10 Surprising Uses of Nut Butters Beyond Spreading on Bread

Love nut butter but tired of just spreading it on toast? You’re not alone. Whether it’s creamy peanut butter, earthy almond butter, or indulgent pistachio butter, these pantry staples have a lot more to offer. In fact, with a little creativity, nut butters can transform your meals and snacks in some unexpectedly delicious ways.

Here are 10 fun, flavorful, and versatile nut butter uses, plus tips and recipes to get you started.

1. Smoothies That Stick With You 🥤

Most smoothies are forgettable.

Gone in a gulp. Blood sugar rises, crashes, and we’re hungry again.

But blend in a tablespoon of peanut butter or almond butter… and everything changes.

It thickens. It fuels. It satisfies.

Recipe:

• 1 medium frozen banana (120g)
• 1 tbsp almond butter (16g)
• 1/2 cup frozen berries (75g)
• 1/2 cup rolled oats (40g)
• 1 cup unsweetened oat milk (240ml)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Blend until smooth. Thick enough to eat with a spoon. Or a straw that works really hard.

2. Dressings That Make a Salad Worth Eating 🥗

Salad isn’t boring. Bad dressing is.

Recipe:

• 1 tbsp almond or cashew butter (16g)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce (15ml)
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (15ml)
• 1 tsp honey or maple syrup (5ml)
• 1 tbsp water (15ml, adjust for consistency)

Whisk until smooth. Pour over roasted veggies, salad, or cold noodles.

Now you’ve got something worthy of your greens.

Pro tip:

Add warm water slowly to adjust the consistency for dips, dressings, or noodle sauces.

3. No-Bake Energy Balls ⚡️

Energy bites. Bliss balls. Granola chunks. Laddoos. Call them what you like.

Just don’t forget the nut butter.

It binds. It fuels. It adds texture and purpose.

Recipe:

• 1 cup rolled oats (90g)
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (120g)
• 1/4 cup honey (60ml)
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseed (30g)
• 1/4 cup mini dark chocolate chips (40g)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Mix well. Roll into 1-inch balls. Chill for 20 minutes. Store in the fridge. Eat when life gets busy.

Roll. Chill. Eat when motivation dips.

Pro Tip: 

For a protein-packed version, blend in a scoop of protein powder and use crunchy peanut butter for added texture.

4. Almond Butter Banana Bread 🍌🍞

Bake something that fuels, not just fills.

Nut butters can replace dairy, add richness, and sneak protein into your brownies, muffins, and banana bread.

Recipe:

• 2 ripe bananas (200g mashed)
• 1/3 cup almond butter (80g)
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup honey or jaggery syrup (60ml)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup oat flour (100g)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 35–40 mins. Let it cool. Slice. Share—or don’t.

Pro tip:

Use almond butter in chocolate chip cookies for a deeper, toastier flavor.

5. Nut Butter Stir-Fry Sauce 🍝

Take your stir-fry from rushed to restaurant-level.

Recipe (serves 2-3):

• 2 tbsp peanut butter (32g)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce (15ml)
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar or lime juice (15ml)
• 1 tsp sesame oil (5ml)
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1-2 tbsp warm water to loosen

Stir into sautéed veggies, tofu or noodles. Your Tuesday night just got upgraded.

Pro Tip: 

Cashew butter has a creamier, more neutral profile-great for silky stir-fry sauces or creamy curry bases.

6. Banana-Hazelnut Ice Cream (No Machine Needed) 🍦

Ice cream doesn’t have to be dairy. And dessert doesn’t have to be a cheat.

Recipe:

• 2 frozen bananas (240g)
• 2 tbsp hazelnut butter (32g)
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Blend in a food processor until creamy. Serve immediately or freeze for 30 minutes for a firmer texture.

Suddenly, you’ve got something cold, creamy, and kind to your body.

Pro tip: 

Add cacao nibs, a pinch of sea salt, and a little vanilla. 

7. Nut Butter Swirl Pancakes 🥞

Perfect for slow mornings.

Recipe:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour (120g)
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk (180ml)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Pinch of salt

The swirl:

Melt 2 tbsp peanut butter (32g) until pourable. Once the pancakes hit the pan, drizzle the nut butter in a spiral before flipping.

What happens next?

It caramelizes into golden, nutty ribbons - soft inside, crisp at the edges.

You don’t need more recipes.

You need more ritual.

8. Almond Butter Oatmeal (“Proats”) 🥣

Oats are a blank canvas. Nut butter is the paint.

Add peanut butter, almond butter, even pistachio butter into your morning bowl. It adds flavor, fat, and fullness.

Recipe:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats (40g)
• 1 cup milk or water (240ml)
• 1 tbsp almond butter (16g)
• 1/2 banana (sliced)
• 1 tsp chia seeds (optional)
• Cinnamon to taste

How to:

Cook oats as usual. Stir in almond butter while warm, watch it melt into silk.

Top with banana, a dusting of cinnamon, and feel fueled for hours.

9. Stuffed Dates: The Sweet Upgrade 

Looks fancy. Takes 2 minutes.

Dates are nature’s caramel.

Fill them with nut butter and you’ve got a snack that feels like dessert.

Best combos:

• Peanut butter + dark chocolate chips
• Pistachio butter + sea salt
• Hazelnut butter + crushed espresso beans

No bake. No guilt. All joy.

Recipe:

• 6 Medjool dates
• 3 tbsp pistachio or cashew butter (48g total)
• Crushed walnuts, sea salt, or dark chocolate chips (optional)

Slice dates open, remove pits, stuff with nut butter. Top with flair. Serve as dessert or mid-day pick-me-up.

10. For Your Dog 🐕

Sometimes, a spoonful of peanut butter isn’t for you - it’s for your best friend.
Peanut butter is a training hack. For dogs. And humans.
Hide a vitamin in it. Smear it on a lick mat.
Or just reward yourself after finishing that thing you’ve been putting off.

Reminder: Dogs like the natural stuff too - no salt, no sugar, no xylitol.

Simple dog treat recipe:

• 1/2 cup unsweetened peanut butter (120g)
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (120g)

Blend, spoon into silicone molds, and freeze. Makes excellent rewards for dogs and humans alike.

Why This Matters

Nut butter isn’t just food.
It’s fuel. It’s habit-shaping. It’s identity-affirming. ✊
It reminds us that eating well doesn’t have to be boring. That simple, real ingredients can do extraordinary things - if we let them.
So the next time you reach for that jar… don’t settle for a slice of toast.

Elevate it. Play with it. Make it matter.

Beeza Makes It Better 

At Beeza, we don’t just sell nut butters.
We make small-batch, honest jars of potential. Big flavor. No nonsense.
Whether you’re baking, blending, or just spooning straight from the jar - we’ve got something to inspire your next move.

Explore our range of almond, peanut, pistachio, cashew, and hazelnut butters here.

Your creativity deserves the right fuel.