There are hundreds of different nut butters to choose from while perusing the aisles at the grocery store. For some, Skippy seems to be the safety choice. However, the realm of nut butters is so much more than a tub of Skippy peanut butter.
If accessible, I would first recommend the fresh grind peanut and cashew butter at Whole Foods. While a little more expensive than the typical nut butter, this stuff comes out warm and gooey (it literally melts in your mouth) and is worth every penny.
However in terms of jarred nut butters, these five will have you rethinking your every breakfast, lunch, and dinner:
1. 365 Creamy Unsalted Peanut Butter
In this case, basic is best. This peanut butter is smooth, buttery, not too oily but not too dry… dare I say the perfect peanut butter exists? I feel too predictable giving the #1 spot to a Whole Foods product, but this title is well-deserved.
I put this peanut butter in (and on) everything: From peanut butter banana smoothies and sweet potato bowls to stir fries and the classic ants on a log, there is really no wrong path to take. Are you a peanut butter snob like me?
2. Trader Joe’s Raw Almond Butter
Unlike peanut butter, almond butter is more grainy and earthy in taste. And while Trader Joe’s cookie butter generally gets all the attention, their almond butter is just as satisfying. I generally stick with the classic almond butter and apple combo, but also use this almond butter in baking because it creates the perfect texture and hint of nuttiness.
What’s the difference between raw and roasted nut butters? In terms of taste and texture, there isn’t much of a difference. But in terms of nutritional value, roasting almonds reduces the enzymes, antioxidants, and vitamins originally present in an almond.
3. Wild Friends Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter
This nut butter, as Guy Fieri would say, is truly “a trip to flavortown.” At first spoonful, there’s a big wave of chocolate with a hint of salty, coconut-y goodness and a slight peanut butter aftertaste. You would think that the presence of so many flavors would be overbearing, but they compliment each other oh so well.
If, like me, you have a 24/7 chocolate craving, I recommend a spoonful in your morning oatmeal topped with banana coins and peanuts. But again, there’s nothing wrong with eating out of the jar, no matter what your mother tells you.
4. Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
What if I told you that there was a Nutella substitute with 3x less sugar, 3X more fiber, and 10x more flavor. Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter is sweet, nutty, and rich and doesn’t taste overly sugary and processed.
This nut butter is best slathered on your morning toast or pancakes, but can also be incorporated into many desserts. Justin’s website has a wide range of recipes to drool over.
5. Maisie Jane’s Creamy Cashew Butter
Cashew butter is one of my favorites because it’s so buttery and rich. After trying Trader Joe’s salted cashew butter, I realized that the salt greatly took away from all the cashew flavour. Maisie Jane’s brand is unsalted, smooth, and thick.
What’s more, for every purchased 12 oz. jar of cashew butter, Maisie Jane’s donates $.05 towards bee research.
While a little more expensive than other nut butters, it’s worth the treat every once in a while. I recommend changing your classic PB&J sandwich into a CB&J (it’s truly life-changing).
Grocery shopping as a college student can be overwhelming at the least. There are so many options and sometimes it’s easiest to stick to the classic Jif, Skippy, or Smuckers. But it’s 2017 y’all— time to get adventurous (and a little nutty)!