Whizzed into smoothies, swirled into yogurt or spread on toast, peanut butter adds a welcome boost of protein and fat to all kinds of breakfasts. But there is a whole world of butters beyond the usual peanut variety, from an irresistible Almond-Joy-inspired butter to a nut-free and nutritious pumpkin-sunflower seed butter. Ready to get out of your nut rut?
If you have a food processor or powerful blender, making nut and seed butters at home is quite simple. Plus you can make it as plain as you like — just nuts, or nuts and a little salt — or personalize it with add-ins like chocolate, flax seeds or shredded coconut. Your morning toast may never be the same again.
• 1 Almond Butter: The alternative nut butter that needs no introduction and is the easiest to find store-bought.
• 2 Pecan Butter (pictured above): A creamy, silky smooth nut butter that is incredibly easy to make at home.
• 3 Hazelnut-Cocoa Butter (Homemade Nutella): A sweet spread for morning toast, minus the palm oil and other additives of the original.
• 4 Chestnut Butter: A mild and creamy nut butter that can be flavored with sweet or savory mix-ins.
• 5 Roasted Pine Nut Butter: An indulgent way to start a special day.
• 6 Almond Joy Butter: All you need to know is that it takes "less than 30 minutes, 5 ingredients and one spoon (or spatula)" to make.
• 7 Coconut Butter: A spread with rich, velvety coconut flavor and texture in every bite.
• 8 Pumpkin-Sunflower-Flax Seed Butter: An addictively satisfying combination of pumpkin and sunflower seeds with the added nutty flavor and healthfulness of flax seeds.
What are your favorite alternatives to peanut butter?
Related: New and Nourishing Nut Butters
(Images: Kate of Cookie + Kate; Leela Cyd Ross)
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I don't know what took me so long, but I just discovered Almond Butter and I cannot get enough! Being 37 weeks pregnant may have something to do with my obsession, but it can't be all hormones- the stuff is delicious. I'll have to give some of these other nut butters a try, too.
Cashew and sunflower seed butters. They are intense but awesome.
These all sound really tasty, but I find that any nut butter other than peanut butter is ridiculously expensive. Anywhere from $8 to $15 for a small-ish jar, depending on the type of nut. (I *love* macadamia nut butter, but it's so far out of my price range, it's not funny.) I can only imagine how much pine nut butter would cost, though I'm sure it would be divine. Anyone have any tips on finding AFFORDABLE nut butters?
These all sound really tasty, but I find that any nut butter other than peanut butter is ridiculously expensive. Anywhere from $8 to $15 for a small-ish jar, depending on the type of nut. (I *love* macadamia nut butter, but it's so far out of my price range, it's not funny.) I can only imagine how much pine nut butter would cost, though I'm sure it would be divine. Anyone have any tips on finding AFFORDABLE nut butters?
How timely, I was just thinking about alternatives to peanut butter this morning! I'd love to try the homemade nutella!
I can't wait to try these! I just saw a recipe recently for maple walnut butter. How yummy does that sound?! http://beanafoodie.com/blog
It is an absolute crime that cashew butter is not on your list. SHAME.
You do realise that the price of the nut is on par with the price of the jar you buy?
Affordable nut butters can be "found" by making them at home.
I love nut butters...I can't remember the last time I ate peanut butter!! It just tastes too processed to me!
I have become mildly obsessed with making nut butter (usually an almond variation) at home since I discovered how to do it and that the process is truly so easy! My absolute favorite so far is maple cinnamon almond butter, a recipe I found from Edible Perspective. Unbelievably delicious. http://chocolateandchard.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/maple-cinnamon-almond-butter-for-great.html