Alternatives to Peanuts and Peanut Butter for People with a Peanut Allergy

Peanuts are a popular snack and ingredient around the world, but for those with a peanut allergy, avoiding them is crucial for health and safety.

Fortunately, there are a variety of delicious and nutritious alternatives to both peanuts and peanut butter. 

From nut butters to seed spreads, the options are vast, allowing people with allergies to still enjoy similar textures and tastes. 

Here, we explore some of the best alternatives and how to use them in your daily diet.

1. Almond Butter

Why It’s Great: Almond butter is rich in healthy fats, vitamin E, and magnesium. Its creamy texture makes it an excellent replacement for peanut butter in sandwiches, smoothies, and baking recipes.

How to Use It: Spread almond butter on toast, blend it into smoothies, or use it as a base for sauces and dressings. It’s slightly sweeter than peanut butter, which adds a lovely depth to baked goods.

2. Cashew Butter

Why It’s Great: With a naturally creamy and mild flavour, cashew butter is an excellent option for those who prefer a less intense nut taste. Cashews are also high in iron, zinc, and magnesium.

How to Use It: Cashew butter works well in desserts like cakes and biscuits, as well as in savoury dishes like curries. Its creaminess also lends itself to dairy-free sauces.

3. Sunflower Seed Butter

Why It’s Great: Sunflower seed butter is a fantastic peanut butter substitute for those who are allergic to all tree nuts. It’s packed with vitamins E and B6, magnesium, and iron.

How to Use It: This versatile spread can be used just like peanut butter. It’s excellent in sandwiches, spreads well on crackers, and is delicious when blended into smoothies or spread on apple slices.

4. Soy Nut Butter

Why It’s Great: Made from roasted soybeans, soy nut butter is nut-free and full of protein, making it a suitable substitute for peanut butter. It’s also lower in fat compared to many other nut butters.

How to Use It: Soy nut butter has a similar taste and texture to peanut butter and can be used as a direct substitute. Try it on toast, or pair it with jam for a classic ‘PB&J’ alternative.

5. Tahini

Why It’s Great: Tahini, made from ground sesame seeds, is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine. It’s high in healthy fats and calcium, making it a nutritious addition to any meal.

How to Use It: Tahini has a slightly bitter taste, but its rich flavour complements both sweet and savoury dishes. Use it in salad dressings, hummus, and sauces, or drizzle it over yoghurt and fruit.

6. Pumpkin Seed Butter

Why It’s Great: Pumpkin seed butter is a nut-free alternative loaded with antioxidants, zinc, and magnesium. Its unique green colour and earthy flavour make it an interesting addition to many dishes.

How to Use It: This spread is delicious in smoothies, spread over toast, or stirred into oatmeal. Its subtle flavour also pairs well with chocolate and berries, making it perfect for baking.

7. Coconut Butter

Why It’s Great: Coconut butter is made from the whole coconut flesh, offering a rich, sweet flavour. While it’s quite different from peanut butter, it provides a smooth, creamy texture.

How to Use It: Coconut butter is delicious on toast, stirred into porridge, or used as a topping for pancakes. It’s also a wonderful addition to smoothies and can be used as a substitute in baking for a coconut-flavoured twist.

8. Biscoff Spread

Why It’s Great: Although Biscoff spread isn’t as high in nutrients as nut or seed butters, it offers a safe, nut-free alternative with a distinctive caramel flavour that many people enjoy.

How to Use It: Use it as a spread on toast, drizzle it over desserts, or swirl it into your ice cream for a decadent treat.

Choosing the Right Alternative

When choosing a peanut butter substitute, consider both taste and nutritional content. Nut and seed butters offer more protein and healthy fats than spreads like Biscoff, making them better choices for those who prioritise health benefits. For those who simply want a safe alternative with similar versatility, sunflower seed butter, soy nut butter, and tahini are solid, allergen-friendly choices.

With these peanut alternatives, there’s no need to miss out on the flavours and textures you love. Experiment with these options in your favourite recipes and discover which alternatives best suit your taste and lifestyle.

It's Crunch Time! Introducing New Sweet & Crunchy Peanut Spread from Bonne Maman

Peanut butter lovers have something new to try from Bonne Maman can enjoy the new Bonne Maman Sweet & Crunchy Peanut Spread, which is a delicious blend of toasted peanuts with subtle hints of vanilla and cocoa butter – made with high quality natural ingredients and absolutely no palm oil at all.

Rich and creamy with fantastic bursts of crunchy pieces of peanut, Sweet & Crunchy Peanut Spread is perfect for lifting your morning when you can simply spread it onto warm toast or making a delicious, indulgent afternoon snack when added to a slice of cake or a chunk of banana bread.

