Almond butter is a great ingredient to use in a variety of cooking and baking dishes, varying its uses from savory to sweet. Similar to peanut butter, you can find it chunky or smooth, natural or sweetened.
But what if you don’t have any almond butter, don’t like it, or are allergic to almonds? Don’t worry, there are several substitutes to use in replace of almond butter in your favorite baking recipe. If you are allergic to nuts, you could try: sunflower seed butter, greek yogurt, or mashed bananas to name a few. Or, for a similar taste and texture, you could try other nut butters: cashew, hazelnut, or peanut butter for example.
What is Almond Butter?
Almond butter in its purest form is simply ground up almonds, much like peanut butter. You can also find almond butter with other ingredients added, such as salt, sugar, or oil. Almond butter is a super healthy and delicious spread, containing a lot of vitamins, minerals, and protein.
Why is Almond Butter Good for Baking?
Almond butter makes an excellent ingredient in your favorite recipe whether you are using it in replace of butter or as an added ingredient. Because of the fat (healthy fat!) and protein content found in almond butter, it makes a great addition or replacement to other butters in your favorite recipe.
Almond butter can replace butter and other dairy products, making a recipe vegan and can also provide a healthy version of your baked goods. It is great added in smoothies, or as a snack served with fruit.
What is a Good Substitute for Almond Butter for Baking?
Even though almond butter produces a tasty and healthy end product, sometimes you may need to find a good substitute for it. Whether you don’t have any, you don’t like it, you are allergic to it, or whatever the reason is, you may need to find a replacement.
In the baking world, there are several options that you can use to replace almond butter with and still have a delicious result. Depending on what you are baking, you can use a variety of other ingredients.
1. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is an excellent replacement for almond butter – it is readily available, most people already have this staple in their pantry, and it can be less expensive than almond butter. You can swap out almond butter for peanut butter in an equal 1:1 ratio and it will work just the same.
Also, for those that are allergic to almonds and other tree nuts, peanut butter offers a good alternative. Similar to almond butter, peanut butter offers many health benefits including being high in protein.
2. Cashew Butter
Cashew butter is a little harder to find than almond butter, but makes for a wonderful substitute for baking. It is usually found mixed with oil, is very creamy, and has a lot of great vitamins and minerals.
Cashew butter tends to have a subtle buttery taste and works great in baking recipes. You can replace almond butter with cashew butter and get the same results.
3. Coconut Butter
Another great option if you are allergic to tree nuts, is to replace almond butter with coconut butter. This creamy, milky butter has a delicious coconut taste that goes well in so many recipes. Coconut butter also melts incredibly well, making its use more versatile.
Although it is high in fat, it is also rich in iron and potassium, making it another healthy alternative. Coconut butter can be used just as you would almond butter and is a great dairy free and nut free substitute.
4. Hazelnut Butter
The hazelnut has a buttery nut flavor and when roasted, it brings out a deeper flavor. It makes a smooth and creamy nut butter that is a great substitute for almond butter. It is very similar to peanut butter and almond butter in nutrition, but may be harder to find and more expensive.
For another hazelnut butter option, the famous chocolate and hazelnut spread can also be used to replace almond butter in baking. Keep in mind that sugar, cocoa, and oil are added in this mixture so your recipe may need to be slightly altered to account for the added sugar and fat.
5. Macadamia Nut Butter
Macadamia nuts are a buttery nut that are naturally creamy, have a high fat content, and are rich in several vitamins. When turned into macadamia nut butter, the result is a pale, creamy, and buttery spread.
The nutty flavor is not as strong with the macadamia nut and so it makes a good alternative to almond butter if you are looking for a more subtle flavor. You can also find roasted macadamia nut butter which will have a slightly deeper flavor.
6. Mashed Bananas
Mashed bananas are a great ingredient in baking recipes and make for an excellent substitute to almond butter. Many home cooks are comfortable using bananas in recipes and they offer a great nut free and dairy free option! They are also a very cost efficient replacement to almond butter.
Bananas are naturally sweet, loaded with potassium, and can be found year round in any grocery store. Because of the natural sweetness bananas offer, you may even be able to reduce the sugar in your recipe making it even healthier.
7. Greek Yogurt
Using a plain greek yogurt instead of almond butter in baking produces a delicious and moist treat. Greek yogurt has fewer calories and will offer a nice tang to your recipe – similar to using buttermilk, but with much less fat and calories.
