Why do people use peanut butter? Use of peanut butter is not just for sandwiches any longer! There are many other versatile ways to use peanut butter on a daily basis. Peanut Butter is an interesting food. It’s incredibly versatile — you can use it as a sandwich spread, dip, loaf spread, sauce, and even thicken it as a pie filling or candy.
How to Eat Peanut Butter: 15 Delicious Ways to Eat Peanut Butter
Peanut butter has been a favorite breakfast option for kids and adults alike. Early in the morning, peanut butter is a great way to stack up the nutrients that keep you energized through the day, and starting your day with a healthy protein diet and the delectable taste of peanut butter will certainly put you in a great mood.
Having said that, breakfast is not the only time in which peanut butter can be enjoyed. You can have them at any time of the day, and make them a part of any meal. There are different ways to use peanut butter, which can make it more scrumptious. You can try our sweet and savory recipes to enjoy peanut butter in different ways.
Ways of How to Use Peanut Butter to Make Delicacies
1. Blend it With a Sauce
It is a misnomer that something as sweet as peanut butter can ever be mixed with a savory sauce. But, you can only try and find out. Mix a spoon of peanut butter with your favorite sauce, and you’ll be surprised with the results. A peanut-butter-blended sauce is something you can easily accompany all the fired stuff you eat with ketchup.
2. Add it to a Salad
A hint of sweetness is often added to most salads in the form of sweet vinegar or powdered sugar. Imagine if you can have a nutty & buttery flavor with all the fresh vegetables that you put in a salad. Try it! You won’t be disappointed.
3. Top it with Ice-Cream
Everyone enjoys some ice-cream once in a while, and we often top it with some chocolate or strawberry syrup and sprinkle some nuts over it. Now, try having that scoop of vanilla ice-cream with a spoon of peanut butter on top; the buttery flavor jells perfectly with the aroma of vanilla and gives completely another dimension to the taste.
It makes for a great post-dinner dessert!
4. Mix with Granola
A good breakfast is a perfect balance of nutrition and taste, and granola, along with some peanut butter, is something that can give you both. The nutritional value of granola with its dry-fruits & nuts can never be doubted, and a dollop of peanut butter along with it; makes for a hearty meal early in the day.
5. Stir in with Oats
Oats are a go-to grain for people who are either on a diet or are trying to lose weight. Eating oats regularly can, however, can become a little cumbersome.
But, with a spoonful of peanut butter, you can make that boring meal vibrant and cheerful. A little bit of peanut butter indulgence can never do too much harm to your weight loss plans; instead, it will reduce your appetite and help you lose weight.
6. Mix with Fruits
Apart from being eaten as a spread, this is another popular way of how to eat peanut butter. Bananas & apples are some of the most preferred fruits with which nut butter is commonly eaten. You can also make a fruit salad with your favorite fruits and add a dollop of peanut or almond butter to it.
7. Churn it with a Smoothie
Blended smoothies are a popular drink among the youth, and they are frequently consumed by people who are on a diet. By themselves, smoothies are quite tasty and often have the nutritional value of the things with which they are made. By churning in a spoonful of your peanut butter can really enhance the flavor of your smoothie and make it a drink that fills you with energy and freshness.
8. Use it As a Bread Spread
Toast always look a little plain and unhealthy breakfast, but what if you add some fruits and veggies to your toast with different topping and a scoop of peanut butter on it. There can be a number of ways of how to use peanut butter with bread. Use it as a spread or drizzle it as a topping; it will make your simple toast delicious as well as super healthy.
9. How About Peanut Butter with Hummus
Hummus is made using chickpeas and other healthy ingredients like olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic, etc. This highly nutritious dip has a thick and creamy texture. Instead of tahini, one can add peanut butter to hummus. It will change the whole flavor of the dip and make it suitable for both kids and adults alike.
10. Bake Some Peanut Butter Cookies
Thick can be a perfect vegan snack, plus it is really delicious. Peanut butter cookies don’t require many ingredients or time to prepare. They are quick to make and definitely make a perfect on-the-go snack that keeps you full for long. Additionally, peanut butter cookies contain less unhealthy fat as compared to other cookies.
Genius Ways to Use Peanut Butter That Aren’t PB&J
Step away from the crustless white bread. These peanut butter hacks aren’t just nutty—they’re delicious.
According to the USDA, the average American ate 7.5 pounds of peanuts in 2018. And of the approximate 2.5 million metric tons of peanuts that the United States consumed, 56% of those peanuts came in the form of peanut butter.