The fifth addition to the brand's range of sophisticated spreads, including award-winning Hazelnut Chocolate Spread, Crunchy Hazelnut Chocolate Spread, Caramelised Apple Spread plus Chocolate & Orange Spread, Bonne Maman Sweet & Crunchy Peanut Spread is available from late October in Waitrose and Morrisons stores nationwide at £2.90rrp per 230g jar. Further distribution expected from January 2025.

I feel this will make an ideal Christmas gift as it would make a fantastic stocking filler along with the other members of the Bonne Maman range of delicious spreads.

Exploring the Delicious World of Peanut Butter Flour in Cakes, Breads, and Biscuits

Peanut butter flour is a fantastic ingredient that brings a delightful nutty flavour and a boost of protein to your baking. 

Made by pressing the oils out of roasted peanuts and grinding them into a fine powder, it’s a versatile alternative to traditional flours. 

Whether you're looking to enhance the taste of your cakes, breads, or biscuits, peanut butter flour can add a unique twist. Below are some recipes to inspire your baking adventures

1. Peanut Butter Flour Banana Cake

Ingredients:

150g peanut butter flour

100g plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1/4 tsp salt

3 ripe bananas, mashed

100g caster sugar

2 large eggs

100ml vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

50ml milk

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Grease and line a 20cm round cake tin.

In a bowl, combine the peanut butter flour, plain flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, and salt.

In another bowl, mix the mashed bananas, sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the milk, and mix until well combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

2. Peanut Butter Flour Bread

Ingredients:

200g peanut butter flour

300g strong white bread flour

1 tsp salt

2 tbsp honey

7g dried yeast

300ml warm water

2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:

In a large bowl, mix the peanut butter flour, bread flour, and salt.

In a jug, dissolve the honey in the warm water, then sprinkle the yeast over the top and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.

Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil. Mix to form a soft dough.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and leave to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Knock back the dough, shape it into a loaf, and place it in a greased loaf tin.

Cover and leave to rise for another 30 minutes.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Cool on a wire rack before slicing.

3. Peanut Butter Flour Biscuits

Ingredients:

150g peanut butter flour

100g plain flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda

100g unsalted butter, softened

100g light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

50g chopped peanuts (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

In a bowl, mix the peanut butter flour, plain flour, baking powder, and bicarbonate of soda.

In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms. If using, fold in the chopped peanuts.

Roll tablespoons of dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking tray, spacing them apart to allow for spreading.

Flatten each ball slightly with the back of a fork.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Allow to cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Conclusion

Peanut butter flour is a delightful ingredient that can elevate your baking with its rich, nutty flavour and additional nutritional benefits. These recipes for cakes, breads, and biscuits are just a starting point—experiment with your own creations and enjoy the unique taste that peanut butter flour brings to your kitchen. Happy baking!

Dogs be aware! Your humans might try to nick your Peamutt Balls!

Introducing Peamutt Balls: A delicious and affordable treat for your pooch… so good dog owners may also sneak a bite, or two.

Carefully formulated as a tasty snack or a useful training treat for your canine companion, new Peamutt Butter Balls are jam packed full of protein and contain carefully selected healthy fats, vitamin B, niacin and vitamin E.

Made from doggy peanut butter, the balls contain additional peanuts, chia seeds and apple puree and are positively delicious. The balls are also grain, gluten and palm oil free.

The snacks come in a handy pocket-sized bag and are the perfect on-the-go treat… so tasty humans' may not wish to share with their doggy!

They're great. They're the perfect incentive treat for agility or training classes. This high protein ball can also be moulded, making it an ideal help when it's necessary to get your dog yo take some tablets. And we all know what a difficult job that can be!

The new Peamutt Butter Balls are available now on Amazon and ASDA RRP £1.80. The balls will also be available in Sainsburys later on.

These Peamutt Balls are made by Manchester's Duerr & Sons and after 143 years (the company was founded in 1881, is still very much a family-owned business who are "barking mad" about the health and happiness of canines. Perhaps better known nationally for its delicious jams, marmalades, honey and condiments, F. Duerr & Sons is the UKs largest manufacturer of peanut butter.

Peamutt Butter was crafted by this family of dog lovers to ensure everyone in the family can enjoy the joys of the peanutty treat. Peamutt Butter is the UK's number one vegan peanut butter for dogs.

For more information regarding Peamutt Butter, recipes and stockists head to https://peamutt.co.uk or follow them on Instagram @peamuttbutteruk.

I'm officially joyful! Aldi launched Ballycastle that tastes exactly like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!

Fans of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (like me!) will be thrilled with the news Aldi is launching a totally new Ballycastle flavour, the Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur (£7.49, 70cl) which will  be in stores from Thursday 29th June.

