Orange Chocolate Cashew Butter is made in minutes in the food processor for a creamy and delicious spread with no sugar added. Sub it in for peanut or almond butter in sandwiches, or serve it as a perfect dip for fruit or pretzels!
I’ve had total ants in my pants waiting to share this orange chocolate cashew butter with you. It’s a three (or four, more on that later) ingredient, just-a-few-minutes kind of recipe that will revolutionize your toast- and sandwich-eating. It couldn’t be easier.
What hasn’t been as easy? Actually sharing it with you! I don’t want to harp on the tech problems I’ve been having, but the extent to which they’ve escalated is almost laughable at this point. Unintended blog downtime last week, complete with a beef stir fry with balsamic peanut sauce post that vanished (and thankfully was resurrected).
Then my seven-year-old laptop starting giving me attitude with multiple blue screens of death (!!), and if the universe wasn’t cruel enough, I then broke our coffee maker. Because if there’s one thing that makes computer problems the slightest bit easier to handle, it’s caffeine.
And have I mentioned that this past week, our TV has turned itself on at top volume TWICE in the middle of the night? Lord help me.
So here it is – finally. Orange chocolate cashew butter in all its orange-y, chocolate-y, cashew butter-y goodness.
All you need for this orange chocolate cashew butter are a cup full of cashews, unsweetened cocoa powder, orange zest, potentially coconut oil, and a food processor
First it becomes a crumbly mess, but don’t give up hope. With a little more processing (and a little more, and a little more…) it becomes less like cashew dust and more like cashew butter.
Since people run the gamut on preferred nut butter consistency, you have a few options to make this cashew butter your own. I like to start with processing the cashews, cocoa powder, and orange zest on their own. The cashews will release oil as you go and become creamier, ultimately ending up with a spreadable but fairly firm nut butter.
If you prefer the consistency of natural peanut and almond butters, at this point add a few teaspoons of coconut oil and process it in. You’ll quickly find that runny, smooth texture you like. I ended up adding between two and three teaspoons of coconut oil at the end to result in the consistency you see here.
This cashew butter makes a killer OM & OCCB sandwich. That would be an orange marmalade & orange chocolate cashew butter sandwich and OMG is it good. It’s a little bit fancier than your standard PB & J and makes me stare down the clock at work, willing it to hit 12 so I can run and grab it out of the fridge.
When you’ve got something this good in the house though, lunch can’t possibly get all of the love. Pretzels dipped in this stuff? Incredible! Ditto for pita chips, crackers, apple slices, strawberries…
The list goes on.
Recipe notes:
- Both salted and unsalted cashews would work here. I prefer salted for the extra bit of flavor.
- Be sure to scrape down the sides of your food processor as needed to ensure all of the ingredients are incorporated smoothly.
- Scroll up a bit to read about what coconut oil does for the consistency here to decide if you’d like to add it.
Orange Chocolate Cashew Butter is made in minutes in the food processor for a creamy and delicious spread with no sugar added. Sub it in for peanut or almond butter in sandwiches, or serve it as a perfect dip for fruit or pretzels!
- 1 cup cashews, salted or unsalted
- 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3/4 tsp orange zest
- 2-3 tsp coconut oil, optional
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Add cashews, cocoa powder, and orange zest to the bowl of a food processor and process in intervals for several minutes total, or until mixture is smooth and creamy. Stop periodically and scrape down sides with a spatula.
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If you like a runnier consistency, add coconut oil a teaspoon at a time and process in until creamy to your liking. Store at room temperature.
Using unsweetened cocoa powder (instead of chocolate chips) prevents the cashew butter from hardening too much after it's been in the refrigerator.
Nutritional info assumes the usage of salted cashews, which affects the sodium level.
Photos updated in May 2018.
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
Now that looks like some spreadable goodness right there Alyssa! I am loving this flavor combo. Pinned!
Alyssa says
Thanks so much Kristi! I don’t think you can go wrong with orange + chocolate. 🙂
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
I hope you are done with your technology issues, because those are NO fun at all :/ This cashew butter looks amaaaaazing, seriously, pass me a spoon! I don’t need anything else 😉
Alyssa says
Fingers crossed Denise I think I’m in the clear! 🙂 And oh gosh I’m surprised I had enough cashew butter left to take pictures of after all of those “taste testing” spoonfuls!
