peanut butter

Nut butters are good for more than just sandwiches. As a source of healthy fats and plant-based protein, nut butters can be a nutritional powerhouse. Whether you prefer classic peanut butter or one of the healthy peanut butter alternatives, here are five unexpected ways to incorporate nut butter into your diet:

1. Blend it into your smoothie: Make your breakfast sip a bit creamier — and more satisfying — by adding some nut butter to the mix. For a bit of indulgence, try a chocolate strawberry banana smoothie. The healthy fats and dose of protein will help you to stay full and get your day off to an energized start.
2. Add it to your soups: Boost pureed soups with a spoonful of nut butter. Not only will it create a thicker texture, but it will also add rich, unexpected flavor to standard recipes. Surprise your taste buds by adding almond butter to butternut squash and or blending walnut butter into a beet soup.
3. Turn it into a dipping sauce: Marinate meats in your favorite nut butter before grilling, or use it as a dipping sauce for fruits and vegetables. Get creative with your combinations: try jicama dipped in cashew butter for a fresh twist on peanut butter apples.
4. Toss it into Greek yogurt. Get double the protein punch by mixing nut butter into your serving of Greek yogurt. For extra energy and nutrients, add fresh berries and rolled oats to the bowl.
5. Use it in your salad dressing. Blend nut butter with other oils and spices to create a smooth, rich salad dressing. Not sure where to start? Try a Thai dish, like this kale slaw with peanut dressing recipe.

Source: Flickr User Rusvaplauke

It's creamy (and sometimes crunchy!), salty, and sweet. It goes really well in sandwiches and baked goods, with chocolate, and even in sauces. It's the ultimate comfort food. Today is National Peanut Butter Day and whether you like to cook with it, bake with it, or simply eat it out of the jar with the spoon, we've got five reasons to love peanut butter.

1. You have options: Not a fan of crunchy peanut butter? Not to worry, there's a creamy version. Are you worried about hydrogenated oils? Opt for a natural variety. Chances are you'll be able to find a peanut butter that fits your taste buds.
2. It's sweet and salty: One of nature's best combinations of tastes, peanut butter embodies what it means to be sweet and salty. It satisfies so many cravings in one creamy spoonful.
3. It's an American classic: Peanut butter as we know it today was invented in America in 1884, and it has been deeply loved by Americans ever since. The United States is one of the leading exporters of peanut butter in the world and the majority of peanut butter is eaten by Americans.

Keep reading for more.

If you love peanuts and peanut butter, then it might be wise to get yourself to the store and stock up sooner rather than later, thanks to a certain price hike on peanuts and peanut products.

After a hot, dry Summer devastated much of this year's peanut crop, the wholesale price of peanuts has skyrocketed from $450 a ton to $1,150. In response, top peanut butter brands are being forced to increase their prices: Skippy is up 30 to 35 percent from last year, and other big sellers will all raise prices between now and November (Peter Pan by as much as 24 percent, Planters by 40 percent, and Jif by 30 percent).

Sounds like there might be an opportunity for some peanut butter alternatives here. Almond butter, are you listening?

We're in the middle of picnic season, and if you're in need of a delicious crowd-pleasing dessert, make these chocolate peanut butter bars. They are surprisingly simple to bake, absolutely addictive to eat, and easy to pack and transport. The bottom is a brown sugar shortbread, the middle layer is creamy peanut butter, and the top is melted milk chocolate.

These bars can be made up to three days in advance, which makes them perfect for entertaining. Fans of salted desserts: I recommend sprinkling them with coarse sea salt; it takes these chocolate peanut butter squares to a whole new level! Check out the uncomplicated recipe now.

I used to be addicted to peanut butter. I ate it on apples, on bread, on pretzels, on ice cream, and even straight-up on a spoon drizzled with a little honey. I thought it was OK to devour gobs and gobs of the peanut buttery goodness because it was made from all natural peanuts. Then I realized there are over 200 calories in a two-tablespoon serving. No wonder I was gaining weight way back in college.

If you're a huge fan of peanut butter, here's a healthier version you can spread on your crackers and bananas till your heart's delight. The consistency is smooth, yet a little chewy, and the flavor is phenomenal. Since it's made with peanut butter it's not low in calories or fat, but it's lower than regular peanut butter for sure. To see my simple recipe, keep reading.

We've never met a cupcake we didn't like, and we're loving eatswimshop's chocolate peanut butter creation.

I recently bought some Marine candy molds and I wanted to try them out. We were having a bunch of midshipmen from the Naval Academy over for dinner, so I thought this would be a good time to use them. I thought they would be cutest with a chocolatey cupcake with a light-colored frosting, so I used a chocolate cake recipe I've used a few times before and the peanut butter frosting recipe from Barefoot Contessa at Home.

The candy molds were really easy to use. And when I brought the leftovers to work, one of my co-workers said they tasted like a peanut butter cup in cake form. I think that means they were a success!

Have you made an awesome cupcake lately? Share it with the YumSugar Community!

Taking time to enjoy some tea and toast is one of my favorite morning rituals. Some days I just put butter on my toast, and other days I want to mix it up with honey or jam. As evidenced by the plethora of options inside my fridge door, I seem to never have enough toppings! The problem is, when we slather on one of our favorite spreads, we're also adding additional calories, fat, and sugar to our breakfast routine.

Keep reading to see a chart on everything you need to know about common toast toppings like jam, honey, and chocolate spread.

When it comes to peanut butter sandwiches, my son isn't big on bread. He prefers the sweet treat served up on a peeled apple that has been cored and halved. I smear some of the creamy spread between and then top with the other half. A fiber and protein packed combo, it's a portable dish that is fit for any time of day. We recently tested the apple idea out on another kiddie staple — grilled cheese. Just take the fruit halves and top them with your kiddo's favorite sliced or shredded cheese and then pop them in a hot oven to melt the protein. Served open-faced or as a sandwich, this simple recipe is a savory winner.

If you're craving a chewy peanut buttery treat, this might just become your new favorite cookie. While a cookie is still a cookie, this recipe offer a slightly healthier goody. The chewy oatmeal cookie coupled with the creamy peanut butter and mashed banana mixture makes a perfect flavor combination. The only downside to whipping up a batch of these cookies is you may find it impossible to hold back from eating the entire batch. Plus, it's National Peanut Butter Month, so get baking and celebrate.

Ready to see the recipe?

From peppermint patties to peanut butter cups, we love turning store-bought chocolates into homemade treats. A recipe we'd love to see? Ericairis's version of Twix bars.

Made these this weekend.  So rich and so yummy.  I'll never look at a store-bought Twix bar the same way again!

Do you have a delicious photo to share? Upload it to the Savory Sights group in the YumSugar Community!