I love peanut butter and to be without it, even when traveling and away from home, just isn’t something I prefer.
While in Aruba, I got a little adventurous and tried some of the peanut butter sold in the local Aruban grocery stores. Key word is adventurous since I can’t read Dutch and many products are imported from Holland because Aruba is a Dutch island.
Let’s compare and review:
1. Speculaaspasta
Technically, this isn’t peanut butter. It’s the Dutch equivalent of Cookie Butter Spread or Biscoff Spread
As I explained here, it’s identical to Trader Joe’s Cookie Butter Spread and it’s highly delicious and addictive. Imagine gingersnaps crushed, blended, and turned into a thick, rich, cinnamony-gingery paste
Don’t leave me alone with a jar of it or cookie butter. They’re the same or with Biscoff, which is nearly the same.
I used the Dutch Speculaaspasta spread when I made these Chocolate Banana and Biscoff Graham Bars
2. Jumbo Pindakaas
I bought this because of the word Naturel on the label and thought I was going to get something close to my Homemade Peanut Butter or your garden variety natural peanut butter.
Instead, I got a really peppery peanut butter that was fairly thick. I didn’t like the flavor but Skylar loved it. A five year old who loved peppery peanut butter.
I think Jumbo Pindakaas would be great used in Two Minute- Peanut Sauce for Fresh Spring Rolls (raw, vegan, GF)
Or as the base of a salad dressing or in the marinade for Peanut Sauce Baked Tofu (vegan, GF) because I think the peppery flavor would complement savory foods.
3. Quino Pindakaas
I also bought this in the hopes that it would be like my beloved homemade peanut butter because it looked fairly ‘natural’ in the glass jar. There were tiny peanut flecks I could see when peering through the glass, and I had high hopes for it but unfortunately, it was really salty.
I prefer sweeter peanut butter, or honey-roasted, and this was a bit too salty for my day-to-day eating.
However, it was perfect in Combos Pretzel and Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Bars (no-bake)
I actually kind of made these bars because of this peanut butter. And because I couldn’t walk past a bag of Combos and not buy them.
4. Planters Creamy Peanut Butter
I wanted Jif Creamy Peanut Butter but the only size available was approaching a half-gallon and even I didn’t need that much peanut butter so Planters was fine. Run of the mill American processed peanut butter for sale in Aruba is like having a comforting blanket and reminds me of home.
I like to bake with creamy, non-natural peanut butter like Jif or Planters and have a few tricks and recipes similar to this one up my sleeve that I used Planters for.
5. Peter Pan Honey Roast Creamy
Since I was striking out with Dutch-labeled peanut butter that I thought would be natural-tasting and wasn’t getting what I wanted and can’t make my own because I don’t have a food processor here…
…I knew this would handle my midnight cravings. And it did.
Keep me away from a spoon and this jar, especially at night. Sweet, creamy, and everything I want when I’m having honey-roasted peanut butter cravings and can’t make it.
What’s your favorite peanut butter?
What’s your favorite nut butter or spread?
My favorite peanut butter for eating off the spoon is my homemade honey-roasted peanut butter which takes less than 10 minutes and is the stuff my dreams are made of and I don’t care if it’s 3am when I get back to San Diego from Aruba, I will probably turn on my food processor and make a batch. I know I have some unopened TJ’s honey roasted peanuts in my cupboard.
My favorite peanut butter for baking is Jif Creamy because it just whips into perfection, doesn’t spread or run, isn’t too thin, and sometimes ‘processed’ is good when planning to bake with it.
When I don’t want my peanut butter cookies (GF) to spread
Or marshmallow peanut butter bars (GF) to turn into a soupy mess, Jif it is. Plus, Jif is the peanut butter I grew up with and a nostalgic favorite.
In terms of non-peanut butter nut butters, I don’t really like almond butter. I know it’s popular, but it tends to be too thin, too runny, and too bland for my tastes.
I prefer Sunflower Seed Butter (I buy Trader Joe’s) or try the SunButter brand is widely available at many grocery stores or at Whole Foods. Sunflower seed butter is sweet, smooth, and has a very distinct taste that I love. It’s on the thinner side but the flavor more than makes up for the runnier consistency. This is another nut butter that I need to stay away from after the clock strikes midnight, which seems to be when I do my best spoon and jar maneuvers.
I love Nutella and will spread it on anything and make Nutella & Peanut Butter Graham Bars with Chocolate Frosting (No Bake)with it.
Who can resist the stuff?
I like making my own Chocolate Coconut Cashew Butter (vegan, GF). It’s what I’d imagine Nutella made from cashews rather than hazelnuts, and with coconut added, would probably taste like.
I have all my Peanut Butter Recipes compiled here
And I have a Peanut Butter Pinterest Board
Tell me about your favorite nut butters, peanut butters, and spreads.
I love peanut butter. My favorite now is homemade with plain roasted peanuts, but I also like Trader Joe’s Unsalted Creamy. I use one of those for baking too. I find that as long as I refrigerate the pb prior to baking with it, it has a texture very similar to the processed pbs and produces great results. I also like almond butter, but it’s not my favorite. I tried sunflower seed butter thinking I’d love it, but it did not mix with my taste buds at all. Of course, I looooove Biscoff and prefer it over peanut butter any day.
that’s interesting you don’t like SFSButter but it’s very distinct…that’s kind of how I feel about A.B. Very meh.
