With the emergence of nut butter substitutes, traditional peanut butter has been facing some stiff competition. Most of these new spreads claim that they’re more natural and have less sugar; some of them are even organic, raw, or vegan. Almond butter was the precursor of this movement, acting as the original alternative to peanut butter.
This is one of the healthiest foods on the planet, with a delicious, thick consistency and nutty taste. Yet despite the health benefits, around 1% of the general population is allergic to tree nuts. These include almonds, so many look for equally advantageous alternatives to almond butter. Rest assured, there are plenty of nutrient-rich substitutes to almond butter, regardless of your reasoning, and the 9 best are listed below.
Jump To
- What is Almond Butter?
- How to Make Almond Butter
- What Does Almond Butter Taste Like?
- Nutritional Benefits of Almond Butter
- How to Use Almond Butter
- Choosing the Right Substitute
- 9 Best Almond Butter Substitutes
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What can I use in place of almond butter for a nut-free recipe?
- Is there a lower calorie option that can be used instead of almond butter?
- Almond butter vs peanut butter
- Can applesauce be used as a healthy alternative to almond butter in recipes?
- How do almond butter and peanut butter differ nutritionally and in flavor?
What is Almond Butter?
Almond butter is a nut butter made from ground almonds. Its a popular alternative to peanut butter and is often used as a spread on toast or as an ingredient in recipes. Almond butter is a good source of protein, healthy fats, and fiber. It is also rich in vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium.
Some almond butter contains salt, sweeteners, and flavorings to create a pleasing taste and texture. It has a notably earthy and nutty flavor. Salt enhances the naturally sweet, earthy flavor of the almonds, while added sweeteners vary from sugars to more natural sweeteners such as agave nectar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, and honey.
While some almond butter is flavored, the best ones are natural, unsweetened, organic, and made primarily with almonds and little else. This type of almond butter may need to be given a good stir but the pure almond flavor allows you to reap the maximum health benefits.
How to Make Almond Butter
To make almond butter, start by roasting 2 cups of raw almonds in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes until they become fragrant. Allow them to cool slightly before placing them in a food processor. Process the almonds, occasionally scraping down the sides, until a thick and creamy consistency is achieved. This process may take about 10-15 minutes, depending on the desired smoothness. For additional flavor, you can add a pinch of salt or a sweetener like honey.
What Does Almond Butter Taste Like?
Almond butter has a nutty and creamy flavor that is similar to peanut butter but with a slightly sweeter taste. The texture of almond butter is smooth and thick, making it a popular spread for toast, crackers, and sandwiches. The butter is made from roasted almonds that are ground into a paste. The roasting process gives the almonds a slightly toasted flavor that enhances the taste of the almond butter. Some almond butter brands even add salt, sugar, or other ingredients to enhance the flavor, so be sure to check the label if you are looking for a specific taste.
Nutritional Benefits of Almond Butter
Rich in protein and a good source of healthy fat, many have turned to almond butter. Despite its name, it’s completely dairy-free and does not contain butter, making it perfect for vegans and those avoiding dairy.
Almond butter offers a whole host of benefits. It’s a good source of magnesium, potassium, selenium, and vitamin E. It is rich in dietary fiber, protein, heart-healthy nutrients, and unsaturated fats, which increases satiety. Like most nut butter, it has a low glycemic index, which means that it won’t spike your blood sugar levels and could help lower your risk of developing diabetes.
Apart from being one of the most abundant forms of plant-based protein, they also enhance brain function and promote healthy skin. While it started as a food fad, eating almond butter in moderation provides you with wholesome nutrients. Whether choosing a smooth or chunky almond butter, with sustainably sourced palm oil or not, there are several brands out in the market worth buying.
How to Use Almond Butter
Almond butter is incredibly versatile. You can simply spread it on toast or serve it as a dip for your favorite fruit. You can even eat it for breakfast, as a snack, or in your cooking or baking. In cooking and baking, use it instead of frosting or butter, and in practically all recipes that call for peanut butter.
Natural, unsweetened almond butter is perfect in savory recipes where you don’t have to offset the sweetness of the butter with more salt. Here are some ways you can add almond butter to your diet:
- Almond Butter & Honey Sandwich
- Banana Almond Butter Smoothie
- Pancakes, Waffles, and French toast topping
- Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Cookies
- Stirred with Granola
- Fresh Vegetable Spring Rolls with Almond Butter dipping sauce
- Asian Salad Dressing
- Chicken or Vegetable Curries
- Kare-Kare (Ox-tail and tripe stew in almond butter sauce)
- Almond Butter Cups
- Peanut-Free Pad Thai
Choosing the Right Substitute
Before we hop into what substitute you should pick, it’s best to know what to look for in each one. A lot of factors come into play here, so you’ll wanna pay attention to this part.
