Homemade Coconut & Pecan Butter

4.3 stars, average of 34 ratings

By Martina Slajerova, updated January 16 202059

I used to LOVE peanut butter: on pancakes, in cookies, chicken stews or just by itself. It was often one of my pre-workout snacks. However, here are a few reasons why you may want to avoid peanut butter like I do now:

you are trying to eat as little carbs as possible
you are following a paleo lifestyle
you are allergic to peanuts

You can either try Coconut Butter, which has the least net carbs and most fiber from all nut butters - yes, coconut is technically not a nut :-) If you prefer a more "nutty" flavor, you will love this recipe. Just for comparison, Coconut & Pecan Butter has about half the carbs of unsweetened peanut butter!

Top tip: Toasting and baking the coconut & pecans for 5-8 minutes adds a beautiful flavour boost, plus it helps with the blending as the oils that are released with heat make the butter runnier.

Update: Since I got my new Kenwood mixer with a food processor attachment, I don't use anything else to make nut and seed butter. It's strong, doesn't overheat and takes just a few minutes to make smooth nut butter!

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0 hours, 0 minutes

Hands-on 5 minutes Overall 5 minutes

Nutritional values (per serving, 2 tbsp/ 32 g/ 1.1 oz)

Net carbs2 grams

Protein4.9 grams

Fat11.4 grams

Calories151 kcal

Calories from carbs 6%, protein 15%, fat 79%

Total carbs6.4 gramsFiber4.3 gramsSugars1.9 gramsSaturated fat2.9 gramsSodium150 mg(7% RDA)Magnesium27 mg(7% RDA)Potassium125 mg(6% EMR)

Ingredients (makes about 250 g/ 8.8 oz)

2 cups coconut, shredded, unsweetened (150 g/ 5.3 oz)
1 cup pecan nuts (100 g/ 3.5 oz)
1-2 tsp sugar-free vanilla extract (or 1 vanilla bean)
¹/₂ tsp cinnamon
¹/₄ - ¹/₂ tsp salt (key ingredient!)

Instructions

Cut the vanilla bean lenghtwise and scrape the tiny seeds out. Place the shredded coconut and pecans into a food processor and process until chopped.
Add vanilla extract and cinnamon and process everything until smooth for 30-60 seconds or longer if needed. Use a spatula to scrape the butter from the sides and pulse more.
You can use any food processor but don't use a hand blender, as it will overheat.
Process until you reach the desired consistency. Pour the butter into a glass container and let it cool to room temperature. Try Home-made Coconut & Pecan Butter to make fat bombs!
You can store it at room temperature, there is no need to refrigerate it. Microwaving the butter for a few seconds will make it softer, while refrigerating has the opposite effect.

Ingredient nutritional breakdown (per serving, 2 tbsp/ 32 g/ 1.1 oz)

Net carbs	Protein	Fat	Calories
Coconut, dried, desiccated, shredded (organic, unsweetened)
1.4 g	3.8 g	2.4 g	63 kcal
Pecans, nuts
0.5 g	1.1 g	9 g	86 kcal
Vanilla extract, powder (vanilla bean)
0.1 g	0 g	0 g	2 kcal
Cinnamon, spices
0 g	0 g	0 g	0 kcal
Salt, sea salt
0 g	0 g	0 g	0 kcal
Total per serving, 2 tbsp/ 32 g/ 1.1 oz
2 g	4.9 g	11.4 g	151 kcal

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Susan Ricks one year ago #

Is shredded coconut the same as dedicated coconut?

Martina @ KetoDiet one year ago #

It's almost the same. Technically, shredded coconut is dried but a little more moist than desiccated coconut. It depends on the brand but I've seen it being used interchangeably. The main difference (if there's any) is the shape.

Caroline Struyck one year ago #

Hi Martina,
How do you get the nuts and coconut mix ended up so creamy?
I've tried it but it is just flour. I now added some coconut oil and almond milk to get it smooth. But it is nowhere near what is in the picture.
Curious...😊

Hi Caroline, did you use a blender or a food processor? I get mine really creamy by using a food processor + using toasted coconut and pecans (heat helps release the oils). Sometimes adding a tablespoon or two of coconut oil helps (only use if really dry). Plus I also scraped it from the sides a few times in between the processing until it got creamy. It takes time and you'l need a powerful food processor - make sure it doesn't overheat. I hope this helps!