Because greek yogurt is not as dense as almond butter you will need to use a larger quantity of yogurt. For every cup of almond butter, use 1.5 cups of greek yogurt. Greek yogurt provides a great nut free replacement to almond butter.
8. Sunflower Seed Butter
Seed butters are becoming increasingly popular and the most readily available one is sunflower seed butter. It lends itself well in baking and offers a good replacement to almond butter, especially if you are allergic to nuts.
This ultra creamy butter has a roasted and earthy taste, but can sometimes be a little bitter. Because of the bitter quality, a lot of times you will find sunflower seed butters with salt and sugar added.
9. Pumpkin Seed Butter
Pumpkin seed butter may be an unusual thought to replace almond butter with, but it actually works quite well. If your local grocery store doesn’t carry this seed butter, it is super easy to make at home.
- Roast and cool your pumpkin seeds.
- Blend them in a food processor for about 15 minutes, scraping the sides down as needed.
This greenish hued seed butter offers a creamy texture and a slight earthy flavor. It is a great nut free option to replace almond butter with and can have less sugar and calories than other nut butters.
10. Unsalted Butter
If your recipe calls for almond butter, you can substitute unsalted butter very easily. Unsalted butter is a great staple to keep in your refrigerator (or freezer) and does very well in any baking recipe.
Using unsalted butter allows you to control the amount of salt you want to add to your dish and will provide a deliciously butter flavor. Unsalted butter also melts well and is very versatile.
11. Walnut Butter
Walnut butter is another good and healthy alternative to almond butter in baking. Walnut butter contains a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which is great for your heart. It will have a similar texture and appearance to almond butter, being slightly dark and grainy.
Walnut butter provides a very nutty taste, but does have a slight bitterness to it. Combining your walnut butter with a little honey can help to offset the bitter taste and should work fine in your baking recipe.
12. Avocado
Avocado is rich, creamy, and even has a slight nutty flavor, making it a great alternative to almond butter in baking. Similar to unsalted butter in fat, it will help to create a moist end product while providing other great nutrients.
Avocado will produce a green color so keep that in mind with your recipe. Avocados are now available all year and it can be a delicious alternative to almond butter in baking.
13. Homemade Almond Butter
Making your own almond butter is fun, easy, and can save you money. Not only can you control the ingredients, but you can add in other flavors as well: cinnamon, maple syrup, and honey all make delicious almond butter flavors.
- Heat your oven to 350 and roast your raw almonds. This will help bring out the flavor and natural oils of the nut and also helps it blend better.
- After roasting for about 10 minutes, remove the almonds from the oven and let them cool completely.
- Add your cooled almonds to a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
- Blend the almonds for about 10-15 minutes, stopping every couple of minutes to scrape down the sides as needed.
- Stir in any salt, or other flavorings as desired.
If the mixture is too thick, add a little neutral flavored oil (avocado oil is a good one to use) and continue processing. Store your homemade almond butter in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. You will need to stir it each time you use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
While almond butter is a great ingredient and becoming more and more available in grocery stores, it is still somewhat new to a lot of people. Let’s discover some more answers to your almond butter questions.
Does almond butter need to be refrigerated?
Almond butter does not necessarily need to be refrigerated, although some labels will suggest it. Make sure you read the label carefully and follow any recommendations provided. Some natural separation can occur and stirring before use is a good idea.
Is almond butter hard on your stomach?
Almond butter is a high-fiber food and some people may experience some digestive issues if too much is consumed. However, because of all the vitamins and minerals contained in almond butter it is very good for you, and if eaten in moderation will be a great health benefit to you.
Is almond butter good for weight loss?
Almond butter is great for weight loss. It is packed with good for you vitamins and minerals, protein, and healthy fats. Because of its monounsaturated fat content (the stuff that helps lower cholesterol), it is very filling and can help keep you fuller for longer.
What else can almond butter be used for?
Almond butter doesn’t have to just be used in your favorite cookie or muffin recipe. It also makes a delicious spread for sandwiches, a dip for fruit, a smoothie additive, and is a wonderful ingredient in your favorite curry recipe.
Final Thoughts
Almond butter is not only a tasty nut butter, it is also so versatile. Using almond butter in sweet and savory recipes is becoming more and more popular and it is also delicious eaten right out of the tub with a spoon!
However, some people may not have any almond butter, may be allergic to it, or may just want a different flavor in their baking recipe. Whatever your reasoning for needing a substitute for almond butter, there are many options to try.
