It happens to the best of us…you get ready to make a recipe that calls for almond butter only to realize that you’re all out. Or maybe you would prefer to use a different nut butter altogether or have an allergy that requires you to sub it out. No matter the case, knowing the best almond butter substitutes can help you get cooking in a flash!
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Nutrition For Mental Wellbeing
One serving of almonds contains 6g of carbohydrates, 3.5g of fiber, 6g of protein, and 14g of fat. They are also rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, and manganese and a good source of magnesium.
A retrospective study showed that increased vitamin E intake was linked to lower rates of depressive symptoms.
Best Uses For Almond Butter
Almond butter is the nutritious jack of all trades that works great in tons of recipes. If you have bread or crackers, you can enjoy it as-is right on top, though you can put it to use in so many different ways. Here’s a quick rundown of the best uses for almond butter.
- Smoothies: Almond butter is tasty in this date banana smoothie, blueberry smoothie, or acai bowl.
- Desserts: Chocolate date balls and peanut butter date bars are delicious with almond butter.
- Sandwich: Your classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich is as tasty as can be with almond butter.
- Spread: Top your favorite banana pancakes, applesauce waffles, or classic vegan pancakes with almond butter for an extra-filling breakfast.
- Oatmeal: Add a dollop of almond butter on top of a warm bowl of chocolate oatmeal, creamy oatmeal, strawberry oatmeal, chia seed oatmeal, brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal, or banana oatmeal.
The List: 31 Best Almond Butter Substitutes
Whether you dislike almond butter or just ran out, you can raid your pantry or add these other substitutes for almond butter to your shopping cart.
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- Peanut Butter: We’ll start with the best substitute, peanut butter, which is creamier in texture but a little less nutty. If the price of almond butter has you hesitating at checkout, you may want to choose peanut butter as a budget-friendly option. By the way, this is the best peanut butter ever!
- Cashew Butter: While it may be higher in fatiness, cashew butter is smooth and creamy. What makes it a great substitute is that the flavor is more neutral, making it a great swap if you’re using it in something savory.
- Hazelnut Butter: Flavor-wise, hazelnut butter is super similar to almond butter. There are less saturated fats in this replacement option, though, which may make it a better choice to suit your health needs.
- Pistachio Butter: For an earthier, nuttier replacement, choose pistachio butter. This green spread is wonderful as-is or in your favorite almond butter recipes.
- Walnut Butter: While walnut butter is perfectly creamy and nutty, the slightly bitter aftertaste may throw off your sweet recipes. You can balance this by using a little honey or for a vegan option, maple syrup.
- Pecan Butter: Move over, pumpkin spice! Pecan butter is truly a taste of fall with that rich, buttery, and sweet flavor, just like the pie. If you’re making a dessert or want a sweet snack, reach for pecan butter to replace your almond butter.
- Macadamia Nut Butter: It’s fattier and creamier, too, making it great for adding more richness. Since macadamia nut butter has a mild flavor, you can use it with ease in just about any recipe where you’d normally use almond butter.
- Pine Nut Butter: Although pine nuts are seeds, they can be problematic if you have tree nut allergies. This nut butter is incredibly similar to almond butter, though the flavor tends to overpower things if you don’t mix it with your other ingredients to balance it out.
- Chestnut Butter: Made from roasted chestnuts, the flavors of this nutter butter are earthier than almond butter. It may be a great option for your holiday recipes, though!
- Brazil Nut Butter: Smooth and creamy, the splendid taste of roasted Brazil nuts is another one I wholeheartedly recommend for an almond butter substitute.
- SoyNut Butter: Looking for a nut-free option to replace almond butter? If you can handle soy, choose this option, which tastes like peanut butter.
- Mixed Nut Butter: Mixed nut butters are made with many different kinds of nuts. If you have an allergy to any of them, you should read the labels carefully to see what is included. Otherwise, in terms of taste and texture, you’ll find this a great replacement.
- Pumpkin Seed Butter: Pumpkin seed butter is a nice nut-free option to replace almond butter. It has loads of nutrients, too, making it a healthy choice that provides delicious taste and texture.