Diana one year ago #

Vanilla beans and powder are very expensive where I live, can vanilla extract be used, if so how much? Thank you

Hi Diana, you can use unsweetened vanilla extract to taste, I'd start with 1 teaspoon and go up to 3 teaspoons. I hope this helps!

GrasshopperCraig 2 years ago #

Looks awesome. Will this separate in the jar after it’s made?
I’ve made other nut butters and they always separate and require stirring before use. It doesn’t work very well for kids that make their lunches etc. Any tips for minimizing separation. I’ve heard adding palm oil (don’t have) or coconut oil (have) helps but have no idea proportions.
Thanks in advance

Martina @ KetoDiet 2 years ago #

Thank you! A thin layer of fat may appear on the top but I seem to remember it was really thin (pure pecan butter would separate more than this recipe). I'm not sure how to prevent that.

Lisa 2 years ago #

Not sure how I messed this up but mine was crumbly. I had to add coconut oil and it still is t buttery.

cat 2 years ago #

OMG SO GOOD!! I made this today and was so surprised how sweet it is! I love it. I cant stop eating it! Thank you!

Susan 3 years ago #

I am nut allergic, can I use something like sunflower seeds or just put sunflower butter in instead of using pecans?

Martina @ KetoDiet 3 years ago #

Hi Susan, yes, you can make nut, seed or even coconut butter - check out these recipes: ketodietapp.com/Blog/Filter

Nina 3 years ago #

i just read this recipe & was wondering if it is just me or if there's really no liquid included. i'm thinking about something like coconut oil, but it doesn't ask for it.
can someone please help? 😄
thanks in advance! 😊

You won't need any oil, pecans are quite fatty 😊 You can even make coconut butter without any oil but some people add 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil if it's too dry: Foolproof Homemade Coconut Butter

Dawn 3 years ago #

If I use coconut butter instead of making it do I use 2 cups? Or is the amount different ?
Thank you

Hi Dawn, try this recipe: Foolproof Homemade Coconut Butter (homemade coconut butter)

Aboul Fad 4 years ago #

Amazing website and an overwhelming wealth of information, thank you!
May I kindly ask how to modify this recipe by using coconut butter instead of shredded coconut, would that still work ? This will be my first recipe to try and followed by the "Chocolate coconut candies", yummy, my mouth is drooling just by looking at it 😊

Martina @ KetoDiet 4 years ago #

Thank you! Yes, that will work too. I would just add it at the end of the blending process and pulse it a few times just to combine the two 😊

Ruthie 4 years ago #

Not a fan of nut butters, but this sounded intriguing. Used my Vitamix, and it blended to a creamy consistency like a charm in about 3 minutes. Very yummy. My nightly treat is a square of Lindt 85% chocolate. I dipped the chocolate into the butter...delightful! Thanks for the recipe!

Thank you Ruthie, I'm glad you liked it! Chocolate & pecans is the perfect combo for me too 😊

Emily 4 years ago #

I am new to the Keto lifestyle and like the idea of fat bombs because I find it hard to consume so much fat. I saw you use this in a fat bomb recipe with dark chocolate. How else would you eat nut butters if we no longer can have our beloved toast? Actually I don't miss toast and I really thought I would. Whoo hoo!

I think you can try it with celery sticks or even on this grain-free bread from my blog 😊 Ultimate Keto Buns

Shar 4 years ago #

Just tried a variation. Coconut oil, organic, MCT oil (helps liquify), peanut creamy, organic. No sweeteners or extracts were needed so it could decrease the carbs.
The only carb is the amount of peanut butter, but it cuts down on the peanut butter while increasing the ability to get in to ketosis (using the coconut oil and MCT does this). So carbs are very low.
What I did I made from the food processor very quickly and then I poured some into a glass container and put in fridge. when I tasted it, it was hardened, but not so much that you couldn't use it as a spread. Then I had some left over so I spooned some out tsp portions, placed in freezer and let it harden. So it was like a candy. That was ok. The spread was more like peanut butter. The fat bomb was fair. I guess you could always add a sweetener.

