Numerous nut butters can be made by grinding a nut until it turns into a smooth, creamy paste. Many consumers are familiar with peanut butter, which is technically a legume butter, since peanuts are not true nuts. Almond butter is another common variation, made with almonds instead of peanuts. Other butters made with tree nuts include cashew butter, pecan butter, hazelnut butter, macadamia butter, and walnut butter. Some seeds such as sunflower seeds and sesame seeds are also used to make butters.
Like other nut butters, almond butter retains the nutritional value of the almonds it comes from. It is rich in protein, fiber, and essential fatty acids, although it is also higher in calories than many other nut butters. The uses for almond butter are as varied as they are for peanut butter. It can be employed like a spread, mixed into sauces and dressings, eaten plain, or used in the manufacture of desserts. The flavor is actually quite similar to peanut butter, with a faint hint of almonds.
There are a number of different styles of almond butter, starting with toasted or raw. Toasted almond butter has a richer flavor, but some people prefer the milder taste of raw almond butter. The smoothest and creamiest is made from almonds that have been blanched to remove their skins, and then finely ground. More chunky versions include almond skin, and are not ground as finely. The labeling usually indicates the style, and a visual inspection can confirm it. Chunky almond butter has visible chunks, while creamier versions have dark flecks of skin, and the creamiest of all has a smooth, even color and texture.
The fats in almond butter can cause it to go rancid, so it should be kept in a cool dry place until it is opened, and refrigerated after that. This is actually the case with all nut butters, which should also be stirred before serving to ensure that the butter is evenly mixed. A nut butter with a particularly thick layer of oil can be stored upside down before opening, to encourage the oil to migrate to the bottom of the jar. Use caution when storing nut butters this way after they have been opened, however, as an imperfect seal could result in a nasty spill.
Many stores carry almond butter, usually close to the peanut butter and other nut butters. Some stores will also allow customers to grind their own, using a heavy-duty blender or nut grinder. Fresh ground almond butter has a more intense, rich flavor, and lacks the stabilizers sometimes used to keep preserved nut butters from becoming rancid. You can also make your own almond butter at home by grinding almonds in a high powered blender with a pinch of salt, and sometimes the addition of a small amount of oil.
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anon264537
Post 20 |
There is another: Sun butter made from sunflower seeds. It's awesome. They sell it at Target grocery. |
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anon205993
Post 19 |
Okay, you've all convinced me. I have to try it. I love almonds anyway, so I'm sure I will like it. |
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anon150608
Post 18 |
Try adding almond butter to a smoothie. For example, fresh squeezed apple juice with a banana, papaya,and then add the almond butter from above as it is blending so it gets swirled in nicely. Delicious! |
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anon150604
Post 17 |
Smear it in the cavity of a celery stalk. Besides the intestinal broom effect of the celery, it also simultaneously semi-cleans your teeth as you are eating! |
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anon121103
Post 16 |
@John: I live in NC. Do you have a Harris Teeter in Orangesburg? They carry their own brand there. it is good! Good luck! It's worth the hunt. |
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anon107623
Post 15 |
If you have a peanut allergy can you substitute almond butter for peanut butter? |
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anon97722
Post 14 |
I mix it with cinnamon and spread it on apples. Yummy! |
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anon86778
Post 12 |
Almond butter is my drug of choice. Oftentimes I find myself hitting the bottle right when I wake up before breakfast. After lunch I've been caught sneaking a few spoonfuls from the jar in my desk drawer. After work, it's perfect right before I head to the gym. And a couple of scoops right before bed helps me fall asleep. I've been known to go through a jar every two days. My doctor advises against my addiction due to the high fat content. I am currently in therapy and trying to wean myself off slowly. But for those that can handle this yummy nutty butter in moderation without getting addicted, I'm jealous. |
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anon85959
Post 11 |
Great article! I love this site! Here's a personal recommendation: when you buy almond butter (or any other nut butter for that matter), you should get the one that is easiest to digest, (in other words one where they remove the outer thin brown layers) cold-processed and most natural. My personal favorite is "Almondie". It's even for good for babies with colic and people who have IBS like me. |
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anon85503
Post 10 |
check out a farm market or small store that makes its own peanut butter - that's what we do (Soons Orchards in Orange County NY) - and we make almond butter as well. |
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anon78120
Post 9 |
I found almond butter at our bakery counter at our grocery store. They make it there fresh every day. |
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anon73963
Post 8 |
no salt, no added sugar, no preservatives, no oils added in almond butter!! my choice by far. |
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anon69141
Post 7 |
Here is my private recipe that I will share with. But you must promise not to tell nobody! 2 slices of sun maid raisin bread. 1 jar of Almond Butter 1 jar of jam. Take one slice of bread and spread with A/B take second slice and evenly spread on jam. Caution: jam must be spread evenly. Take the two slices of bread and mash together as one unit. Its called an A/B Jam Samich. |
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anon65303
Post 6 |
For John C. in Orangeburg: the Fresh Market on Forest Dr. in Columbia has fresh ground almonds if you'd like. |
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anon63996
Post 5 |
Where can I find it? i feel like a drug shopper. |
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anon63488
Post 4 |
I haven't had peanut butter in over two years. I didn't like almond butter at first but I gave it a second chance and have been hooked ever since. My favorite is lightly toasted soft-wheat bread with almond butter, half a banana, honey and sprinkled with cinnamon. Try it! -Arlington, VA |
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anon61907
Post 3 |
Almond butter is going to rock if I can find it in this lame town of Orangeburg, SC. - John C. |
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anon37864
Post 2 |
lamaestra: I agree completely. --jamespcol |
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lamaestra
Post 1 |
There is nothing like fresh almond butter! You will never want peanut butter again once you try this! |
