Need Peanut Butter Alternatives? We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re looking for tree nut substitutes because you want a healthier eating option or you’re looking for non-tree nut substitutes for peanut butter because of nut allergies, we’ve got you covered. We go through the 27 Best Peanut Butter Substitutes – The Complete Guide so that you can choose the best one for your needs.
What Is Peanut Butter?
Peanut butter is a food paste or spread made from dry roasted peanuts. It usually includes additional ingredients that change its taste or texture.
Why Do You Need a Peanut Butter Substitute?
Why choose peanut butter alternatives? There are a variety of reasons that someone might choose to seek out a peanut butter alternative. Those can include food allergies and better eating habits.
Nut Allergy
Reasons for needing a peanut butter substitute can include food allergies such as a nut allergy. If this is the case for you, you’ll want to select your favorite substitutes from our nut-free peanut butter alternative list below.
To Reduce the Level of Calories and Fat in Peanut Butter
Another reason a peanut butter substitute is sometimes chosen is for a healthier alternative. General peanut butter can include undesirable additives and can contain a fair amount of calories and sugar. Those can be avoided or reduced when using a substitute for peanut butter.
What Are These Substitutes?
Peanut butter substitutes can include substitutes that use other nuts besides peanuts. These are known as tree nut substitutes. And we’ll also go over peanut butter substitutes that are made from alternative ingredients that don’t include tree nuts.
Tree Nut Butters
Tree nut butters can be a natural go-to alternative and substitute for peanut butter. But if you’re looking for an alternative solution for peanut butter because of a tree nut allergy, you’ll want to skip on down to the next section called Nut-Free Butters.
If your reason for seeking an alternative for peanut butter is simply for dietary reasons or healthier eating, we’ll give some great options here in our nut butter comparison.
Cashew Butter
Cashew butter has a mildly sweet, nutty flavor. It’s considered a bit richer and creamier than peanut butter.
Cashew butter has benefits that aren’t necessarily found in peanut butter, including magnesium, fatty acids, and amino acids. Cashews are thought to help strengthen an immune system.
Almond Butter
Almond butter compared to peanut butter contains less sugar and more nutrients. While peanut butter gets the win for the fiber content and protein content. Their flavors are similar with almond butter being slightly richer.
Almond butter, made from almonds has health benefits that include aiding with heart health and heart rhythm, as well as help raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol.
Walnut Butter
Walnut butter is a better source of iron and magnesium than peanut butter. Just like when eating walnuts plain, walnut butter has a nutty flavor with a slightly bitter after taste.
And peanut butter tends to be milder and sweeter in flavor. Walnut butter can make a good substitute for peanut butter if you like the flavor of walnuts.
Hazelnut Butter
Just like hazelnuts, hazelnut butter has a creamy texture, but it tends to be higher in fat and lower in calories than peanut butter.
Hazelnut butter has health benefits of being rich in vitamin E and magnesium compared to store bought peanut butter which doesn’t have those qualities.
Pecan Butter
Pecan butter tastes like the richness of butter pecan and has hints of sweet vanilla extract. It has flavors of fat, sweet, and nutty undertones. Pecan butter is mild in flavor and is delicious for those seeking that flavor.
Pecans are the number one nut for providing antioxidants. As a result, that health benefit is carried over into pecan butter. We would rank it up there as a top alternative nut butter to peanut butter.
Pistachio Butter
If you like pistachios, chances are you’ll like pistachio butter too. It has an earthy, nutty, and slightly sweet flavor. If you’re making homemade pistachio butter, you’ll want to blanch the nuts and remove their outer skins first.
Pistachio butter contains approximately the same amount of calories as peanut butter. Pistachio butter is a good source for boosting electrolytes and can provide a good amount of potassium.
Brazil Nut Butter
Brazil Nut Butter is rich and creamy in flavor, but it doesn’t have the mild sweetness that peanut butter has. If you’re looking for a peanut butter alternative that’s not too sweet, this might be your new favorite.
Brazil Nut Butter contains about half the protein of peanut butter, so that can be a drawback if you’re looking for a good source of protein. However, on the positive side it can be a good supply of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, iron, zinc, and magnesium.
Macadamia Nut Butter
Macadamia Nut Butter tends to be a favorite among those who like a buttery flavor that’s slightly nutty. Macadamia nut butter is lighter in color than peanut butter simply because the color of the nuts is lighter.
Some of the health benefits of macadamia nut butter is that it’s a good source of protein and fat. And the high amounts of protein and fat are what help to make it so filling and satisfying similar to what you’d expect from peanut butter.
Homemade Peanut Butter
And if you just want to avoid all the additives that come in a jar of peanut butter from the grocery store, consider making your own peanut butter. It can be simple and straightforward to do and certainly is healthier than consuming all the extra ingredients that aren’t needed.