Annie @ The Garlic Diaries says
This looks SO good!! I love making things like this. I think more often than not this would end up being eaten straight out of the jar with a spoon rather than on top of anything…whoops. Truth.
Alyssa says
Thank you Annie! Believe me, straight spoonfuls of this cashew butter happened quiteee a lot! 🙂
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
Love making homemade nut butters!! I’ve never thought of putting orange zest in, but that sounds so good! The chocolate and orange combo reminds me of those chocolate oranges you crack open that they sell around Christmas… so yummy! 🙂
Alyssa says
Yessss I love those oranges Jess! I haven’t had one in forever, but I’ve been sneaking in orange to my chocolate recipes lately. Thanks! 🙂
Anne-Marie McCarthy says
This looks awesome, but my passion is chocolate and raspberry. I wonder how I could swap the orange for raspberry without the seeds. I’ll find a way. 😀
Alyssa says
Hi Anne-Marie! Thank you! 🙂 Chocolate and raspberry is another one of my favorites (I mean, is chocolate + anything ever truly bad?). Hmm the seeds would make it tricky, but do let me know if you find a way. That sounds delicious!
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
Oh, I’m so sorry, Alyssa, but I’m laughing quite a bit right now about your TV switching itself on by itself!
Seriouslly, though, sorry you’ve had a crappy week. There’s nothing that stresses me out more than techy problems!
The orange-choc cashew butter looks divine, though … certainly something to cheer you up! Choc-orange is my very fave flavour, and cashews are my very favourite nut, so I guess that means I couldn’t go wrong with this!
Alyssa says
Haha oh Helen – we cracked up about it (both times!) the morning after it happened. In my half sleep I was convinced someone had broken in and turned the TV on. Brian reminded me that any intruder probably wouldn’t blast the TV upon entering! I bet you would love this cashew butter – I know you love orange/chocolate like I do! 🙂
Ashley says
Ugh!!! Tech problems really are the worst! I’m sorry!
But I would definitely console myself with some of this! Chocolate and orange is such a great combo and in a homemade nut butter??? Genius.
Alyssa says
Oh I definitely have been consoling myself with this cashew butter Ashley, haha! Fingers crossed everything is straightened out now, but my goodness. So stressful! Thanks!
Sherri@The Well Floured Kitchen says
Haha you made me laugh with the acronym. My 9 year old has a thing for them, and he makes acronyms out of the most random stuff 🙂 This looks totally amazing, and I can’t wait to try it! Hope your tech problems end soon!
Alyssa says
Haha Sherri! So funny. He sounds like a hoot! Thank you. 🙂
Danielle says
I hope this week gets better for you, Alyssa! Technology can be such a pain. I’m really loving this cashew butter though! The added orange zest is such a great idea!
Alyssa says
Fingers crossed it is! Haha A few spoonfuls of this definitely helped make it better. 😉 Thanks Danielle!
Marcie says
Laptops with attitude — haha! Too funny! Glad your technical difficulties finally got resolved because this nut butter sounds so good! I’ve never though to add citrus zest before and that’s such a good idea! Pinned.
Alyssa says
Thanks Marcie! The orange definitely added a nice flavor twist! 🙂
Sues says
Gahhh I’d totally be eating this with a spoon!!
Hope technology is being a bit nicer to you this week 🙂
Alyssa says
Thanks Sues! Fingers crossed everything is looking okay. And eating this cashew butter with a spoon has definitely happened more than once!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
It’s like you were cursed last week with technology! So glad your blog is fixed now. That stuff is the WORST! I’ve been lucky enough to avoid it, *knock on wood*. Ok, this orange chocolate cashew butter sounds amazing! Like a super fancy nutella! Kind of reminds me of those cute chocolate orange balls. The kind you would have to slam down on the table to fracture the chocolate ball into like “orange” segments. So good! And healthy too!
Alyssa says
Oh girl, cursed is definitely the right word! And yes – super fancy Nutella is right! I *love* those chocolate oranges. I have memories of slamming them against the table. They are too good!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
This cashew butter sounds fantastic, Alyssa! I’ve always wanted to make my own, so I’m loving this recipe. Such a great idea to add in some orange and chocolate, too. Sounds like it makes the perfect spread!
Alyssa says
Thanks Gayle! I just love orange and chocolate together. Especially in simple recipes like this where the flavors shine through! 🙂