Taste
An important factor, from a culinary point of view, is taste. If you’re used to almond butter’s nutty, slightly sweet flavor, you’ll want to choose a substitute with a similar taste profile. One of which is peanut butter, which is quite similar in terms of taste. Other nut butter have a slightly different flavor but are still viable picks.
Dietary Restrictions and Nutrition
I think the most important factor to consider here is your dietary restrictions and nutrition. If you have a nut allergy, it’s best to avoid the nutty section of the substitutes and opt for one that’s nut-free. Sunflower seed butter or soy nut butter are perfect examples of this.
If you’re also following a low-carb or keto diet, you may want to choose a substitute that’s lower in carbs than almond butter. Tahini, made from sesame seeds, is your best bet for this.
Nutrition is also key, as some options, like peanut butter, tend to be more calorie-heavy than others. A balance that suits nutrition and health requirements shouldn’t be too hard to handle with a few of the options below.
Availability and Cost
If you’ve filled out the previous boxes, then you’ll lastly wanna consider availability and cost. Almond butter can be quite expensive, so you may want to choose something like peanut butter, as it’s usually less expensive and more widely available. Other nut butter, such as cashew or hazelnut butter, can be more expensive, so find one that suits you.
9 Best Almond Butter Substitutes
While incredibly versatile, there may be times when you will need to substitute almond butter for a different ingredient.
Perhaps due to an almond allergy, lack of availability, or simply not liking the taste of it, we’ve got some great almond butter alternatives for you to choose from. This is aside from making your almond butter – which is the best choice, in our opinion. All of these tree nut butter alternatives are easy and inexpensive to make at home.
We’ve also got you covered if you’re looking for a tree nut-free almond butter alternative. Keep reading to find out the almond butter substitute for your preferences.
Peanut Butter
The easiest swap for almond butter is probably already in your pantry – peanut butter. Almond butter and peanut butter are nutty butters that go hand-in-hand with almost the same nutritional value, texture, and similar flavors, so they pretty much have the same uses.
This makes it a suitable almond butter substitute in most recipes at a 1:1 ratio. You can use it in cooking and baking applications, or when eating it for breakfast with toast or fruit.
Homemade Almond Butter
When you’re looking for a substitute for almond butter and you have time to whip out ye olde apron, then try whipping up your own almond butter at home. Here’s a great recipe from The Big Man’s World that only has one ingredient – raw, unsalted almonds. It’s inexpensive and easy to make, and all you need is to source good, organic almonds.
Simply roast and blitz your almonds with the desired amount of salt. The beauty of making your own is that you know exactly what goes into your nut butter, with the taste and consistency being adjustable according to your preferences.
If you like it sweet, add a natural sweetener like maple syrup or honey. You can make it coarser or smoother, depending on how long you pulse it and any extra oil you may add. You can use this in any of your recipes that call for almond butter in a 1:1 ratio. If you keep your almonds raw, this will make it best for savory applications because roasting them is thought to bring out the sweetness.
Cashew Butter
Cashew butter has a surprisingly mild, sweet, nutty flavor that’s usually made from roasted cashews. Some cashew butter will have a similar texture as your favorite almond butter, depending on the brand you choose.
You may also purchase a bag of unsalted cashews that you roast and process into homemade cashew butter. Cashews are an excellent snack on their own, as well, and boast healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, essential amino acids, and magnesium.
Swap cashew butter for almond butter at a 1:1 ratio in most recipes that call for almond butter. It may be added to baked goods, used as a spread, a flavoring for smoothies or smoothie bowls, or as a fruit topping.
Hazelnut Butter
Like almond butter, hazelnut butter is made from roasted hazelnuts. It’s notoriously paired with sugar & chocolate flavoring to create the widely popular Nutella spread. This swap should be reserved for desserts and other sweeter recipes.
Feel free to even make this healthy nut butter yourself. Roast, process, and flavor the hazelnut butter according to your own tastes and preferences. Hazelnut butter should be used in a 1:1 ratio in baking or as a snack.
Tahini
If you’re looking for a nut-free option, tahini is a great alternative to almond butter. It’s safe for people with nut allergies, as tahini is a Middle Eastern condiment made from hulled, roasted sesame seeds. It’s traditionally ground to a paste-like consistency, similar to nut butter spreads.
