When you really give it some thought, it’s pretty amazing how many over-priced store-bought items you can make yourself, in your kitchen, and save yourself lots of cash. Nut butters, home-ground flours, applesauce, and granola come to mind.

Today, I have proof of that fact.

Coconut butter, also called coconut manna, is one such product. Coconut butter is nothing more than the pureed meat of dried, unsweetened, shredded coconut. It can be used just as you would any other nut butter, such as on sandwiches or crackers, as a fruit dip, or added to smoothies for extra creaminess and healthy fat.

Coconut butter can be sweetened and thinned with a little coconut milk to make a lovely glaze for cakes, muffins, or truffles or as a gourmet syrup for waffles and pancakes. Or add different flavors to create seasonal spread for toast, like my Maple Orange Cinnamon Spread.

It’s a staple I keep on hand at all times. And here’s why:

• I can make it myself in 5 minutes or less.
• I live in a rural area with stores that don’t carry this type of product, so it’s difficult for me to run to the store and buy some.
• I know what the price tag is for this stuff in a health food store, so I know how smart it is to make it myself.

Price Comparison: Store-Bought Coconut Butter vs. Homemade 5-Minute Coconut Butter

Nutiva Organic Coconut Manna (15 oz.): $13.45
Price per ounce = $.90

Artisana 100% Raw Organic Coconut Butter (16 oz.): $22.15
Price per ounce = $1.38

And here’s my price breakdown:

It takes almost 4 cups of the shredded coconut I buy to make approximately 8-10 ounces of coconut butter. I buy my organic shredded coconut from Wildly Organic (formerly Widerness Family Naturals) in a 5-pound bag. There are approximately 24 cups of coconut in that bag, making the cost per cup $1.20.

If it takes 4 cups of shredded coconut to yield 8 ounces of coconut butter, then that’s $4.80.

Lindsey’s Homemade Organic and Raw 5-Minute Coconut Butter (8 oz.): $4.80
Price per ounce = $.60

Ummm, does anyone notice that’s over 50% cheaper than the most expensive brand I compared to?!?!

Homemade 5-Minute Coconut Butter

Ready to know how to make your very own homemade coconut butter in 5 minutes?

Here’s what you need:

• 2-4 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
• a high-speed blender (I LOVE my BlendTec!)
• a spoon or rubber spatula to scrape the sides.

Here’s how to do it:

You will probably need to use your spoon or rubber spatula to guide the coconut rising up the sides back into the vortex of the blender. My BlendTec’s lid allows me to do this while it is running. Just be careful not to let your spoon or spatula touch your blender’s blades while it’s running!

Whir it another minute or so, and it will become a thick liquid very quickly.

Now, store it in a glass jar in your pantry. Keep it at room temperature and away from direct sunlight, and your coconut butter will last you a year or more! When your house is cool, the butter will harden. Simply place it in a pan of hot water for 5 to 10 minutes to soften. When your house is warm, the coconut butter will be softer.

See? Wasn’t that so easy?

If you’re interested in replacing more store-bought items with nourishing and nutrient-dense ingredient swaps, check out 16 Ingredient Swaps To Instantly Add Nutrition To Your Life and then, 12 MORE Ingredient Swaps!

Have you ever made coconut butter? How much does store-bought coconut butter cost where you live?