Can You Bake With Almond Butter?

When visiting the grocery store, you encounter so many options. You might find something, purchase it, and leave satisfied with how it tastes. Almond butter is a product that might have left you feeling this way. But, it could have left you wondering, can you bake with almond butter? We have the answer!

Almond butter is a good substitute for any fatty ingredient for baking. You can use it to substitute peanut butter for those allergic to peanuts; yet, you should still be cautious of almond butter for those with tree nut allergies. It provides a different and unique taste. You can use it for cookies, cakes, and other sweets!

Now that you got the confirmation you need, you might want to know some recipes to use almond butter. Additionally, how does it compare to peanut butter and dairy butter? You might want to see if it is a healthier option. To find out more, keep reading ahead.

Sweets To Try Substituting Almond Butter

Cookies

We will start with one of the simple recipes to prepare. You can not go wrong with cookies. Even if you mess up, the worst outcome is they will come out flatter than expected. This recipe is for the classic chocolate chip cookie made with almond butter! Here are the ingredients you will need:

• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup almond butter of your choice (your choice will change the texture)
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup brown sugar

You might have noticed there is no flour needed. That is because the almond butter will fill in as a substitute. Let us start the process, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

First, crack an egg and whisk it to beat the eggs. Mix in all ingredients except the chocolate chips. Once you mix the ingredients well enough, fold the chocolate chips inside the cookie dough. Measure 1.5 tablespoons of dough and place it on a baking sheet.

You may prefer to use a cookie mold to shape them. Bake the cookies for approximately 10 minutes and let them cool. Viola! Easy cookies for you to share. If you want them crispier, bake the cookies longer.

Click here to see this cookie recipe.

Cake

What about cakes? Is it possible to make sweet cakes with almond butter that can please a crowd? Yes, of course! This recipe requires a lot of ingredients but, it serves up to eight people.

The ingredients for this almond butter honey cake are:

• 3/4 cup of almond butter
• 3.5 oz of melted coconut oil
• 2.5 oz buckwheat flour
• 2.5 oz almond flour
• 1 oz arrowroot flour (can also use oat flour)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup of honey
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, baking powder, and kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, mix the dry ingredients (the flours, baking soda, kosher salt, baking powder, and nutmeg) before mixing the wet ingredients. For the wet ingredients, stir the butter, oil, and honey together. Finally, add vanilla extract and the egg. Mix it well.

You can add the dry mixture to the wet one. However, make sure to do it slowly and carefully. Target any flour you see present in the wet mixture. When all traces of flour disappear, you can add the cake batter in an 8x8 baking pan lined with greased parchment paper.

Click here to see this parchment paper on Amazon.

Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes. It should be ready once the edges start to pull away from the baking pan. The cake will also have a springy center.

To see this almond butter honey cake recipe, click here.

Almond Butter Cups

Chocolate is a sweet we can never avoid. There are so many varieties in recipes. You can not go wrong with most of them. And, when you mix it with peanut butter, it's a treat like no other. However, what if we switch things up a bit? Do almond butter cups sound delicious? They sure do! Here are the ingredients:

• Pinch of salt
• 3/4 cups of almond butter
• 1/2 cup of cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup of melted coconut oil
• 2 to 4 tablespoons of sweetener of your choice
• Sea salt for topping

Click here to see these cupcake liners on Amazon.

For the chocolate mixture, mix the salt, cocoa powder, coconut oil, and sweetener. Grab a muffin tin and line with paper liners. To create the base, scoop 1 to 2 tablespoons of the chocolate mixture and place it in each cup. Follow it up with 2 to 3 tablespoons of almond butter in the middle of each. Make sure to smooth out the almond butter.

Last but not least, top each cup off with the remaining chocolate and sprinkle with sea salt. Let it freeze until it is solid. Once finished, you are good to go!

Click here to see this delicious almond butter cup recipe.

How Much Almond Butter Do I Substitute For Butter?

Click here to see this almond butter on Amazon.

