The 14 Best Almond Butter Substitutes For Your Recipes

Almond butter is nutty, rich, and creamy. This is why it’s widely used in several sweet and savory recipes, as it goes well with different flavors. As a matter of fact, almond butter is so tasty that you might even spread it on toast and eat it on its own. 

When the recipe calls for almond butter and you don’t have it at home, it doesn’t mean all hope is lost. In this article, you can find more than one almond butter substitute that works for every situation, so keep on reading.

The best substitutes for almond butter

Almond butter is either made of raw or roasted almonds and can be found in smooth and crunchy versions.

Since it’s slightly sweet and salty, has a rich flavor and taste and can be used in several dishes. almond butter is one of the most versatile ingredients that you can use in the kitchen.

You can enjoy it with jam, spread it on your cereals, add it to yogurt, incorporate it in an Asian sauce or prepare a savory dip that goes with your salad or cheese. The rich flavor of almond butter makes it a great addition to smoothies as well. To top it off, you can also serve almond butter on its own.

If you’re preparing a recipe that calls for almond butter and you can’t find it in your kitchen pantry, there are several substitutes that can work for you. You can also use some of these alternatives if you’re allergic to nuts or need a new flavor. 

1. Peanut Butter

If you’re looking for an easy-to-find and affordable substitute for almond butter, peanut butter will be the best choice. It tastes nutty and rich, just like almond butter, and you can find smooth and crunchy versions to go with your recipe. 

Peanut butter is slightly sweet and salty, but it’s more earthy than almond butter. Peanuts are not nuts as they’re actually legumes. So unless you’re allergic to peanuts, peanut butter will work for you if you’re allergic to almonds or tree nuts in general. 

Peanut butter can be eaten alone or with different fruits. You can substitute almond butter for peanut butter in several sweet and savory recipes because it’s so versatile. Peanut butter is a key ingredient in Asian recipes and goes well with several spices like ginger and cinnamon. 

2. Walnut Butter

Walnut butter has an earthy, nutty flavor, which can be a little bitter when compared to almond butter. However, it has a bit of a tasty umami flavor, so it’s used to replace almond butter in a soup, stew, salad dressing, bisque, or dip. 

You can elevate the taste of walnut butter by adding a little bit of salt, sugar, or coconut to change its taste so it can better blend with the other ingredients in your recipe. Thanks to its full, rich texture, it will be an excellent substitute for almond butter in baking.

You can mix walnut butter with spinach to prepare a tasty appetizer or blend it with mashed artichokes to serve a sophisticated dip for your party crackers. Adding other ingredients like salted caramel or vanilla will bring out the flavors of walnut butter when it’s served on its own. 

3. Pecan Butter

Pecan butter is a tasty substitute for almond butter because it’s creamy, rich, and nutty. In addition, the pecan flavor is slightly sweet, so pecan butter will be a great addition to your baked and unbaked desserts. It also goes well with jam on top of your toast and can be added to your morning smoothie.

The natural flavor of pecans has some coconut or vanilla undertones. You can always find flavored or unflavored pecan butter to mix with your other ingredients if almond butter is hard to find. 

The butter offers a subtle umami flavor, so you can use it in several recipes where you want to combine sweetness with saltiness. You can serve pecan butter with different fruits like apples, strawberries, and bananas, or add it to your cake or cookie dough for more richness and a delicious nutty flavor. 

4. Macadamia Nut Butter

Macadamia nut butter is fattier and creamier than almond butter, so it can be used in any recipe where you want to add richness and texture. It has a slightly more subtle flavor, so it’s a great choice if you’re not fond of strong nutty flavors. 

Because it has a mild taste, you can incorporate macadamia nut butter in several sweet and savory dishes. You can even spread it on your pancakes or crackers and enjoy it on its own. In addition, it adds more richness to your smoothie, soup, stew, or baked dish. 

5. Cashew Butter

Cashew butter is nut-based, just like almond butter. It works as a substitution for almond butter in smoothies and dressings because it’s creamier and richer. 

Cashew butter has a mild nutty flavor, but it’s a little sweeter than almond butter. It spreads easily on toast and crackers and can add a hint of sweetness to your stews and soups. 

You can serve cashew butter with different types of cheese on your charcuterie board, add it to a smoothie, or mix it with several spices like nutmeg and cloves. 

Because it has a subtle taste compared to almond butter and all other kinds of nut butter, you can use cashew butter to add the needed richness and creaminess to several baked vegan and vegetarian dishes. 

6. Pistachio Butter

Pistachio butter is nutty, rich, and slightly sweet. Before making the butter, the pistachios are usually blanched, and the brownish skin is removed to intensify the flavors. 

Thanks to its delicious taste and green color, pistachio butter will be a great addition to your desserts. It can be used to flavor ice cream, add richness to smoothies, or mixed with some fruits for a tasty snack. 

You can spread pistachio butter on your toast and serve it with jam or honey. You can even spread it in savory crepes to bring a little sweetness to your mix. 

7. Hazelnut Butter

Hazelnut butter tastes great right out of the jar and can be used to replace almond butter in several recipes. 

It’s made of raw or roasted hazelnuts, and you can find it in a smooth or crunchy version. Hazelnut butter is slightly sweet with a nutty and earthy flavor, so it can be an excellent almond butter alternative if you’re preparing a morning smoothie or need to prepare a baked dessert. 

It tastes delicious on its own, so you can spread it on toast or serve it with your pancakes. The hazelnut butter flavor goes well with chocolate, so it’s a great flavor enhancer for chocolate desserts. 

