I’ve at all times cherished a great peanut butter and jam sandwich. For me it’s the right mountain climbing sandwich since you don’t have to fret about something getting spoiled and I get pleasure from them smooshed out of my backpack! I’m not a fan of jelly, however I’m fortunate that our backyard’s berry patches produce sufficient raspberries and strawberries in order that I could make jam. I would like massive items of fruit to meld with the crunchy peanut butter.
Rising up, peanut butter was nearly the one nut butter obtainable within the native grocery retailer. Now we’re fortunate to have a plethora of nut and seed butters obtainable to us, together with almond butter, cashew butter, pistachio butter, pecan butter, sunflower butter, walnut butter, macadamia nut butter, hazelnut butter, and many others. Most nut and seed butters have between 90-110 energy per tablespoon and 7-11 grams of unsaturated fats. Additionally they comprise protein and fiber and will help you are feeling full for longer durations. That’s why utilizing nut butters as a part of a snack could be useful for individuals of all ages. Nut butters additionally comprise extra vitamins equivalent to B nutritional vitamins, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium and Vitamin E. They’re loaded with heart-heathy monounsaturated fat too. These fat assist enhance HDL ldl cholesterol–the great form–whereas retaining LDL ldl cholesterol–the dangerous form–in verify. Every kind of nut butter has totally different quantities of those vitamins.
Right here is an at-a-glance desk providing a fundamental dietary comparability of the varied sorts of nut butter.
| Nut Butter | Energy | Carbohydrate | Fats | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almond butter | 98 kcal | 3.0g | 8.9g | 3.4g |
| Brazil nut butter | 95 kcal | 2.0g | 9.5g | 2.0g |
| Cashew butter | 94 kcal | 4.4g | 7.9g | 2.8g |
| Coconut butter | 110 kcal | 4.0g | 10.0g | 1.0g |
| Hazelnut butter | 94 kcal | 2.6g | 9.1g | 2.2g |
| Macadamia nut butter | 110 kcal | 2.6g | 11.0g | 1.0g |
| Peanut butter (clean) | 96 kcal | 3.6g | 8.2g | 3.6g |
| Peanut butter (crunchy) | 95 kcal | 3.5g | 8.0g | 4.0g |
| Pecan butter | 110 kcal | 2.0g | 11.5g | 1.5g |
| Pistachio butter | 90 kcal | 4.3g | 6.5g | 3.0g |
| Pine nut butter | 110 kcal | 2.0g | 11.0g | 2.0g |
| Walnut butter | 105 kcal | 2.2g | 10.5g | 2.5g |
After peanut butter, almond butter might be the preferred and available nut butter obtainable in grocery shops. I’m sharing a straightforward recipe that may be a riff on peanut butter cookies from my childhood. As an alternative of utilizing peanut butter I’m utilizing almond butter and including chocolate chips (which you’ll be able to remove.) Many peanut butter cookie recipes use vegetable shortening (in reality I used to work at a neighborhood bakery that used Crisco of their recipe and I might cringe each time I needed to make them.) This recipe depends on the pure fats within the almond butter and doesn’t require further shortening. This makes them crunchy quite than gentle. You possibly can omit the chocolate if you would like and add chopped toasted almonds or toasted coconut if you would like for further texture. As well as, experiment with utilizing different kinds of nut butters (together with peanut butter!) that you’ve in your pantry. These are fantastic for a day snack or take them alongside on a springtime hike. Hold them wrapped properly, however they won’t final.
Almond Butter Cookies
Substances
1 cup (260 grams) almond butter with salt
1/2 cup (100 grams) mild or darkish brown sugar
1/4 cup (50 grams) sugar
1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg or 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 massive egg, ideally at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
6 ounces (170 grams) chopped milk or semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips
Granulated sugar, for dredging
Directions
Middle a rack within the oven and preheat it to 350 levels F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Working within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (alternatively, you may work in a big bowl with a sturdy hand mixer or with a spatula and a sturdy arm), beat the almond butter, the 2 sugars and the spice on medium pace for about 2 minutes, till properly blended. Beat within the egg and vanilla and proceed to combine till the dough comes collectively. Please word that the dough will likely be clumpy, probably not moist, however it’ll pull collectively. Combine within the chocolate. Attain into the bowl and press the dough right into a ball along with your arms.
Utilizing a medium-size cookie scoop (one which holds about 1 1/2 tablespoons) or a spoon, scoop out dough and place the balls of dough about 1 1/2 inches aside on the baking sheets.
For crisscross cookies, form the scoops of dough into balls, roll every ball round within the sugar to coat and return the balls to the sheet. Dip the tines of a fork into the sugar and press the fork down into the dough; repeat to kind a cross. Bake one sheet at a time.
Bake the cookies for 11 to 12 minutes, after which allow them to relaxation on the baking sheet for 2 minutes – they’re gentle and have to assemble themselves earlier than you gently switch them to a rack to chill.
— By Deborah Binder
Deborah Binder lives in Edmonds along with her household. She is “dancing with N.E.D.” (no proof of illness) after being recognized with ovarian most cancers in 2009. She is a foodie who likes to cook dinner from scratch and share her experiments along with her household and mates. She attended culinary college on the East Coast and freelances round city for native cooks. Her present curiosity in meals is studying to eat for well being and wellness, whereas on the similar time having fun with the pleasures of the desk. As Julia Youngster as soon as stated, “The whole lot sparsely together with butter.” Deborah could be contacted atjaideborah@yahoo.com.
