We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Food

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Almond Butter?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 115,208
Share

Almond butter is a smooth paste made from ground almonds. Despite its name, it does not typically contain any dairy products and is not a true butter; it is soft and spreadable, though, and is very similar to peanut butter, a paste made from peanuts that is familiar to many people. It comes in several variations, including crunchy, smooth, roasted, and raw. It can be higher in fat than other nut butters, but also tends to have a lot of helpful vitamins and minerals. The butter is widely available in most places as a prepared food, and many people also find that it is relatively simple to make at home.

How It’s Made

The simplest butters are made from but one ingredient: almonds. Commercial manufacturers often use an industrial-grade nut grinder to blend the nuts into a smooth paste, but home cooks can usually get similar results with a food processor or heavy-duty blender. The important thing is that there is enough pressure to completely pulverize the nuts, which leaves behind a combination of powder and natural oil. Some cooks soak the almonds before grinding them in order to soften them up, but this isn’t usually required to get a coherent paste. Most of the time, the sheer force of the grinding will expel the nuts’ oils and will bind the fragments into a creamy whole. Cooks can add a bit of extra oil to help improve consistency or texture, but grinding alone is usually all it takes.

Different Styles

There are many different ways to vary the basic recipe. The creamiest butters are usually made from almonds that have been blanched, or boiled, which usually removes their fibrous skin. Though the skin has a number of nutrients, it is also somewhat tough and can lead to a grainier texture. Roasting or seasoning the nuts before grinding can also be an interesting way of adding flavor to the end result. The mildest tasting butters are usually made with raw, unprocessed almonds.

Most of the almond butters sold commercially are labeled “smooth,” which means that they don’t contain any large pieces and have a more or less uniform consistency. “Crunchy” or “textured” butters, on the other hand, tend to have chunks of nut, or at least more identifiable particles. The biggest difference between the two is the amount of time spent grinding. The more finely the nuts are processed, the smoother the end result in most cases.

The butter can also be emulsified or non-emulsified, a characterization that has to do with the way the oils in the final product are treated. The most natural versions, including the majority of those that are homemade, are non-emulsified. This means that the oils will separate from the nut particles over time. While not a problem, this does mean that consumers will have to stir the butter before it can be used if it has been sitting for a while. Emulsification is a process that binds the butter together more permanently, usually with the help of a chemical stabilizer. These sorts of butters don’t normally need to be stirred, as they will stay more or less blended no matter how long they sit still.

Common Uses

People often use almond butter as a spread for bread or rolls, and it can also be used in baking. It is a popular addition to sandwiches, baked desserts, and blended drinks like smoothies. Some people also eat it on its own as a high-energy snack, or serve it as a thick dip for fruit. Those who are allergic to peanuts will sometimes substitute almond butter for peanut butter, and the two can be used almost interchangeably.

Where to Find It

Many mainstream grocers sell almond butter, and it can be found near other nut spreads, jams, and jellies in most large supermarkets. Health food and specialty shops frequently also stock it, and it can sometimes be found direct from almond growers, too. Farmers in many places blend their own to sell either out of their individual shops or at farmer’s or community markets. Making it at home is also an option, and has the added benefit of letting the consumer control the composition, texture, and ingredients.

Nutritional Information

In most cases, almond butter has the same nutritional profile as the almonds that go into it, which makes it a good source of protein, fiber, and many different vitamins and minerals. This also means that it can be relatively high in saturated fat, though. Health food experts often describe almonds and other tree nuts as containing so-called “good” fats that can help improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels, but this does not automatically mean that it’s a good idea to eat them in excess. Almond butter usually contains more calories and fat then other comparable products like peanut butter or cashew butter.

In general, butter made from raw almonds and little else is the healthiest. Any seasonings, extra oils, or chemical preservatives can alter not only the taste but also the nutritional profile. Adding a lot of salt, for instance, can make almond butter particularly flavorful, but also adds a lot of sodium to something that was almost completely salt-free at the start. Consumers who are worried about extra ingredients or additives should take the time to read all labels carefully.

Storage Suggestions

Products that have not been emulsified usually need to be refrigerated, and even then tend to spoil relatively quickly. Most food experts recommend using fresh or homemade almond butter within about a week. It will typically need to be stirred before use to mix the oils back into the solids; cooks often find that this goes faster if the jar is stored upside-down, which many say helps things stay blended. Versions that have been emulsified, particularly those with chemical preservatives, usually have a longer shelf life and can often be stored at room temperature quite successfully. It is still usually a good idea to use them somewhat quickly after opening them, but this is more to prevent the growth of bacteria introduced by spoons and spreaders than to prevent the product from spoiling.

Share
DelightedCooking is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By anon350323 — On Oct 03, 2013

I get it at The Fresh Market here in Southern Pines, N.C.! Freaking awesome!

By anon264537 — On Apr 28, 2012

There is another: Sun butter made from sunflower seeds. It's awesome. They sell it at Target grocery.

By anon205993 — On Aug 14, 2011

Okay, you've all convinced me. I have to try it. I love almonds anyway, so I'm sure I will like it.

By anon150608 — On Feb 08, 2011

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!

By anon150604 — On Feb 08, 2011

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!

By anon121103 — On Oct 23, 2010

@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.

By anon107623 — On Aug 31, 2010

If you have a peanut allergy can you substitute almond butter for peanut butter?

By anon97722 — On Jul 20, 2010

I mix it with cinnamon and spread it on apples. Yummy!

By anon86778 — On May 26, 2010

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.

By anon85959 — On May 23, 2010

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.

By anon85503 — On May 20, 2010

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.

By anon78120 — On Apr 16, 2010

I found almond butter at our bakery counter at our grocery store. They make it there fresh every day.

By anon73963 — On Mar 30, 2010

no salt, no added sugar, no preservatives, no oils added in almond butter!! my choice by far.

By anon69141 — On Mar 06, 2010

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.

By anon65303 — On Feb 12, 2010

For John C. in Orangeburg: the Fresh Market on Forest Dr. in Columbia has fresh ground almonds if you'd like.

By anon63996 — On Feb 04, 2010

Where can I find it? i feel like a drug shopper.

By anon63488 — On Feb 02, 2010

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

By anon61907 — On Jan 23, 2010

Almond butter is going to rock if I can find it in this lame town of Orangeburg, SC. - John C.

By anon37864 — On Jul 22, 2009

lamaestra: I agree completely. --jamespcol

By lamaestra — On Sep 29, 2008

There is nothing like fresh almond butter! You will never want peanut butter again once you try this!

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-is-almond-butter.htm
Copy this link
DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.