Nut Butters - Spreading more than just peanut butter
Are you ready for a break from the same old peanut butter?
Chances are you've got a jar of your favorite brand of peanut butter hiding in the pantry cabinets somewhere. You might even use it regularly, maybe even daily.
Did you know that there are many varieties of nut butters in addition to the popular peanut butter that we're so used to seeing?
Depending on what stores you have in your area you might be able to buy almond butter, or even better if you've got a farmer's market or a health food store nearby you might find some other varieties locally.
Or if you're like me and not so lucky to have those things available in your regular shopping distance then the internet is your friend for sure because you can order just about any kind of nut butter your heart (and taste buds) desire!
Let's take a look at a few different options and why you might want to try them in place of your usual peanut butter....
Almond Butter
Probably the most commonly used to replace peanut butter is almond butter.It's great with crackers or sliced apples just like peanut butter, but gives you a different flavor profile.
Almonds are considered among the healthiest snack foods and believed to be helpful in lowering cholesterol and improving heart health.
You can use almond butter for baking, in smoothies, and just about anything you'd use peanut butter for - yes, you can even make an almond butter and jelly sandwich (and it's quite yummy!)
Walnut Butter
The familiar walnut is up next in our nut butter list. You've probably used walnuts in baking and cooking applications before, but a walnut butter is a delicious break from the usual nut spread.
Did you know that walnuts contain the ever popular heart-healthy omega-3's that everyone is always talking about and trying to incorporate into their diet? Yeah, they're a pretty awesome nut that you're sure to love.
Again, you can use walnut butter just like you would use your usual nut butter, on your toast, in some cookies, in a smoothie, on some crackers, with some fruit, etc... It's pretty versatile and definitely delicious.
Hazelnut Butter or Hazelnut Spread
You're might be familiar with the popular hazelnut cocoa spread Nutella that is widely available in grocery stores, but this tasty little nut goes beyond that and you'll find a variety of spreads and butters made with it.
One thing to keep in mind when using a hazelnut butter is that it's very strong and rich in flavor, so you might use a little bit less of this one than you might of peanut butter or almond butter. For example, if you're spreading on crackers or fruit you might want to use a thinner layer than you normally might because this little nut packs in the flavor.
Cashew Butter
I love cashews! Every time I eat a cashew nut I remember fondly Sunday afternoons sitting in the living room with my grandfather, enjoying a snack, watching college bowl games, and smiling a lot.
Like the other nut butters we've discussed you can use cashew butter in a variety of ways ~ I think it's particularly delicious in baking applications, added to frostings, cakes, and cookies. Yum!
Try Cashew Butter for Yourself....
Flavored Butters: Nuts, Dairy, Herbs, Fruit
Once used in medicines and ointments, butter is now a luxurious component in all of our favorite foods an essential ingredient in desserts, a base for creamy sauces, and a simple spread for breads and pastries. In FLAVORED BUTTERS, food writer Offerico Maoz explores the history and culinary possibilities of this age-old dairy product, presenting more than 65 mouth-watering recipes for flavored butters and sauces, including instructions for making butter by hand.