Cinnamon Vanilla Sunflower Butter

gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegan, soy-free, cane sugar-free

I am jealous.  Jealous of all the cane-sugar-consuming-folk who get to enjoy Naturally Nutty’s Cinnamon Vanilla Sunflower Butter.

I could cheat if I wanted to.  I could just embrace the quickened pulse, insulin spike, and general demolition to the body that accompany any sugar-sweetened treat.  I could.

I choose, however, not to.  Especially when it is is THIS easy to come up with a decent substitute.  I am quite positive that “Naturally Nutty’s” Sunbutter is nothing short of divine, but a girl has got to make due with what she’s got!  Am I right?!

So.  I now present you with a poor man’s “Naturally Nutty.”  Er… a sugar-free man’s “Naturally Nutty.” Actually, the gender specificity is simply uncalled for; a sugar-free person’s “Naturally Nutty.”  Hm.  The more I think about it, the more I realize this altered expression might be completely irrelevant seeing as I haven’t the slightest clue if my version is even close to the real thing… which would leave us with: a sugar-free person’s cinnamon vanilla sunflower butter.  And that doesn’t even resemble a common expression anymore.  That’s just a sentence.

I may not have a tolerance for cane sugar (nor a way with the English language), but I do have a high regard for my own taste buds.  And if they had hands, they’d be giving me some serious thumbs-up upon tasting this little concoction.

Cinnamon Vanilla Sunflower Butter

2 cups organic sunflower seeds

1/4 cup agave nectar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup ground hemp, chia, flax from Matilda’s Kitchen Flax & Company (optional – if you really want to make it like “Naturally Nutty’s)

1-2 Tbsp grapeseed, safflower, or refined coconut oil if needed

1. Toast sunflower seeds on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet for 10-15 minutes at 350˚.  Stir from time to time to be sure all seeds are toasted.  Let cool 15 minutes.

2. Put sunflower seeds and hemp, chia, flax in Vita-mix.  Blend/Grind till a smooth butter.

3. Add remaining ingredients and blend on low speed.  Blend on higher speed for only a few seconds if necessary.

4. Add oil if you think the sunbutter is too thick.  I like it the way it is, but I know sometimes people like their nut/seed spreads a little creamier.