Finding the best almond butter can be a challenge. You want it to be creamy but not runny, flavorful but not fussy. Discover which brands our experts are nutty for.
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While peanut butter may be the tried-and-true nutty spread on grocery store shelves, there’s a whole world of nut butters worth exploring! And one of the most popular of these has to be almond butter.
Almond butter has a different flavor and texture from peanut butter. It has a pleasant roasted flavor and is often thinner than what you’ll find in a jar of Jif. However, almond butter packs plenty of protein and is a welcome addition to smoothies, desserts and simple jam sandwiches.
So which brands make the best almond butter? Our pros had to find out!
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For a smooth, satisfying nut butter, you can’t go wrong picking up a jar of MaraNatha Almond Butter.
“I love this one,” says Sarah Tramonte in the Test Kitchen. “It’s creamy, delicious, a little sweet and not grainy at all!”
Each of those qualities makes MaraNatha a spread to love. It has just the right texture and taste. The roasted almond flavor is exactly what our pros are looking for—and it’s elevated thanks to a bit of cane sugar and salt.
The texture of MaraNatha’s almond butter is smooth and silky. Yes, it is a bit thin, but that’s consistent with this type of spread. You can easily swipe a spoonful over your morning toast, but just know you may need a napkin to clean up a drip or two.
Overall, this is a fantastic choice for everything from baked goods to snacks to dolloping over a bit of yogurt and granola in the morning.
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Almond products like almond snacks, almond flour and, yes, almond butter can get pretty pricey. If you want to save some pennies while also getting your almond butter fix, our Test Kitchen wholeheartedly recommends Sam’s Choice Creamy Almond Butter from Walmart. A 12-ounce jar costs about $5—half of what many comparable brands sell for.
But this taste test is about flavor—not just the price tag. Fortunately, this budget option also tastes delicious, according to our pros.
“This one has such good, warm almond flavor,” says Mark Neufang in the Test Kitchen. Our pros note how this one tasted very much of toasted almonds with just a whisper of salt to accentuate that roasted quality.
The texture of this butter is also appealing. It’s smooth and a touch runny, but the mouthfeel is light and satisfying. This is the type of peanut butter you want for snacks. “Dip your apples in this one!” says Mark.
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What almond butter options often lack is that thick, spreadable consistency—the texture you get from peanut butter or even Nutella. But you don’t have to miss out on the so-good texture with Barney Butter Almond Butter.
“This brand spreads like a creamy, smooth, traditional peanut butter,” says the Test Kitchen’s Catherine Ward. “I think anyone with a peanut allergy would find this to be a good swap.”
This lush consistency makes Barney Butter a spread to crave—as does the flavor. It’s not as almond-forward as other brands, but it’s still nutty. It’s precisely what you want when making a quick sandwich for work or topping an English muffin in the morning.
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If you’re looking to cut down on sugar or just don’t want any extra sweetness in your jar, go for Justin’s Classic Almond Butter.
Of course, without sugar or honey to sweeten this spread, Justin’s may not have appeal for kiddos, however, it does hit the marks for our Test Kitchen team. “The almond flavor really shines in this one,” explains Mark. “And there’s a toastiness here that I really dig.”
Yes, Justin’s almond butter requires a quick stir before serving, but the resulting texture is smooth with a few crunchy tidbits. This blend would be satisfying for fans of crunchy peanut butter. And if you’re thinking of making the switch.
P.S. For more Justin’s, check out our peanut butter cup taste test. Spoiler: Justin’s was a favorite!
For this taste test, our team added 10 different brands to their baskets. They included generic options, familiar names and some lesser-known varieties. Each almond butter was sampled by our squad of experts—and the identities of each were kept a secret until tasting was complete.
The nut butters were judged according to these standard testing categories:
Here are our test results in a nutshell:
Get the full details on our picks, and which are best for you, below.
Our Test Kitchen is constantly testing food, kitchen gadgets and cleaning gear looking for brands that deserve the right to be called Test Kitchen-Preferred.
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