food cartoons will appear on the screen. Turn the handle until you see a can of peanuts inside. Click the play button to the right of the handle.
4. Interference in your life
Once the engine starts, the initial burst of nut particles will pass within a second or two. You can then open the center cap and use a plastic tamper to secure the nuts into the blades. The engine will raise another level of speed and you will hear it, but don’t let it stop you from intervening. If you’re ever unsure about when to start tapping, you can look at the screen. There is a small intervention icon with a down arrow to indicate that intervention is required.
To get coarse oil, stop the machine after 30 or 40 seconds by pressing the same start/stop button to the right of the dial. Unplug the machine and stir the mixture to see if it is the right consistency. If you like your nut butter smoother, let it sit for a full minute. For an even silkier nut butter, you can add another 15 seconds by pressing the “+:15” button, which is located on the right above the rotating dial. But usually after the first minute you have nut butter. That’s all it takes.
If you want to get a little creative, you can add some fun ingredients. Today I decided to make a rum and raisin nut butter, so after the first nut butter mixture was ready, I added a little dark rum, raisins, a little honey and a little salt. I selected the nut butter setting again, tamped down a bit and stopped the mixture after about 20 seconds to add more ingredients and smooth out the nut butter. Of course, you can keep your flavor subdued with a pinch of salt and cinnamon, for example.
After pouring the nut butter into a glass container, I added warm water and a drop of soap. (Do not fill the container more than halfway; the blender will aggressively squirt out water.) Press the small button in the center with the bubble icon and let the blender empty. This setting is mainly for cleaning the blades, so don’t be discouraged if there are still peanut butter stains on the sides of the container. Just take it to the sink and wash the sides thoroughly.
If you’ve never made nut butter before, I highly recommend it. This spread was buttery smooth with a salty and bitter undertone and was a great addition to the jam. You can also increase the amount of honey or raisins if you want the dish to be sweeter.
Rum and Raisin Nut Butter Recipe
Ingredients:
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350 grams (3 cups) walnut pieces
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35 grams (1/4 cup) raisins
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1 tablespoon dark rum
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1 teaspoon honey
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¼ teaspoon salt
1. Bake the walnut pieces in the oven at 350°F for five to 12 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool to room temperature for at least 10 minutes.
2. Pour the walnut pieces into the Vitamix Ascent X5, close the lid and select the nut butter setting.
3. Press the “Start” button, remove the center stopper on the cover and use a tamper to press the nuts into the blades.
4. Without turning off the coffee machine, add raisins, rum, honey and salt. Replace the lid and begin to set the nut butter again. Stir the mixture as it combines, another 20 seconds. Stop the car. Transfer the nut butter to a container with a tight-fitting lid. Enjoy your new nut butter on toast, cake, yogurt or granola.