8. Sunflower Seed Butter

Sunflower seed butter is a good almond butter replacement that works if you’re allergic to nuts and peanuts. It has a velvety texture and is usually made of roasted sunflower seeds. 

The neutral taste of sunflower seed butter makes it a suitable almond butter substitute in many recipes. However, you need to add salt or sugar-based on the nature of your recipe. It can be used in any recipe where you need to use almond butter to add a rich, smooth texture. 

You can eat sunflower seed butter when it’s spread on your toast or crackers. It also goes well with several fruits like cherries and bananas. Preparing a mix of dried fruits and sunflower seed butter will help you enjoy a tasty snack if you can’t find almond butter within reach. 

9. Pumpkin Seed Butter

Pumpkin seed butter is a great almond butter alternative if you’re allergic to nuts. It has a mellow and nutty taste with an earthy flavor, so it can be used in sweet and savory recipes.

Compared to almond butter, pumpkin seed butter has a more subtle flavor, so it will work for you if you find almond butter to be too strong. The natural oils in pumpkin seed butter don’t separate as they do in other types of nut butter, so it has a richer and creamier consistency. 

Pumpkin seed butter tastes a lot like raw pumpkin seeds minus the crunch. You can eat it raw by spreading it on crackers or toast or cook it in a cookie recipe. It also goes well with lots of savory ingredients, so it can be added to thicken your sauce, chili, soup, or dip. 

10. Mashed Avocados

Ripe avocados can be used to replace almond butter because they have a rich, slightly sweet flavor. You can use mashed avocados in a dip or salad dressing because they taste nutty with a unique fresh aroma. 

If you’re allergic to nuts, you can use mashed avocados in baked dishes because they add a rich buttery texture. You can also spread mashed avocados on top of your toast, add a scoop to a smoothie, or mix it with other ingredients in a soup. 

11. Mashed Bananas

If you’re looking for an easy-to-find almond butter substitute in baking, ripe bananas will work for you. Mashed bananas add a rich buttery texture and can be incorporated into several recipes. 

Mashed bananas are velvety and sweet, so they’re sweeter than almond butter. So, they will be a great addition to your desserts. You can also add mashed bananas to smoothies and sweet sauces. A spread made of mashed bananas will taste heavenly on top of your toast. 

12. Coconut Butter

If you’re a fan of the taste of coconuts, you can use coconut butter to replace almond butter in several recipes. It has the same tropical and slightly floral aroma of coconut with vanilla undertones. It’s also slightly sweet, so it’s a great addition to desserts. 

Coconut butter has a moderately intense flavor, so it will work for you if you’re not fond of nutty flavors or are allergic to nuts. It adds natural sweetness to no-bake desserts and can be spread on toast or English muffins. You can also blend coconut butter with your smoothies. 

13. Greek Yogurt

This is another almond butter alternative that works if you’re allergic to nuts. Greek yogurt is rich and creamy, and its neutral flavor will add the needed creaminess to your dips and sauces. 

Greek yogurt has a velvety texture and a slightly tangy flavor. Its mild and slightly neutral taste makes it work for sweet and savory dishes. Adding Greek yogurt to baked dishes will make them fluffy and rich, and you can use it in a soup or a stew to make it extra creamy. 

You can even blend Greek yogurt with other ingredients in a smoothie, add it to your pancake batter, or mix it with your cereals to add some richness to your breakfast. 

14. Unsalted Butter

If you need a fast alternative to almond butter, you can always use unsalted butter. Unsalted butter is the right almond butter substitute to use in baked dishes, stews, and batter. You can use it in savory and sweet dishes and add the needed spices, salt, or sugar to make the butter work for your recipe. 

You can even spread unsalted butter on your toast and add some jam or cheese on top. It’s a versatile ingredient that won’t alter the taste of other ingredients, and you will add the needed creaminess and richness. As a matter of fact, unsalted butter makes the flavors of other ingredients shine through. 

Unsalted butter is not vegan or vegetarian, but you can always find a vegan or vegetarian version that works for you. If your recipe calls for almond butter, just add the same amount of unsalted butter instead, and your recipes will always taste delicious. 

How to choose an almond butter substitute

Picking between different almond butter substitutes depends on several factors, like the recipe you’re preparing, whether you’re allergic to nuts, or you simply need an alternative that tastes different. 

1. Closest flavor: peanut butter offers a flavor that is very close to almond butter, so it will be the perfect almond butter replacement. Walnut butter and pecan butter combine sweet and umami flavors, while cashew butter, pistachio butter, and macadamia butter are slightly sweeter and creamier.
2. Savory dishes: use peanut butter, macadamia butter, walnut butter, pecan butter, or unsalted butter, which is one of the most versatile replacements because it doesn’t have an overpowering flavor. You can add richness to your savory baked dishes and casseroles by replacing almond butter with mashed avocados.
3. Smoothies: for smoothies, you can use Greek yogurt, cashew butter, pistachio butter, or macadamia butter, which also works for stews.
4. Desserts: for chocolate desserts, hazelnut butter will work best. Coconut butter is a tasty substitute in no-bake and baked desserts and it’s perfect if you’re not fond of the taste of nuts. Mashed bananas will work as well. If you want to add richness with a slightly tangy flavor, you can pick Greek yogurt.

There are also several substitutes for almond butter that work if you’re allergic to nuts. Sunflower seed butter has a velvety texture and will work with desserts and savory dishes. If you need an alternative with a slightly more subtle flavor, you can use pumpkin seed butter.