It's a luxurious blend of Irish whisky, rich chocolate and salty-sweet peanut butter notes, fans will be certain to notice flavour similarities to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but with a nifty alcoholic twist.

Serve it neat, with ice or why not create your deliciously boozy milkshake?

Ingredients:

100ml Ballycastle Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur

100ml Cowbelle Chocolate Fudge Milk

500ml water

60g The Pantry Cocoa Powder

Moser Roth Milk Chocolate, shaved

Peanuts to garnish

Method:

In a small saucepan, boil 250ml of water then remove from heat and add The Pantry Cocoa Powder 

Stir to dissolve and then add the remaining 250ml cup of water 

Once it's cool, add the Ballycastle Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur to the mixture and leave to infuse

Once successfully infused (this will take ten minutes) shake all the ingredients up in a cocktail shaker with ice. 

Pour into your preferred glasses and top up with whipped cream, grated Moser Roth Milk Chocolate and the peanuts!

The latest addition follows the success of Aldi’s Ballycastle Hazelnut Chocolate Cream Liqueur (£7.49, 70cl), which was noted as a delicious alcoholic twist on the much-loved spread, Nutella.

The supermarket’s Ballycastle range has scooped a series of awards. The Specially Selected Irish Cream (£7.99, 70cl) landed a ‘Great Value’ accolade in the 2022 prestigious Which? ‘Irish Cream Liqueur’ taste test, whilst the Ballycastle White Chocolate Cream (£7.49, 70cl) and the Ballycastle Chocolate, Caramel and Hazelnut Cream (£7.49, 70cl) BOTH won medals at this year’s International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC).

Aldi’s Ballycastle Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur is available in-stores and via Click & Collect nationwide from Thursday 29th June.

Actually, when I make this milkshake, I'm seriously thinking of adding some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups into the mix! 

A shopping trip to our nearest Aldi is certainly on the cards for next Thursday!

Here's a good news story for dog lovers! Duerr's & Sons Ltd Rebrands Dog Lovers Favourite 'Peamutt Butter' and Secures Morrison's Win

Duerr's & Sons Ltd has secured a new listing in Morrison's stores for its newly rebranded popular pet treat 'Peamutt Butter'.

The new-look packaging will hit Morrison's shelves across the UK for the first time this month under an introductory promotional offer during March.

Ranking as the UK's number One peanut butter for dogs, the supermarket listing follows 12 months of growth for the pet product, with sales of Peamutt Butter up 63% on the previous year.

Manchester-based Duerr's & Sons Ltd believe the sales increase is driven by listings in Tesco, Sainsbury's, The Range and Jollyes in 2022, plus being available online available with sites such as Amazon

Pets at Home, which has stocked the product for seven years, has seen a 25% rise over the last year. And independent pet food retailers have also seen an increase of 23%, proving that in the current economic climate consumers are still keen to spend on their fur family members.

The product rebrand is the first of its kind since Peamutt Butter was brought to market in 2016 and is supported by investment in a new website, PR outreach and social media marketing.

Duerr's, currently the biggest producer and distributor of peanut butter in UK, has introduced a new-look character 'Peamutt' on-pack to boost brand recognition on marketing channels and on the shelf.

Sales and marketing director and 5th generation Duerr's & Sons Ltd, Richard Duerr, said: “The original idea came from our family dog's love of peanutt butter. As the biggest producer of peanut butter in the UK, it seemed a shame our pets were missing out, so we created a prototype.

“Seven years on, we're rebranding to drive growth and secure new listings in the mults, like our recent win with Morrison's. We have a new 'Peamutt' as a character for the brand ensuring the product is more noticeable on shelf and becomes more familiar with consumers across multiple channels."

He went on to say: “Even in a cost of living crisis trends show pet parents are still looking to indulge their dogs. Peamutt Butter is a good value for money, a largely affordable, treat that shoppers can grab in the supermarket while doing their own weekly shop. The rebrand is aimed at keeping the product front of mind and ensuring we remain the go-to for peanut butter for dogs.”

Peamutt Butter is an affordable treat for your pampered pooches across the UK. Designed as a snack for four-legged friends, it is packed full of protein and contains heart-healthy fats, vitamin B, niacin and vitamin E.

This spreadable, smooth peanut butter is designed to be used on dog toys and lick matts, as well as a training treat. Tapping into the ever booming 'fur baby' trend it can also be used as ingredient for doggy home-baking. Peamutt Butter is available in 340g jars– RRP £2.50.

Duerr's & Sons Manchester, established in 1881, is a family business that's barking mad about dogs. Famed nationwide for its household jams and marmalades, Duerr's & Sons is the biggest producer of peanut butter in the UK. Peamutt Butter was crafted by this family of dog lovers to ensure everyone in the family can enjoy the joys of the nutty treat.