You can use a 1:1 ratio to substitute almond butter for butter. However, an equal amount of coconut oil will help achieve results similar to dairy butter. For example, if you are using a 1/4-cup of almond butter, mix it with a 1/4-cup of coconut oil until it is smooth. As a general rule, you should look for recipes that exclusively work with almond butter. This way, you can get the best outcome for your treats.

Is Almond Butter Healthier Than Peanut Butter?

We will have to take a look at the nutritional value of both. By considering all the factors, we can determine if one is healthier than the other. Let us start with the caloric value of each. However, if you want a quick rundown, look at the bottom of this header.

Calories

A standard serving size for both is two tablespoons. Depending on the brand and additives, the calories will range around 180. In general, it will be under 200 calories. If calories are your concern, both almond and peanut butter do not have a noticeable difference.

Nutritional Value

Peanut butter is full of vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, vitamin E, potassium, biotin, etc. However, almond butter contains more than double the amount. If you want to get more nutritional value out of your food, almond butter is your pick.

Fats

The amount of fat in a serving from both kinds of butter is roughly the same. As mentioned, the calories range from 180 and just under 200. Most calories come from fats; for example, one gram of fat has 9 calories. At the same time, one gram of carbohydrates, sugar, or protein has 4 calories. Therefore, the amount of fat does not matter. It is the type of fat each offer that you should consider.

There are two types of fats to take into consideration, monounsaturated and saturated. Monounsaturated fats are linked to better blood sugar control and reduced heart disease. On the other hand, many suggest consuming saturated fats in moderation. Consuming too much saturated fat is linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

In this area, almond butter edges peanut butter as the healthier choice because it contains more monounsaturated fat than peanut butter. In contrast, peanut butter contains more saturated fats.

Protein

One of the most sought-after macronutrients is protein. Most claim it is the most filling of the bunch. If the protein content is your concern, peanut butter edges the win by a small amount. In general, almond butter contains 6.8 grams of protein per serving in contrast to peanut butter's 8 grams.

Sugar

The amount of sugar is heavily dependent on the brand you buy. It will appear on the ingredient list as either molasses, high fructose corn syrup, or xylitol. If you want to avoid unnecessary sugar, you can opt for the kinds of butter labeled as all-natural. They will usually contain only one or two ingredients.

When you compare all-natural peanut and almond butter, they both have a low amount of sugar. In this situation, you can pick either nut butter.

Final Verdict

As you can see, almond butter is only slightly healthier than peanut butter. It is down to your preference for which to choose. You can not go wrong with either! For a more detailed breakdown by Healthline, click here.

Is Almond Butter Healthier Than Butter?

The previous section might have been a lot to read. So, we will give you a quick rundown on this one. As mentioned previously, it is the type of fat present that matters. If we compare the serving size of each, dairy butter will lose in terms of healthy choices.

The serving size of dairy butter is 99% fat. Of that 99%, 60% contains unhealthy saturated fats. It can also hold more cholesterol and sodium.

In the same category, almond butter contains more healthy monounsaturated fats, protein, and vitamins. It provides a tasty palate and better nutritional value. For health purposes, almond butter will be the better choice. For a detailed breakdown of butter by Healthline, click here.

What Does Almond Butter Taste Like?

The great aspect about having a choice in kinds of butter is the taste. Some like the saltier palate peanut butter offers. But, if you want a change of pace, almond butter tends to have a richer nutty flavor. It has a hint of sweetness to it that makes it distinguishable from peanut butter. Which butter you choose will come down to personal preference.

Final Takeaway

Finding a new ingredient to work with is exciting! You get a unique flavor to combine with others and a new experience overall. However, looking for information on utilizing the ingredient to its full potential is ever so important. We hope you found the article informative and insightful. Take the ideas and create something memorable!

But wait, there is more! If you are wondering how sunflower butter compares to peanut butter, click here.

Feeling inspired to cook with sunflower butter? We also have information on how you can use it, click here.