It feels like every day we wake up, there’s a new nut butter or milk to explore. But at Perfect Bar, we usually keep it classic with peanut and almond butter bases for the snacks you love. While we were mulling over our next flavor mix, we got to thinking about the whens and the wheres of using natural almond butter vs natural peanut butter.
Let’s take a deep dive into some of the differences between our classic nut butter, why you may choose one or the other, and some fun recipes you can use today.
Quick Almond Butter vs Peanut Butter Showdown Recap
If you missed the epic showdown of almond butter vs peanut butter, let us give you a recap.
Let’s start off by saying that both competitors fought valiantly, they go well with a lot of different ingredients, and everyone walked away feeling like the winner.
The debate started off with the question “Which is healthier: peanut butter or almond butter?” And the answer really depends on what you’re trying to get out of your nut butter. Here are the results of this epic six-round battle based on our all natural butters with no added sugar:
- Protein: Almond butter with 6.7g, peanut butter with 7.1g
- Healthy fats: Almond butter has 25% more than peanut butter
- Vitamins and minerals: Both butter have niacin, folate, thiamin, B2, B6, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, and copper. Where peanut butter has 1mg of vitamin E, 24mg of magnesium per tablespoon, and 0.6mg of iron, almond butter has 4mg of vitamin E, which can neutralize free radicals, and 46mg of magnesium. Although they are tied in iron, almond butter won this round.
- Sugar: Peanut butter with 1.7g of sugar in a tablespoon and almond butter with 0.7g
- Fiber: Almond butter has 1.6mg of dietary fiber per spoonful and peanut butter has 1 gram.
- Price: Peanut butter won this round due to almond butter’s infamous grocery store prices
The final results ended with almond butter 4, peanut butter 2. Almond butter is only marginally the healthiest nut butter over peanut butter. Both kinds of butter pack a serious punch in every meal they’re included in with flavor variations, protein, fiber, monounsaturated fat, and more.
Our question here is how and when to use either butter. The flavor profiles are vastly different, even the texture can differ.
When to Use Almond Butter or Peanut Butter
Not to make this another battle of the butters, but perhaps the nut butter you choose says a little bit about you. It all depends on what you’re looking to get out of your nut butter.
For example, weightlifters are known to use more almond butter than peanut butter in their everyday meals. If you’re someone who’s trying to put on more muscle, improve your strength, and increase your power then you may reach for almond butter instead. It includes twice the amount of iron, is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals, and contains seven times as much calcium — talk about a powerful nut!
But, you may choose to reach for peanut butter if you’re putting together a classic PB&J or making peanut butter cookies. Peanut butter has a nostalgic texture and taste that goes with just about anything. At the same time, you could be a raw almond or almond butter fan, but the prices are a little out of reach at the moment.
Chances are, though, that you have both hanging out in your cabinet whenever the mood hits you. For your weightlifting workout days, you may throw almond butter in your smoothie. But, on days you just want something yummy to dip your celery stick in, you’ll reach for the peanut butter.
There are no wrong answers when it comes to flavor preferences and now that you know that both offer incredible health benefits, you can choose the nut butter that you prefer without reservation.
Recipes You Can Use Today
Before you start overthinking our tree nut butter personality profile, let’s jump into some fun recipes you can use either butter for!
Almond butter recipes
Because almond butter is better known for its health-conscious fans, there are a lot of healthy snacks and harmless treats you can put together. Ambitious Kitchen offers a tasty energy ball that’s just like a cinnamon teddy graham. It’s packed with all of the nutrients and ingredients you need to power-lift your next PR!
If you have some leftover sweet potato in your fridge and a banana you’re not sure what to do with, check out what Ambitious Kitchen has in store for you! Breakfast baked sweet potatoes with almond butter, banana and chia seeds only needs five minutes to prep and bake while you’re getting ready for work.
Peanut butter recipes
If you’re trying to stay healthy or even if you want a guilt-free treat, peanut butter can support whatever craving you may have!
For a fun spring meal with a little kick, we highlighted the bok choy and peanut tofu rice bowl in our Spring Recipe Roundup! For an antioxident-rich meal that’s packed with vitamins your body will love, check out this incredible recipe. In the same blog, we take a look at another classic snack, ants on a log. Switch it up with whatever items you have on hand for a creamy, tasty, better-for-you snack whenever you need one!
No Need to Choose with Perfect Bar
If it’s a yummy snack you’re craving, Perfect Bar has exactly what you’re looking for. We’ve combined the perfect recipes within our bars so no matter which one you reach for, you’re biting into something packed with superfoods, protein, vitamins, and flavor. With us, you never have to choose the right nut butter, because we’ve ensured you get incredible benefits in every bar.
