Almond butter may sound like the healthiest option (perhaps the almond craze has something to do with this perception), so you may be surprised and delighted to find out that both almond and peanut butter are healthy options. Yup! The tried and true peanut butter has similar nutritional benefits to almond butter.
So you may be wondering now, which is better? When should you use almond butter vs. peanut butter? What’s the difference anyway? Well friends, here is everything you need to know about almond butter vs. peanut butter!
In This Post
- What is Almond Butter?
- What is Peanut Butter?
- The Difference in Taste and Texture
- Almond Butter vs. Peanut Butter Nutrition Content
- How to Store Nut Butters
- When to Use Almond Butter vs. Peanut Butter
- Peanut Butter Recipes
- Almond Butter Recipes
- Conclusion — Is Almond Butter Better Than Peanut Butter?
What is Almond Butter?
Almond butter is a popular alternative to peanut butter. It’s made by roasting raw almonds and blending them with a high-speed blender or food processor until it becomes creamy. It’s easy to make at home, and in fact can be more cost effective to make your own almond butter. Just grab a bunch of raw almonds from the grocery store and roast them. Then, use your own high-speed blender or food processor to make them into delicious almond butter.
What is Peanut Butter?
Peanut butter is made from ground, dry-roasted peanuts. And get this….peanuts are not actually a nut at all (weird, because it has ‘nut’ in its name). They’re part of the legume family! So they’re actually related to beans and lentils. Peanuts are the edible seeds of the plant and are rich in healthy fats, carbohydrates, fiber and protein!
The Difference in Taste and Texture
Almond butter tastes similar to peanut butter, with a nuttier and richer flavor. And like peanut butter, it’s creamy and smooth — though some varieties can be chunky, if you like a little extra crunch. Some love the stronger almond taste in almond butter, while others love the smoother peanut flavor in peanut butter.
Texture is something a lot of people have a particular preference for. So if you prefer ultra smooth nut butters or something with a little bit grittier, then you’ll likely have a preference for peanut butter or almond butter. Both nut butters are processed in the same way — by grinding up the nuts into a paste-like consistency — and both have crunchy or smooth formulations as well as stir or no stir. Almond butter is more sticky and grainy, while peanut butter tends to be smooth and creamy.
Almond Butter vs. Peanut Butter Nutrition Content
Both almond butter and peanut butter taste delicious, so how do they compare when it comes to nutrition? Quick answer: both have similar nutritional value. Almond butter has more vitamins, minerals and fiber. Peanut butter has more protein. Both are comparable in calories and sugar.
They both have healthy fats (hip hip hooray that healthy fats are ok, amiright!) which are essential for healthy cells, skin, hair, metabolism, energy and immunity. So eating delicious nut butters can help you look good and feel good — and who doesn’t want that?!
There are some slight differences in nutrition, though. So if you’re really interested in the nitty gritty of protein, carbs and fat content, here’s the nutrition breakdown of almond butter vs. peanut butter:
Almond Butter Nutrition Facts
Here’s what you’ll get in every tablespoon of almond butter, according to the USDA Nutrient Database:
- 98 calories
- 8.9 g fat (5.2 g monounsaturated, 2.2 g polyunsaturated, 1.1 g saturated)
- 3 g carbs
- 1.7 g fiber
- 1 g sugar
- 3.4 g protein
- 44.6 mg magnesium
- 0.6 mg iron
- 3.87 mg vitamin E
- 0.2 mg riboflavin
- 55.5 mg calcium
Almond butter is high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), magnesium, iron, vitamin E, riboflavin and calcium. In fact, it contains several times as much of the nutrients as peanut butter!
Peanut Butter Nutrition Facts
For comparison, here’s what you’ll get in a tablespoon of peanut butter, according to the USDA Nutrient Database:
- 96 calories
- 8.2 g fat (4.2 g monounsaturated, 2 g polyunsaturated, 1.7 g saturated)
- 3.6 g carbs
- 1 g fiber
- 1.7 g sugar
- 3.6 g protein
- 26.9 mg magnesium
- 0.3 g iron
- 1.5 mg vitamin E
- 0 mg riboflavin
- 7.9 mg calcium
Peanut butter has plenty of MUFAs, just not quite as much as almond butter. It has slightly higher amounts of saturated fat, but not enough to matter.
So basically, both almond butter and peanut butter are healthy. While peanut butter may be slightly lower in certain micronutrients, it’s still a great source of healthy fats, and it’s less expensive than almond butter.
How to Store Nut Butters
The way you store nut butters depends on the type of nut butter you have. Many nut butters can be stored at room temperature in a dark, cool area (like the pantry). However, some of the more natural and low-ingredient nut butters are better stored in the refrigerator!
It’s always best to check the package directions to decide where to store nut butter.
RELATED: The Best Healthy Pantry Essentials
When to Use Almond Butter vs. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter and almond butter can both be used in a variety of ways and recipes. You can add your nut butter of choice to smoothies, use it in baking and even savory dishes. Or simply eat it with a spoon straight from the jar! Hey, it’s for your health, right?
Here are a few more ideas to help you decide which nut butter to use when, and how to incorporate it into your recipes.
The creamy texture of nut butter makes it great on toast, English muffins, bagels, pancakes and waffles. The first bite of fresh out of the toaster melty nut butter is simply delicious. Another simple and tasty way to enjoy almond or peanut butter is to add it to fruit. Bananas and apples are two classic peanut butter pairings that also go well with almond butter. Raspberries pair nicely with almond butter. Try topping your almond butter toast with raspberries (you’re welcome)!
Almond butter mixes well with yogurt, especially when mixed with a natural sweetener like maple syrup or honey. Serve it in a bowl or blend it into a healthy smoothie.
Some other tasty ideas are:
- Enjoy with oatmeal. Add almond or peanut butter to hot or cold oatmeal, with any fruit you want, the options are endless!
- Add to ice cream. Mmmmm melty nut butter goodness mixed with ice cream sounds like the perfect treat for your palette.
- Use as an ingredient in baked goods. Peanut butter and almond butter can be used interchangeably.
- Sandwiches! Try the nut butters paired with different fruit jams for a totally tasty treat every time.
Peanut Butter Recipes
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Cookies
- Classic Peanut Butter Oatmeal Smoothie
- Healthy Donuts with Peanut Butter and Chocolate
- Homemade Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Almond Butter Recipes
- Cranberry Almond Healthy Oatmeal Bars
- Gluten-Free Healthy Rhubarb Muffins
- Heavenly Hunks (Copycat Recipe)
- No-Bake Oatmeal Protein Bars
- Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Conclusion — Is Almond Butter Better Than Peanut Butter?
The answer is: it depends on what you’re looking for. Both almond and peanut butter are healthy. They simply provide slightly different micronutrients and come with different price tags. The taste is slightly different, so you may have a preference for one over the other when paired with certain foods.
So bring out your spoon and enjoy some delicious and nutritious nut butters! Which is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
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