Beanut Butter (Creamy White Bean & Peanut Spread)

Beanut butter is the viral spread all over my feed this October: one can of white beans blended with peanut butter into the silkiest, most spoonable spread you have ever tasted. It looks like peanut butter and spreads like frosting, with a surprising protein boost hiding inside.

There is no cooking and only five minutes of work. Blend it once, and you have a week’s worth of breakfasts and snacks: slathered thick on warm toast with flaky salt is the move.

Ingredients

• 400 g (1 can) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 120 g (1/2 cup) creamy peanut butter
• 2 tbsp honey (or maple syrup for a vegan version)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
• 3 tbsp warm water, plus more as needed

To serve

• Warm sourdough or multigrain toast
• Crushed roasted peanuts
• Flaky sea salt

Instructions

1. Blend: Add the beans, peanut butter, honey, vanilla and fine salt to a food processor. Blitz for 1 minute, scraping down the sides halfway, until completely smooth.
2. Loosen: Add the warm water a spoonful at a time and blend again until the spread is glossy and spoonable — it should swirl like soft frosting. If it feels thick, add a little more water.
3. Serve: Spread thickly over warm toast, then finish with crushed roasted peanuts and a pinch of flaky sea salt.

Tips for the best result

• Rinse the beans very well — it removes the canned taste and keeps the flavor purely peanut.
• Warm water blends in more smoothly than cold and gives a silkier texture.
• Natural peanut butter works, but stir the oil back in first so the spread does not split.
• Try it as a dip for apple slices, or swirled into warm oatmeal.

Storing and reheating

Spoon into a clean jar and refrigerate for up to 1 week. Stir before serving, as a little liquid may rise to the top. Freezing is not recommended.

Frequently asked questions

What is beanut butter?

It is a viral spread made by blending white beans (cannellini) with peanut butter, honey and vanilla. The beans disappear into a silky base and add protein and fiber.

Can you taste the beans?

No. Once blended smooth, the white beans vanish completely — you taste creamy peanut butter with a hint of honey and vanilla.

How do I make it vegan?

Swap the honey for pure maple syrup. Everything else is already plant-based.

Why is my beanut butter grainy?

Keep blending. A full minute in the food processor, with a scrape halfway, is what takes it from lumpy to silky.