Clearly, Americans love peanut butter. It’s a childhood favorite that we’ll just never get over. What we have gotten sick of, though, are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Our much-loved nut spread is too good for you, white bread! Here are 20 deliciously creative ways to put your favorite peanut butter jar to use.
Coat the bottom of an ice cream cone. The peanut butter creates a salty little seal that will keep any melted ice cream from dripping into your hand, plus it’s a divine dessert addition.
Make salad dressing. A smart way to use the bottom of your peanut butter container: Drizzle dressing ingredients (like ginger, sesame oil, sriracha, and lime juice) directly into the jar, add the lid, and shake it up. Zero PB gets wasted, plus you can serve it on salad directly from the jar.
Spread on pancakes, waffles, or crepes. It’s less sweet than syrup and packs way more protein. Plus PB won’t run or drip, so you can take that waffle to-go.
Use it as a butter substitute. Fun fact: You can add a 50/50 mix of peanut butter and oil for the required butter amount in most dishes and desserts. It’ll add a heavy hit of delicious peanut butter flavor to whatever you’re baking.
Make dessert pizza. Cover a pizza crust with a thick layer of peanut butter, then add fresh kiwi, berries, bananas, cacao nibs, coconut flakes, extra peanuts, and whatever else you like.
Make nutter butter s’mores. Spread PB on the sides of graham crackers before adding chocolate and roasted marshmallows. The hot marshmallows will melt the peanut butter…and your soul.
Drizzle it over popcorn. Heat peanut butter with butter, pour over popcorn kernels, and finish with a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and cayenne. For a sweet snack, you can swap the S&P for cinnamon and sugar. Just don’t forget the napkins!
Blend into smoothies. Think of it like a drinkable PB & J sandwich. If you’re a grape jelly fan, toss in frozen grapes and almond milk. A perfect idea if you’re partial to strawberry jam or fresh bananas or apple slices.
Use as a gum remover. Not an edible application, but peanut butter is a hero when it comes to removing gum. If you have gum stuck in your carpet, clothes or furniture, cover it completely with PB. Wait a few minutes for the peanut butter to work its magic.
Add it to hummus. Next time you’re making homemade hummus, swap peanut butter for tahini. Spread on toast with sliced apples, bananas, or berries and a dash of cinnamon.
Bake muffins. Peanut butter muffins are easy to throw together in a pinch.
Eat an Elvis burger. This little-known burger hack is shockingly good—just spread PB on your bun instead of (or in addition to) other saucy condiments. If there’s bacon on there, too, we promise you won’t be mad about it.
Treat yourself to homemade peanut butter cups. Chocolate and peanut butter? Always a perfect combination.
Thicken frosting. Peanut butter icing is perfect on banana bread, scones, or served straight into your mouth on a spoon.
Bake homemade peanut butter cookies. For the most meta dessert, take two and spread PB and your favorite jelly between them.
DIY granola. Rather than shelling out on granola at the grocery store, make your own. You’ll save money and get complete control over the ingredients!
Cook Satay skewers. Peanut butter makes for the perfect dipping sauce for chicken skewers, but you can also mix it with garlic, lime, and soy sauce for a mouthwatering marinade.
Unconventional Ways To Use Peanut Butter
Peanuts are a legume high in macronutrients like protein and fat, as well as minerals like zinc, magnesium, and sodium. Although peanuts are mostly known for their role as a delicious spread known as peanut butter, peanuts are also used widely for confections, snack products, soups, and desserts, according to the National Library of Medicine. Peanut butter comes in several varieties including chunky, creamy, and natural (made without hydrogenated oil).
Peanut butter is a delicious source of protein (and joy) for many. Although lots of people recognize it for its pivotal role in the great American sandwich, the peanut butter and jelly, it is not often recognized for its versatility in both sweet and savory dishes. Realistically, peanuts can be used as a flavor cornerstone or a building block for other ingredients in a variety of recipes and cuisines. Here are some innovative ways to use peanut butter in your kitchen — that don’t include putting it into a sandwich!
Make homemade granola bars
Granola bars can be easy to make at home with a variety of dried fruits, nuts, grains, and seeds. They can provide a powerful punch of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates that will keep you going all day long. Best of all, these granola bars can be customized to fit the flavors and textures you love.
Peanut butter is a sticky addition to homemade granola bars. Not only does the peanut butter provide a strong flavor to granola bars, but it can also help the oats, seeds, and nuts stick to one another. The Real Food Dietitians combine rolled oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips, maple syrup, and eggs together before baking in a 9×9 baking dish. These granola bars can be stored in the fridge for up to 10 days or in the freezer for a few months. For an egg-free recipe, try substituting flax eggs.