Sesame seeds also contain antioxidants and nutrients similar in profile to almonds, so you’re not missing out on the good stuff here. Tahini is a required ingredient for making hummus, so it’s a particularly suitable stand-in for almond butter in savory applications such as sauces, soups, dressings, or stews.
When used on its own, tahini tastes like smoky peanut butter, so many people offset it with sweeteners or toppings, like in my tahini brussels sprouts. Tahini isn’t the best choice for baked goods, because its strong flavor may overwhelm the finished product. If you need a swap for almond butter in baking, consider choosing another substitute. Use this in a 1:1 ratio for almond butter.
Walnut Butter
Like the other tree nut butter on this list, walnut butter is a good source of heart-healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants. Walnuts are the oldest tree food known to mankind, dating back to as early as 7,000 B.C. They are particularly favored for their fairly mild, earthy flavor with a tangy undertone.
These flavors lend themselves to walnut butter, making it a good alternative to almond butter for toast, as fruit toppings, or in smoothies. Use this almond butter alternative in a 1:1 ratio.
Sunflower Seed Butter
Sunflower butter also known as sunflower seed butter or sun butter is a tree nut-free substitute for almond butter. Similar to tahini, this product is a seed paste made from roasted, ground sunflower seeds. This is an excellent almond butter substitute for people with a nut allergy; however, people with a mugwort pollen allergy should avoid it.
A tablespoon of this seed butter supplies the body with just under half the daily requirement for vitamin E and is a great source of protein, healthy fats, and magnesium. Sunflower seed butter makes a good almond butter substitute for savory dishes like dressings and sauces, spread on toast, or added to smoothies in a 1:1 ratio.
Coconut Butter
Coconut butter is a divine spread made from grinding raw coconut meat into a smooth consistency. This creamy vegan butter is another nut-free alternative to almond butter.
Its distinct taste comes from the coconut fruit which is a bit sweet and slightly nutty. It also has a gritty consistency that becomes runny when warmed, and solid when cool. Coconut butter’s nutritional profile and consistency are similar to those of almond butter; however, if you’re not a fan of coconuts, this alternative may not be for you.
Like almond butter, you can add coconut butter to baked goods, smoothies, sandwiches, and fruits in a 1:1 swap.
Powdered Peanut Butter
Powdered peanut butter is made from roasted peanuts that have been pressed to remove most of the fat. The remaining solids are then ground into a fine powder. With most of the fat removed, this makes for a fantastic low-fat, low-calorie (about 75% fewer calories than peanut butter) alternative to nut butter.
Peanut butter in powder form is a good source of protein and fiber, minus heart-healthy fats. It can replace almond butter in recipes where you’re just looking for a nutty flavor, but make sure to check whether you have sweetened or unsweetened peanut butter powder. Use this in smoothies, sauces, or baking in a 1:1 ratio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use in place of almond butter for a nut-free recipe?
If you’re looking for a nut-free alternative to almond butter, you can try using sunflower seed butter or pumpkin seed butter. Both of these options have a similar consistency to almond butter and can be used in recipes like smoothies, sauces, and baked goods.
Is there a lower calorie option that can be used instead of almond butter?
If you’re looking for a lower calorie option, you can try using powdered peanut butter. Powdered peanut butter has about 85% fewer calories than almond butter and can be used in recipes like smoothies and sauces. However, it has a different consistency than almond butter, so it may not work as well in baked goods.
Almond butter vs peanut butter
Almond butter and peanut butter are both popular nut butters, but they have some differences in flavor and nutrition. Almond butter has a slightly sweeter and nuttier flavor than peanut butter, and it is higher in vitamin E, magnesium, and fiber. Peanut butter, on the other hand, is higher in protein and folate.
Can applesauce be used as a healthy alternative to almond butter in recipes?
Applesauce can be used as a healthy alternative to almond butter in some recipes, but it won’t work well in all recipes. Applesauce has a different consistency than almond butter, so it may not work well in recipes that rely on the thickness and creaminess of almond butter. However, it can be used as a substitute in recipes like muffins and cakes.
How do almond butter and peanut butter differ nutritionally and in flavor?
As mentioned earlier, almond butter has a slightly sweeter and nuttier flavor than peanut butter. Nutritionally, almond butter is higher in vitamin E, magnesium, and fiber, while peanut butter is higher in protein and folate. Both nut butters are healthy options and can be used in a variety of recipes.