Thanks for sharing! 😊

Marie 4 years ago #

I made it today and it is heavenly. Thank you so much for the recipe. I roasted both the coconut and the pecans beforehand. However, I am not sure what makes you think that coconut butter has less carbs than other nut butters. Quite the contrary, except for cashew or pistachios. Pecans are less than 6 net grams of carbs per 100 grams while desiccated coconut is more than 9. Brazil nuts and walnuts are only around 3 and almonds are less than 7.

Hi Marie, thank you! 😊 Actually, what I meant is that coconut butter has less net carbs than peanut butter. Based on the USDA database which is very accurate, here are net carbs in 100 g:
Coconut: 6 g net carbs
Pecans: 4.3 g net carbs
Walnuts: 7 g net carbs
Almonds: 6-9 g net carbs (depends on whether they are blanched or not)
Brazil nuts: 4.8 g net carbs
Peanuts: 7.6 g net carbs

Marie,
Coconut oil has no carbs. Not sure about shredded Coconut or coconut butter,
but the oil is carb free. see my recipe below.

Deb 4 years ago #

Has anyone tried using a Vitamix for making this? TIA

Deb, I don't have a Vitamin but I think that's what many people have been using for making nut / seed butters. You may need to scrape the butter from the sides a few times but it should work 😊

Hélène 4 years ago #

I tried soaking the nuts beforehand and never, after my half an hour in my very nice cuisenart, got it to make a butter. Added oil but didn't do much to help. Finally gave up cuz let me tell u, 30 min is a VERY long time to fight with the food processor.
Rly wanted to be able to make coconut butter as it's sooo pricey, as are nut butters, in the stores 😞

Hi Helene, sorry to hear that. Did you use just soaked or soaked & dehydrated nuts? 30 minutes is way too long, you may want to try toasting / baking the pecans and coconut before - it makes the blending easier. You will need to use a strong food processor. I've got another recipe you may like here: Homemade Almond & Cashew Butter

I need to retry this recipe with first roasting the nuts. Do you think I need to roast the coconut too? I'd prefer to leave it raw.
Cuisenart is a very strong processor (professional grade). About the only thing stronger is a Vitamix blender, which I don't have any longer and is a PAIN in the BEHIND to get nut butters out of so I wouldn't use it anyway. I wonder if my (Swedish-made) DLX kitchen center has a food processor attachment like your Kenwood? I don't think it does, but I do have the blender attachment for smoothies and such.

You can do either - I personally prefer roasted coconut and pecans in this recipe but my fiancé prefers to have both raw. I've been using the one from Kenwood and I'm very happy with it. The great thing about it is that it can do anything - you just need to get the right attachment 😊 I make all nut butters in my Kenwood food processor - done in 30-60 seconds and no need for scrapping it from the sides. I guess there are other brands that are equally good - I'm sure you'll find some!

Amy 4 years ago #

Hi Martina, looks great I'm excited to make some ! I wanted to ask if it keeps well? Sorry if I missed it in the text, how long would you keep this for approx? I am assuming best to keep at room temperature too ?
Thanks xx

Hi Amy, yes it does, you can keep it at room temperature or in the fridge. It depends whether you prefer it runny or not. I keep mine at room temperature in a glass jar, lid on for up to a month - it usually doesn't last for too long in my house 😊

I am going to attempt making this, my food processor isn't that great, but I'm going to use some MCT oil and maybe coconut oil and mix with peanut butter, (I love peanut butter, but don't think it's the best for me, because I over eat it. However, if I can mute the taste, I will try and get back to you all.
New to this site, and love all the blogs and info.
Shar

Hi Shar, that sounds great! Just a note about MCT oil - it may keep the butter too runny and coconut oil may be better but it depends on what you plan to use it for.

Donna 5 years ago #

Did you soak and dry the nuts prior to using?

Martina @ KetoDiet 5 years ago #

Hi Donna, yes I do 😊

Jack 5 years ago #

Made this today and it's great! Especially love it in the fat bomb recipe. Couple of things:
1. You must have the most powerful food processor on earth if it only took you 30-60 seconds to get this stuff smooth. I spent at least 30 minutes pulsing it, pushing down the sides, repulsing it, and so on. Just so people know, it could take more than a few minutes to get this to your desired consistency.
2. I found a little coconut oil to not only not make the butter runny but to be absolutely essential to even coming close to smooth texture. No matter how much processing I did, it wasn't getting smooth until I added about a Tblspn of oil. If anyone is trying to make this and not liking the texture, I'd say go ahead with the oil.
Other than that, great recipe! Love the site.