Nut-Free Butters
These are the peanut butter substitutes to try if your kid has allergies, these nut free butters are substitutes for peanut butter that you’ll want to check out. Choose the best flavor and consistency for your use or recipe.
Tahini
Tahini is usually made from sesame seeds, salt, and oil. It’s then processed to make a nice smooth sauce or paste consistency that is spreadable, just like peanut butter.
The benefits of tahini include antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it is also thought to be good for heart health and protecting brain function. Consider using tahini as a nut free butter alternative for peanut butter.
Sunflower Seed Butter
Sunflower seed butter is also known as sunflower butter. It’s a food paste made from sunflower seeds and it’s a common substitute for peanut butter when nut allergies are a concern. Sunflower butter can be made in a food processor using toasted sunflower seeds, brown sugar, and salt if desired for flavoring.
Sunflower seed butter is a good source of vitamin E. Consuming about 1 tablespoon supplies about ¼ of a person’s recommended daily requirement. It’s also a good source of protein, magnesium, and healthy fats.
Coconut Butter
Coconut Butter is a good plant-based substitute for peanut butter. It can be made by pureeing coconut meat and flavoring it with salt or sugar.
Coconut butter is considered a healthy alternative to peanut butter because it helps to boost metabolism which assists in weight loss and increases energy levels. It’s rich in lauric acid which helps to boost immunity and destroys harmful bacteria.
Soy Nut Butter
Homemade soy nut butter is great as a peanut butter alternative. You can make it custom to your taste preference and it only requires soybeans, oil, and salt or sugar to taste.
Soy nut butter is often chosen as a healthy alternative to peanut butter because it contains half the saturated fat of peanut butter. Both soy nut butter and peanut butter provide unsaturated fats.
Granola Butter
If you like the flavor of granola, you’re probably going to like the flavor of granola butter. It’s got all the flavor of spices like granola does, but it’s processed into a smooth spreadable paste just like peanut butter.
Homemade granola butter can be made with similar ingredients that you’d use to make granola, such as oats, cinnamon, oil, maple syrup, and any other spices you’d like.
Cookie Butter
Cookie butter can be used as a substitute for peanut butter. It’s made from cookie crumbs, cinnamon, syrup, and oil. Add a bit of water to help it turn into nice buttery consistency that you’re familiar with in peanut butter.
Cookie butter is healthier than Nutella since it has fewer calories and less sugar. And as far as its comparison to peanut butter is concerned, it’s lower in fat and calories, but can’t compete with the protein that’s in peanut butter.
Maple Butter
Maple butter can used in much the same way as peanut butter. When made from pure maple syrup, maple butter is considered good for you. It includes antioxidants as well as nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
Maple butter is a good non-tree nut substitute for peanut butter and can be made by stirring maple syrup until a thick consistency develops.
Pea Butter
Pea butter can be made at home from brown peas. It’s a good plant-based alternative to peanut butter for vegan eaters.
Pea butter can be made using peas and processing them in the food processor to form a paste. You can also add seasonings such as salt or sugar to flavor the concoction as desired.
Pumpkin Seed Butter
Pumpkin seed butter is just like it sounds. It can be made from toasted pumpkin seeds and is a good alternative to peanut butter for those with peanut or tree nut allergies. Add a little cinnamon and sugar or sugar alternative to bring out the flavor.
Chickpea Butter
Chickpea butter is made from chickpeas that are processed to make a smooth paste that is similar in consistency to peanut butter. It makes a good peanut butter substitute.
Compared to peanut butter, chickpea butter is a good source of fiber and carbohydrates. It’s a good alternative for those with tree nut allergies.
Five Seed Butter
Five Seed Butter is made from a combination of pumpkin, hemp, sunflower, chia, and flax seeds. They’re processed with a food processor to make a smooth spread like peanut butter and can be flavored sweet or salty as desired.
Five seed butter makes a good substitute for peanut butter because it’s rich in flavor and it’s plant based, making it a healthy alternative to eating peanut butter.
Other Options for Spreads
Let’s consider for a moment that the purpose of your peanut butter alternative is simply to be used as a spread and the flavor doesn’t matter. Perhaps you want to eat it on a piece of bread, some delicious crackers, or chips.
In this case the flavor and texture of the spread don’t matter, but it simply needs to be a spread. Here is our list of spreads that will work well for a variety of purposes, in place of peanut butter.
Guacamole
Guacamole can be a delicious treat served on sourdough toast, pita crackers, or with a side of tortilla chips. It’s rich in flavor and protein and can be easily homemade using ripe avocados, minced garlic, a pinch of salt, and a splash of lime juice. It’s quite tasty and can hit the spot to fulfill a craving.
Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is a delicious spread for toast, bagels, and crackers. You can serve it with jams and jellies, just like you would peanut butter. Cream cheese is a good source of protein and usually widely available.
Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
Whole berry cranberry sauce tends to be popular around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it doesn’t have to be only that way. It’s delicious any time of the year. If you’re looking for a healthy spread as an alternative to peanut butter, consider using whole berry cranberry sauce.
Hummus
Chickpea hummus flavored with garlic or red pepper are delicious spreads that can be used in a variety of ways including on toast, breads, chips, or crackers. Dipping vegetables such as carrots and celery is also a popular way to eat hummus, just like you’d eat peanut butter for a snack.
Vegetable Purees
Homemade vegetable purees are a healthy alternative to peanut butter. They can be made from a variety of vegetables including carrots, leeks, sweet potatoes, cauliflower or whatever your heart desires. Eat vegetable purees with toast, bread, crackers, chips, or vegetables just like you would eat peanut butter.
Salad Dressing
Homemade or store-bought salad dressings can also be a healthy alternative to using peanut butter as a spread. Some salad dressings are thick enough that the consistency is such that they work well. And many of them don’t contain tree nuts if there is a tree nut allergy to be considered.
Bean Dips
Bean dips such as those made with refried beans, or any kind of ground beans works great as a spread or a dip. They can be eaten with carrots and celery sticks or on a slice of bread, with chips or crackers just like you’d eat peanut butter.
Peanut Butter Substitutes for General Uses
Following are some recommendations for peanut butter substitutes for general uses. Peanut butter is often used in recipes and if you know someone who can’t eat peanut butter, you’ll be happy to know that there are substitutes that can be used in cookies, cakes, cupcakes, muffins, brownies, and granola bars.
Peanut Butter Substitutes in Baking
The role of peanut butter in baking typically is used for binding, thickening, or adding texture. You’ll want to choose the best substitute according to consistency and flavor.
Best Peanut Butter Substitute for Cookies
The best peanut butter substitutes for cookies are pecan butter, almond butter, macadamia butter, coconut butter, and pumpkin seed butter.
Best Peanut Butter Substitute for Cakes, Cupcakes, Muffins
The best peanut butter substitutes for cakes, muffins, and cupcakes is any butter with a similar consistency and desired flavor. You can check out our huge list above and choose the best one according to your personal flavor preference.
Best Peanut Butter Substitute for Brownies
The best peanut butter substitutes for brownies are tahini, sunflower seed butter, almond butter, hazelnut butter, and Brazil nut butter.
Best Peanut Butter Substitute for Granola Bars
When selecting a peanut butter substitute for granola bars, use nuts and seeds that are similar to or included in the granola.
Low Fat Alternatives
If fat is the main reason for choosing a peanut butter substitute and not allergies, then consider using powdered peanut butter, which tends to be lower in fat.
Substitutes For Peanut Butter in No-Bake Cookies
If those who gather around your table enjoy no bake cookies, you’ll be happy to know that there are a few solutions that you can use as peanut butter substitutes. When selecting a substitute for baking, the first task is knowing what role that ingredient has.
And for no-bake cookies, the role of peanut butter is to act as a binding agent. It’s what holds all the stuff together and gives the cookie its shape.
The best peanut butter substitutes for no bake cookies include, almond butter, macadamia butter, hazelnut butter, pecan butter as well as soy butter or coconut butter for no nut butters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Following are the frequently asked questions that relate to peanut butter substitutes. If you have a question that’s not answered here, feel free to drop it in the comments below and we’ll be happy to answer it.
What is the best peanut butter substitute?
The best peanut butter substitute depends on a person’s dietary restrictions as well as the purpose for which the peanut butter will be used. We give some recommendations in the peanut butter substitutes listed above.
What are the health benefits of nut butters?
The benefits of eating nut butters are that they’re good for your heart, plus they keep you feeling fuller longer than some foods. Nut butters are typically a good source of protein as well.
What tastes closest to peanut butter?
The substitute that tastes closest to peanut butter is Wowbutter soy spread. We’d label this one almost like peanut butter but peanut free! If you’re looking for a tree nut free peanut butter alternative, you’ll want to try this one.
What are some peanut butter alternatives for school?
Creative and tasty substitutes for peanut butter alternatives for school is the one that your child likes and that fits his or her dietary restrictions. Nut butters and non-tree nut butters work well in school lunches and can be healthy alternative.
Always Check Labels Yourself
Peanut butter and peanut butter alternatives can both include unwanted additives, so we always suggest that you check the labels to confirm that your chosen substitute will fit the criteria you’re wanting to fulfill.
Share These Peanut Butter Substitutes with Food Allergy Parents
If you know the parent of a child that struggles with peanut butter allergies, please share this post with them so that they can be knowledgeable about delicious alternative solutions.
Did You Get Your Peanut Butter Substitute?
Which peanut butter substitute did you use? Did you like it? Let us know in the comments section below. Peanut butter can be used in a variety of ways and it’s important to choose the best one to fit your needs and fulfill the functions of the recipe it’s intended to be used in.
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