A process for the preparation of a bake stable nut butter emulsion which
comprises the following steps (a) selecting a sugar syrup solution and
diluting it with water until it contains an amount of sugar solids which
is in the range 55-80 wt. %, (b) heating the solution to a temperature in
the range 40-100.degree. C., (c) dispersing a starch into the heated
solution until it contains 1-5 wt. % of dissolved starch, (d) dispersing
an emulsifier into the heated solution until it contains 0.5-3 wt. % of
dissolved emulsifier, (e) dispersing a gelling agent into the heated
solution until it contains 0.2-1 wt. % of dissolved gelling agent, (f)
cooling the heated solution into which the starch, emulsifier and gelling
agent have been dispersed to a temperature which is in the range of
20-50.degree. C., (g) dispersing under vigorous stirring conditions a nut
butter into the cooled solution, while controlling the rate of addition
such that the resulting emulsion remains water continuous, (h) allowing
the emulsion to cool and to obtain a plastic consistency. The process
delivers an edible nut butter containing emulsion which comprises 10-25
wt. % of a dispersed fat phase and 75-90 wt. % of a continuous aqueous
phase which comprises sugar solids, starch, gelling agent and emulsifier,
which emulsion has a plastic consistency and which emulsion possesses
bake stability. The invention also relates to a bake stable nut butter
emulsion.