Boy, what an eye-opener! I’m an old creamy Jif fan – totally out of it!
There’s a PB for everyone and in every price range; it’s like perfume —- sooooo many options!!
I recently stumbled across your blog and made the chocolate coconut cashew butter. So good and dangerously addictive!
I’m a big fan of Teddie Peanut Butter and a jar of that stuff does not last long in my household. I also love Justin’s Honey Almond Nutbutter, if I want one that’s on the sweeter side.
My friend told me that Justin’s AB is the best she’s ever had and she’s not even an AB fan…I must try it, and the honey AB!
thanks for LMK you made the choc coconut cashew butter and loved it :)
oh gosh Averie, those peanut putter concoctions are just magnificent!! WOW!
This is such a great post. I’m a real peanut-butter loving girl too and I also grew up on Jif! You are right, it is hands-down the best for baking!
That’s so odd that one of them tasted peppery–I can’t imagine!! At least your cutie little girl liked it–who knew?? And I don’t know WHY I’ve never bothered to try honey roasted pb, but I definitely need to.
My fav peanut butter is Once Again Nut Butter– https://onceagainnutbutter.com/. Everyone should try it out :) And my cousin works there!!
Fun! I love going to different places and trying my favorite foods in different forms – coconut butter, cereal, crackers… as long as they’re gluten-free + dairy-free, I’m game to try it all!
Jif peanut butter-smooth has been my favorite forever for baking or eating by the spoonful. Your post made me remember the peanutbutter shortage when I was a kid in the late ’70’s. I can’t remember why now there was a shortage but a PB&J had been my standard lunch for years, I didn’t want anything else but I had to switch over to cheese and deli meat for a while. Then my godfather came to visit us. He was living in Haiti at the time and he brought me a jar of all natural peanutbutter, which I found so liquidy and disgusting I couldn’t eat it. But, of course, I didn’t tell him that.
there’s actually a bit of a shortage right now – about 2 yrs ago prices rose (I mean we’re talking a quarter or very nominal amount but for some people feeding a family or relying on it, it can add up) but Ive read it was due to peanut crops declining, inclement weather, etc. and it’s all agricultural supply and demand. Same thing with coffee. There IS a worldwide coffee shortage and coffee prices have risen about 20% in recent years. My TJs coffee went from 4.99 to 6.99, sometimes it goes down to 5.99 a can but it’s been interesting to watch.
Coconut butter has been my latest obsession, but I’d spread peanut butter on almost anything!
MMMM peanut butter…..I don’t really have a favorite. I don’t like it when it’s really salty though. But not sweet either. Just peanuts please ;-)
Peter Pan Honey Roasted PB (or any honey roasted PB) is my absolute favorite to eat! It’s so dangerously addictive. There might have been a time or two that I ate an entire jar in a matter of days. So good, but sooo bad. For baking, I agree that Jif non-natural peanut butter is the best. Definitely produces the best results. Oh boy…now that I just read all about peanut butter, I’m reallllllllly craving it. Looks like I’ll be baking something with peanut butter tonight! :)
If you like Peter Pan H.R. you HAVE to try making your own with H.R. peanuts – you’ll fall in love! I DID eat that entire jar in a matter of days.
There is ALWAYS a jar of PB in my house. I love making my own nut butters…so easy in the food processor! I’m a “mixer” so my favorite combo is macadamia-cashew -almond. Once it is out of the fridge, it does tend to get runny quickly so that is the only drawback for me to using some of the softer nuts. I love Planter’s natural for baking/sauce making.
Ive never tried Planters Natural – Skippy & Jif Natural, but not Planters. I always store my homemade PB in the fridge b/c I like it slightly thicker and cool. I take it out about 10 mins before I’m going to use it and it’s perfect!
You’ve got me on the nutellaalso! Any kind of pb works for me…. I’ve started liking homemade PUMPKIN peanut butter :)
homemade PUMPKIN peanut butter sounds DELISH!!
It certainly tastes like it… and easy!
You just mix up: 1/3 cup canned pumpkin, 1.5 T Peanut Butter, Dash Cinnamon or Pumpkin Pie Spice, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp. almond milk, and a few raisins and/or chopped walnuts and pecans. Try it out and let my know what you think!
yum!
I made this dip and haven’t blogged about it but also added PB to it!
https://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2011/10/caramel-pumpkin-whip-dip.html
Hi Averie! When I was growing up I was a huge fan of smooth & thick peanut butter… you know: the one that makes your tongue stick to the top of your mouth, haha! These days my favourite is the Whole Earth Organic peanut butter, Crunchy, with no added sugar. I can just eat spoonfuls of it… or I smear it onto your microwave banana oat cake :-) Delish!
“tongue stick to the top of your mouth” is the best kind! And glad you like themicrowave banana oat cake!
I just made some of my first homemade nut butters! They are so good and sooooo fresh, I love it. I’m a huge fan of almond butter, but peanut butter is a close 2nd. and I like them plain–no added stuff. Yum!
Glad you’ve tried making your own!