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 looovee peanut butter! My favorites:
Flavor: Peanut Butter Co’s White Chocolate Wonderful
Plain: Smart Balance Rich Roast Chunky Peanut Butter
Right now I’m really head over heals for sunflower seed butter too. ^_^ It’s nice to have something different every once in awhile.
Smart Balance is one I don’t think I’ve ever tried! But WCWonderful is – oh too good, you’re right! And SFSButter, too!
I am not a fan of salty peanut butters either. My favorite brand is Justin’s. He’s what I like to call the nut butter god. As much as I love peanut butter, I have to say that sunflower seed butter trumps peanut butter any day, in my opinion.
you’re like the 5th person in about 2 weeks who has told me that above all else, Justin’s is amazing. I have only had a tiny sample packet years ago and need to try a full size jar! SFSButter is amazing, I agree!
My favourite nut butters are PB&Co. Maple PB and the Cinnamon Raisin.
It’s either cookie butter or my homemade PB. Like you, I prefer my on the sweet side. :)
I mean what other way would there be? :)
By the way ~ how fun is it to experiment with foreign foods? With labels you can’t pronounce!
When it’s only a couple bucks here or there, it’s like playing a scratch off lottery ticket – sometimes you get lucky :)
Great post Averie, I too can’t live without Peanut Butter. My all time favorite is the TJ’s one with flaxseed. LOVE it.
Wow…that is the BEST PB research EVER! What a wonderful adventure…especially the Dutch Cookie spread. Love it!
Thanks and it was a fun research project!
I’m late in the game commenting on this one. A fairly busy day at work… almost leaving me in tears! However… in a fun twist of irony, I am sitting at my desk in my room with a spoon and a jar of crunchy Jif. JIF is my #1. My absolute FAVORITE. I bake with Jif Creamy or Jif Crunchy, depending on the recipe. I also like Peter Pan’s Honey PB and TJ’s natural salted creamy. OMG so good. But yes, I’m a JIF girl!! But you know my heart goes to our homemade honey roasted PB any day of the week. I honestly don’t think I’ll ever find a peanut butter that will beat it.
I admit, I do love almond butter. And pecan butter. I’ve never had sunflower seed butter before! And PB that’s too salty just doesn’t do it for me. Why ruin a good thing with so much salt?! Reduced fat PBs are probably the grossest forms of nut butter in the world, by the way. EWW.
You can imagine how much I’m LOVING this post. We are PB freaks. :)
I grew up, i.e. dorm room and early 20s, eating red fat Jif on Triscuits at 2am. Oh, the memories :)
you HAVE TO get SFSButter (get the TJs) – a life changer if you’re never had it!
I had actually never even had Peter Pan H.R.P.B. before seeing it in Aruba. I just buy a store-brand of honey roasted here in San Diego (before I started making my own) but yeah baking, we’re both Jif girls!
I can’t get enough of Dark Chocolate Dreams from PB & Company. That stuff is absolutely delicious. In fact, I want some right now! lol
DCDreams is amazing, agreed!
Averie,
I am a real fan of your blog – great recipes and exceptional photography. However, I am less of a fan of the pop-up which has started to appear when I open your blog using my internet browser. Are you aware that this is happening – the url is https://c5.zedo.com//ads2/f/1300159/3840/171/0/305012255/305012255/0/305/2290/zz-V1-UK_1x1.html?a=s%3D2290%3Bg%3D171%3Bm%3D225%3Bw%3D1%3Bu%3DL1cMT6pWh0VqBM1Cet7DJdom~011012%3Bi%3D0%3B;l=;p=;t=1346268883
Feel free to delete this comment.
Sincerely,
Keith
Thanks for reading and the info, Keith!
What an AWESOME post!! I’m totally a Jif girl even though I know I shouldn’t do the processed. But it IS often better in baking :) I really need to try making my own peanut butter!
shouldn’t do processed? ahhh, well, that’s over-rated. I like my white sugar, coffee beans, and cream processed – and yes, sometimes processed PB is okay too :) Sometimes raw/vegan is great. Other times, a little processing is just fine :)
peppery peanut butter? now i’m really intrigued! I’m a big fan of no-frills natural peanut butter, and I love the organic ones that trader joe’s has come out with. But once in a while I like treat-like PB, my latest favorite is the coconut-peanut spread from Earth Balance! I’m now thinking I should find a way to make my own…
just make your own PB and after it’s done, start adding coconut oil to it a little bit at a time and see where that takes you based on taste preferences – I do it all the time!
Those chocolate banana bars look crazy good, as does everything else you’ve shared here! I think I’d be in peanut butter heaven with just half of these in my cupboards!
thanks, Georgia, I appreciate it :)
This is perhaps one of the most dangerous posts I’ve ever seen ;-) Hope you are well!
thanks my friend and all is well! Hope for you, too! :)
I LOVE nut butters!!! I usually buy the Maranatha almond butter at Costco and then I keep my eyes out for big sales on crunchy nut butters and then I mix the two. I have been really into crunchy lately. Love it by the spoonful, over frozen banana “ice cream”, or slathered on flat out wraps with a little Hazelnut agave. Yum! However, I have totally fallen in love with Earth Balance coconut & peanut spread. I dip pretzel sticks in and it is so yummy. Here is my challenge for you: recreate it because I only find it at Whole Foods and I live quite a ways away. The ingredients are peanuts, organic extra virgin coconut oil, agave syrup, palm fruit oil (what the heck is that?) salt and natural flavoring (what is natural flavoring that isn;t already in there?? Oh, Welcome home!
Someone else just commented about this! I just told her to make her own PB and then add coconut oil to it, a tablespoon at a time, until you get the flavor and taste you’re looking for. I do it all the time – EASY!!! Depending on how coconutty vs. PB’ey you like things will dictate your ratios. And then add a squirt of agave at the end. SO simple!
I think I am a little over-whelmed by all the peanut butters. I never knew that there was so many…and I though choosing toothpaste was hard 0_o. But now I have a serious craving to head to my Fresh and Easy to see what they have for some PB. Oh and to get a food processor so I can try to make my own 10 min pb. That looks so simple, and delicious!
There are SO MANY out there – it’s crazy, but fun to discover them all!