Best Almond Butter

Buying guide for Best almond butter

Looking for a snack that's packed with protein and healthy fats? Try almond butter! Most people are more familiar with peanut butter, but almond butter is a fantastic food in its own right. Though it has a more subtle flavor than peanut butter, it's still deliciously nutty and can be just as creamy. Whether you want to try almond butter for the first time or are simply looking to sample a new brand, you've found your way to the right place. 

There's more to choosing almond butter than you might imagine. You'll need to decide between creamy and chunky varieties, and you’ll want to think about whether you desire conventional or natural almond butter. There are also flavored almond butters available for those who want to branch out from a standard almond taste.

Almond butter is rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats, not to mention a range of vitamins and minerals.

Key considerations

Creamy vs. chunky

If you're familiar with creamy and chunky peanut butter, almond butter follows the same formula. Creamy almond butter is completely smooth without pieces of nuts, whereas chunky varieties contain small pieces of almonds mixed in with a smooth butter. Creamy almond butter is sometimes also known as "smooth,” and chunky is sometimes labeled "crunchy," so don't be confused if you see these varieties. 

Ultimately, the choice between creamy and chunky is one of preference, so pick whichever you like best. That said, if you're getting almond butter to use in a specific recipe, the recipe may explicitly call for either creamy or chunky.  

Ingredients

Different brands of almond butter generally contain similar ingredients, but you will find some variations. These are the most common ingredients you might find in your chosen jar. 

Almonds: This is a given — if it doesn't contain almonds, it certainly isn't almond butter. Natural almond butter either contains 100% almonds or almonds and a little salt, so don't be surprised if you come across almond butter made from almonds alone. It will, however, have a looser and less smooth consistency than almond butter with added oil.

Salt: Some natural almond butter doesn't contain salt, but we think it's a nice addition that boosts the flavor. The small amount of salt contained in almond butter falls well within a healthy sodium content. 

Sweetener: Opt for a conventional almond butter, and it will likely contain some kind of sweetener. This is often plain sugar, but it may also be corn syrup, fructose syrup, honey, stevia, or an artificial sweetener. 

Fat: Conventional almond butters have a consistency akin to the type of peanut butter you probably grew up eating (such as Skippy or Jif). This consistency is achieved by adding palm oil or hydrogenated oil (oil with added hydrogen to turn it into a solid at room temperature). 

Features

Flavor

In addition to standard almond butter, you can also find flavored almond butter, such as chocolate almond butter or pumpkin spice almond butter. 

Raw

Most almond butter is made using roasted almonds, but raw almond butter is made from raw, unroasted almonds. Raw almonds may retain more nutrients than roasted almonds, but not enough to make a huge difference. Raw almond butter tastes different from standard almond butter, though some people prefer the flavor. 

Organic

If you want to avoid pesticides, choose an organic almond butter. Ideally, it should be USDA certified. 

Accessories

Nut butter mixer

Grandpa Witmer’s Old-Fashioned Mess-Free Nut Butter Mixer
With natural nut butters, the oil will often separate and form a layer on top. While this is totally normal, it's important to mix the oil back in evenly. Otherwise, the top part of your jar will be too oily and the bottom part too dry. This incredibly handy device from Grandpa Witmer makes it quick and easy to fully incorporate the oil back into your almond butter. 

Jar spatula

UpGood Silicone Jar Spatula
It's frustrating when you can't get the last bits of almond butter out of the jar, especially if you've splurged on a high-quality almond butter. This jar spatula from UpGood is just the right size and shape to delve right inside the jar and scrape out every last drop of almond butter. 

Squeeze pouch

Squeasy Snacker Spill Proof Silicone Reusable Food Pouch
If you like to eat your almond butter on the go, why not fill a reusable squeeze pouch instead of getting individual sachets? Not only is it better for the environment, it's also better for your bank balance. The Squeasy Snacker is an ideal vessel for eating almond butter when you're out of the house. 

Almond butter prices

It's best to compare the price of almond butter by weight since the price per jar can vary widely depending on the jar size. 

Inexpensive

You can find some inexpensive almond butter that costs between $0.30 and $0.60 per ounce. This is perfectly good almond butter, but it is unlikely to be organic or feature any fancy flavors. 

Mid-range

Mid-range almond butter costs between $0.80 and $1.20 per ounce. In this price range, you'll find organic and flavored options. 

Expensive

High-end almond butter can cost as much as $1.50 to $2.50 per ounce. This price range is generally reserved for raw or small-batch artisan almond butter. 

Tips

• Think about how you'll be using your almond butter. If it will be the star of the show (eaten as is or spread on toast, for instance) it's worth splurging on a quality product you love the taste of, whereas cheaper almond butter is fine in baked goods or mixed in smoothies where the flavors will mingle with other ingredients. 

• Try branching out into other nut butters. Almond butter is great, but all nuts have their unique nutritional profiles, so eating other nut butters in addition to almond butter will help you maintain a balanced diet.

• Consider keeping natural almond butter in the fridge. Natural almond butter can be quite runny, but keeping it in the fridge gives it a firmer texture and can limit oil separation. 

A tablespoon of almond butter contains approximately 3.4 grams of protein and 9 grams of fat.

FAQ

Q. There's a layer of oil on top of my almond butter. Is this normal? 

A. Assuming you've bought a natural almond butter (one that contains just almonds and salt), this is totally normal. Almonds have a high fat content so, in the absence of added hydrogenated oil that acts as a binder, some of this fat separates from the almond butter and rises to the top. Just stir it back in, and it's ready to eat. 

Q. Why should I choose almond butter over other nut butters? 

A. When comparing like for like, all nut butters are about equally healthy, though their nutritional profiles are slightly different. As such, personal taste is the main reason to choose almond butter over other nut butters.

Q. What dishes can I add almond butter to? 

A. Almond butter is delicious on toast or in a sandwich with jelly, but there are so many other ways to enjoy it. Try stirring it into oatmeal, adding it to smoothies or milkshakes, baking almond butter cookies, or substituting peanut butter for almond butter in a satay sauce. You'll find all kinds of recipes, both sweet and savory, that list almond butter as an ingredient, so don't be afraid to be adventurous.