Spread it on a s’more
S’mores are a campfire classic made with a combination of crunchy graham crackers, melty chocolate, and puffy marshmallow. According to Camping for Foodies, there are many ways to jazz up the traditional s’mores to include some adult flavors — most of which include peanut butter. Consider swiping peanut butter on a graham cracker before adding chocolate and roasted marshmallow. Or, substitute a peanut butter cup for the square of Hershey’s chocolate on the s’more. Although this might seem like the perfect ratio of peanut butter to chocolate, use a Reese’s thin instead of a traditional peanut butter cup for maximum Reese’s goodness.
To add even more peanut butter to the s’more, swap out the graham cracker for a peanut-y cookie or wafer. Nutter Butter wafer cookies combine a thin layer of peanut butter with an even thinner wafer cookie. For a more homemade feel, try a three-ingredient peanut butter cookie made with peanut butter, eggs, and sugar.
Make a dipping sauce for spring rolls
Spring rolls are a light, simple dish made with protein (typically chicken, shrimp, or tofu), fresh chopped veggies, and served with a complementary dipping sauce. The rolls can either be served fried or raw, making them a versatile addition to any dietary regiment.
To make a dipping sauce for spring rolls, Casa Lago Tasting Room recommends combining 1 cup of creamy peanut butter, lime juice, soy sauce, sriracha, and brown sugar in a serving dish. The sauce can be left in the fridge for several days making it a great match for lunchtime spring rolls during the week. Taste of Asian Food recommends adding spices like freshly grated ginger or garlic, which can add a spicy sensation to the spring roll (we’re drooling already). Sesame oil can provide a new savory depth while maple syrup can provide a sweet undertone to the peanut sauce. Whatever variant you choose it’s bound to be delicious.
Add it to a charcuterie board
Peanut butter is a great addition to a kid-friendly charcuterie board. The nut butter provides the essential fats and protein that growing kids need, but with a taste that folks of all ages love. Serve a scoop of your favorite crunchy or smooth peanut butter with pretzels, apple slices, banana slices, or celery. Kids love roll-ups too; Seeded at the Table recommends rolling peanut butter and banana in a whole-wheat tortilla and slicing them into small discs to serve.
A peanut butter dip can be flavored with the addition of simple ingredients. Hayl’s Kitchen recommends pureeing peanut butter with peanut butter powder (such as PB2), vanilla protein powder, and almond milk for a high-protein snack. Life Made Simple suggests pureeing creamy peanut butter with greek yogurt and honey to increase volume and protein. For a more savory flair, this recipe for Thai peanut and yogurt dip from the Dairy Farmers of Canada contains ginger, garlic, and lime juice — making it the perfect pairing to dip grilled chicken in during the summer.
Make a smoothie
Smoothies are a versatile snack that can be altered based on what freezer ingredients someone has on hand. Peanut butter pairs well with banana and chocolate, but can also be used in fruit smoothies as a good source of fat and protein. Pair your favorite nut butter with frozen banana, yogurt, honey or maple syrup, and a squirt of chocolate syrup. For an additional protein kick, add a scoop of your favorite peanut butter or chocolate protein powder.
Assembling prepackaged smoothie bags can cut down on time and easily portion the perfect ratio of fruits, thickeners, and sweeteners. Add your choice of fruit and veggies to a freezer-safe container and pop them in a blender with nut butter, yogurt, or sweetener. Xanthan gum can be a thickening ingredient for smoothies as well — just make sure to add it during the blending process rather than freezing it with the fruit the night before.
Drizzle it on your favorite ice cream
Ice cream is a delicious summer treat that can only be made better with peanut butter! Add a drizzle of peanut butter to your favorite summer ice cream flavor for a salty, peanut-y swirl. Flavors that best contrast the peanut flavor include chocolate, brownie batter, banana, vanilla, and even coffee!
For a more molten topping, House of Nash Eats recommends adding ½ cup of creamy peanut butter, ½ cup of sweetened condensed milk, 5 tablespoons of milk, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to a saucepan over low heat until thickened. For a dairy-free alternative, GoDairyFree suggests combining creamy peanut butter with melted coconut oil, maple syrup, confectionary sugar, and salt. For a chocolate peanut butter topping, add melted dark or milk chocolate to your peanut butter topping and stir until combined. This homemade peanut butter topping can be used on a ton of baked goods and sweet treats aside from ice cream including pancakes, brownies, and pizookies.