Almond Butter

[Lexi]

I have been hearing a lot about almond butter, and I am really craving a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich. Why is the almond butter better than regular old peanut butter. Can anyone suggest a good gluten-free brand (preferably without soy).

[brigala]

  Lexi said:

I have been hearing a lot about almond butter, and I am really craving a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich. Why is the almond butter better than regular old peanut butter. Can anyone suggest a good gluten-free brand (preferably without soy).

Almond has a low glycemic index, for one thing. I don't know how it compares to peanut butter, which might be just as good in that area. But a lot of people just like almond butter better. Many people are allergic to peanuts but not to almonds, so that is also a factor. It also just tastes great! I use peanut butter most of the time, but almond butter as an occasional treat.

I think if you're craving peanut butter and you're not allergic, then you should go ahead and have some peanut butter! It's a lot cheaper than almond butter.

I haven't found any almond butters yet that weren't gluten-free, but of course it pays to read the label EVERY time. I didn't look for soy in the ingredients specifically, but I think the only ones I've bought have been only almonds and salt, and no other ingredients. If you have a really good health-nut store nearby, they might even have bulk almonds in a grinder so you can buy a little freshly ground almond butter.

I've used almond butter to make the famous flourless "peanut butter" cookies. They were good, but next time I will start with raw almond butter instead of roasted, because baking the roasted almond butter gave it too much of a roasted flavor for my taste.

I hope this helps a little? Maybe someone else will know more about specific health benefits of almonds vs. peanuts, if there are any.

-Elizabeth

[jerseyangel]

My favorite brands of almond butter are Nature's Promise and Woodstock Farms. Neither of these are made on shared lines with gluten--just other tree nuts, if you're concerned about that.

[oceangirl]

Oh yay!

I just risked buying some Woodstock Farms but it doesn't specifically say on the label that it's gluten-free and we've been having trouble finding the company's info. Thank you, Patti- some day I will take a chance and try it!

lisa

[jerseyangel]

  oceangirl said:

Oh yay!

I just risked buying some Woodstock Farms but it doesn't specifically say on the label that it's gluten-free and we've been having trouble finding the company's info. Thank you, Patti- some day I will take a chance and try it!

lisa

Their policy is that most products will be labeled as to whether they were produced in the same facility/on same lines as wheat and that it's best to contact them if in doubt.

I've contacted them via email several times, as I also like their frozen french fries and potato puffs (which are also safe). They have always gotten back to me as soon as they have an answer--not always right away.

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[Lexi]

FYI - I bought the earth balance natural almond butter at Native Sun today. It also has flaxseed, palm fruit oil, agave syrup, and salt in it. It was so GOOD!! I haven't eaten peanut butter in a year because for some reason I thought they all had soy in them. This one says no refrigeration necessary, but it seems like it should be. Anyone have advice?

[brigala]

  Lexi said:

FYI - I bought the earth balance natural almond butter at Native Sun today. It also has flaxseed, palm fruit oil, agave syrup, and salt in it. It was so GOOD!! I haven't eaten peanut butter in a year because for some reason I thought they all had soy in them. This one says no refrigeration necessary, but it seems like it should be. Anyone have advice?

If you want it to have a long shelf life without going stale, you might think about refrigeration; but I don't think it's necessary if you go through it in a reasonable time. I don't see anything in those ingredients which would spoil quickly at room temperature.

I think I've had Earth Balance peanut butter, if they make it. It sounds familiar. If it's what I'm thinking of, I thought it was pretty good, too.

I buy all-peanut peanut butters. I don't like my peanut butter to be partially hydrogenated. ;-) So the kind that you have to stir-in the peanut oil is the kind I always get. Usually Adams, but some of our better grocery stores have private labels of all-natural peanut butters, which taste the same and are cheaper.

-Elizabeth

[Gfresh404]

Trader Joe's makes a pretty good almond butter. It is simply just roasted almonds (no salt added) and is gluten-free.

[Lovey25]

You can really easily make your own almond butter... it will be much cheaper and guaranteed gluten-free! Just toss a few handfuls of almonds in a food processor and slowly stream in canola oil.

I think if you have problems with Candida, you should avoid peanuts. They're very yeasty and it can make people react.

[kowala]

MaraNatha has a delicious Raw Almond butter with nothing but Almonds....there is not even a trace of sodium...yummy ...the only thing the labels states is that it was made in a plant where they also produce peanuts, soy, sesame and tree nuts.