- Sunflower Butter: This nut-free option has a creamy texture and is incredibly tasty. It spreads well, too, making it perfect for sandwiches.
- Tahini: Tahini will work great in your savory recipes in place of almond butter. Since it’s earthy and slightly bitter, you should use it in dressings, sauces, dips, or for your main dishes. (This organic tahini is amazing!)
- Hemp Seed Butter: Hemp seed butter is versatile for both sweet and savory uses. It has unsaturated fats and protein while delivering a little earthy, nutty, and bitter flavor all at once.
- Mixed Seed Butter: Seed butters are nut-free and made with a variety of seeds. If you have one you need to avoid, read the labels to see what kinds of seeds are included.
- Coconut Butter: It’s like butter but with a great coconut flavor. If you are making a dessert, coconut butter may be the one for you!
- Avocado: It won’t work in every recipe, but avocado is a great source of healthy fats. Plus, its creamy texture makes it easy to use instead of nut butters.
- Vegan Greek Yogurt: If you have to stay away from nuts and seeds, you can always rely on vegan Greek yogurt. Its creamy texture makes it easy to blend into your recipes, whether sweet or savory.
- Vegan Nutella: Nutella is not vegan, but you can make it with just a few ingredients, which works out better anyway because you’re not getting gobs of added sugar. If you want a chocolaty flavor, this is perfect!
- Soy Butter: Made from soybeans, soy butter is great for anyone who needs to avoid nuts. It’s similar to peanut butter in taste and texture, though some people find it unappealing. Of course, if you can’t have soy, skip this option.
- Mashed Black Beans: If you don’t have any of these other options, you can always use mashed black beans in everything from pizza to baked goods. (If you want to cook your own, this is a great recipe for Pressure Cooker Black Beans.
- Mashed Chickpeas: Similarly, you can also mash chickpeas to use in place of almond butter. If you’re interested in cooking your own, this recipe for How To Cook Chickpeas quickly is your best friend.
- Mashed Cannellini Beans: Even cannellini beans would be a great choice, one that works like using other types of beans.
- Hummus: Since hummus is made of chickpeas, it will be easier to replace almond butter than mashing them. However, it will depend on the flavor of your hummus. For example, you wouldn’t want to use garlic hummus in a dessert recipe! That being said, this is a great Traditional Hummus recipe.
- Baba Ganoush: When your savory recipe calls for almond butter, baba ganoush can come through if you need it to. This will be a better swap for a Middle Eastern recipe.
- Mashed Banana: For a sweet replacement that most people can eat, mashed banana can come to the rescue. You won’t want to use it as a spread, but you will be able to use it in your desserts.
- Granola Butter: A newer option for those who need to be gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, and vegan, granola butter is a fantastic option that works well in place of almond butter.
- Cookie Butter: This sweet substitute for almond butter won’t work for every almond butter recipe, but if you’re looking for a spread or need something for your sweet recipes, it can work.
- Vegan Butter: And finally, vegan butter is the dairy-free option you can use to replace almond butter in your recipes.
Storage Tips
Store almond butter in a cool, dry place or refrigerate to extend its shelf life.
FAQ
As you can see, there are many things you can use instead of almond butter. The best choice will depend on whether or not you have any allergies as well as how you intend to use it.
No, don’t use applesauce in place of almond butter. These other 31 options will be a better choice.
Yes, you can, but make sure you substitute in equal parts and that the almond butter you use is natural and unsweetened.
You can certainly use tahini instead of almond butter, but due to its flavors, I would only use it in savory recipes.
Any of the nut butters or seed butters listed here are great for baking. They will all have similar tastes and textures, making them blend into your baked goods with ease.
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Final Words
When you can’t have almond butter, don’t have any on hand, or simply dislike it, there are many other options you can choose to replace it. With all of these almond butter substitutes, including nut-free options, you’re bound to find the one that works best for you!
Reference
Huang, A. A., & Huang, S. Y. (2023). Quantification of the Effect of Vitamin E Intake on Depressive Symptoms in United States Adults Using Restricted Cubic Splines. Current developments in nutrition, 7(2), 100038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100038