Hi Jack, yes, you are right. Thanks for your comments! I realised that when I used my old blender and it got overheated and did't work until it cooled down. I bought Kenwood food processor which makes it in about a minute or two. Yes, adding coconut oil is a great way to make it smooth. I also found it easier to blend when I toasted both the coconut and the pecan nuts in the oven for about 7 minutes at 350F.

Michelle Ver Elst 3 years ago #

I often make nut muesli, should I soak nuts before roasting + why if so? Thanks

Soaking & dehydrating nuts makes them easier to digest and eliminates the "anti-nutrients" found in nuts. It also makes them crunchier and delicious 😊

Carol 5 years ago #

Could you use a food processor for this cause I just got one from amazon. I have a blender but it is a cheapy and not very good.

Yes you can! Just make sure you use the right blades. I am about to get a food processor from Kenwood and I think there is an attachment for recipes like this. It should be the one that crushes ice and makes smoothies 😊

Kathy 5 years ago #

I just made this and it's delicious! I do agree with one comment that the amount of salt called for in the recipe may be too much. I suggest starting with 1/4 teas and increase, if desired, after tasting. I used a Vitamix blender and didn't have a bit of trouble. Thank you for sharing!

Thank you for your feedback Kathy! I will add this in the ingredients - I agree it may may be a bit too much salt for some people. Vitamix or Blendtec are the best!

Cynthia 5 years ago #

I just made the butter. It took me a long time of food processing (because I like it smooth) but WOW! Was it good!! I am a type 1 diabetic who has found that the only way to get good blood sugar control is to eat a keto diet. I haven't had peanut butter in a long time because it makes my blood sugar go too high. Thanks for the recipe! (I did add a couple drops of liquid stevia which was pretty good but it would be excellent without it as well).

Thank you, I'm glad you like it! It does take a while but it's all worth it 😊

Sara 5 years ago #

Oooh, pecan butter. I've made almond butter...I have no idea how using pecans never occurred to me. Genius!
I do still love peanut butter though, and continue to eat it. Most natural brands are really not that high in carbs! However, one of my favorite alternatives is to use peanut flour instead, and mix that up with water to a peanut butter consistency - even lower in carbs and you can control the sodium and sweetness!

Sounds like a great idea to me! 😊 I used to eat peanut butter but my favourite now is almond and cashew butter and toasted coconut butter. I like using this one in chocolate covered "candies"!

cindy 5 years ago #

I think a food processor works better for this kind of recipe. You have to process it until the oils from the coconut and pecans are released and this sometimes requires patience! This sounds like a great recipe and I will be trying it.

Thank you Cindy! Toasted coconut butter and this recipe are my absolute favourites 😊

Nick 5 years ago #

Thanks Martina. I think I used the wrong kind of blender before (blades too big). Started redoing it with a smaller attachment that goes onto my mixer, and it was starting to look more buttery, when I accidentally killed my blender:-(. I'll try again after a visit to the shop tomorrow.

I'm sorry to hear that! Did it overheat? :-( The problem is that some blenders may not be strong enough and they may overheat easily… Hope it's repaired soon. When you feel like it's getting hot, leave it for a while to "rest" and try again later. It happened to me, too.

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I followed this recipe, but the final product was not 'buttery' at all. It was dry, salty and crumb-like. In desperation, I added 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. This didn't improve the consistency much. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Thanks for your feedback! The way to make it "buttery" is to blend it for a few more minutes - you have to be patient but also careful not to overheat the blender. This recipe should be easier than making pure coconut butter which takes even longer (~10 minutes). It may take a while but if you keep blending, it should get nice and smooth. If it's too salty, use less salt or use a sweetener instead. Hope this helps, Martina.

Donna Foster 3 years ago #

Is coconut butter the same thing as coconut manna? I have many expired jars of that and don't know what to do with it.
Also I make almond butter in my Blentec. My diabetic husband eats 1-2 pints per week. I use the recipe from Nourishing Traditions minus the honey and I add cinnamon.

Yes, that is the same (coconut mana is just another name for coconut butter). You can use coconut butter just like almond butter - for thickening curries, for making cookies, "porridge", etc.