Product Review: Kirkland almondbutter
Posted on July 17, 2016 by CruisingCostco
Peanut butter (yes, the first words in a review of almond butter are “peanut butter”!) is great…I have no qualms with the most popular of nut butters (I know, I know, peanuts are technically legumes). However, after years of eating multiple peanut butter sandwiches per week (and sometimes with a very busy graduate school schedule, multiple pb sandwiches per day), I was excited to try the (at that time) new-ish product…almond butter. I first tried it from Trader Joe’s and really enjoyed it. It was a change…as someone who buys the more sugary, less natural Skippy peanut butter versus the healthier all natural variety, the pure almond butter tasted more bitter and “nutty” than what I was used to. So it took a little getting used to, but after a few tries, it was my choice for nut butter (well, until I discovered cashew butter but Costco doesn’t carry that, so we’ll leave that for now…)
After a few Trader Joe’s jars, my parents discovered that Costco sold a bigger jar of MaraNatha almond butter which, if course (hey,it’s Costco) was even a better deal than Trader Joe’s (also a good deal). It was delicious. So I was very disappointed when they discontinued it (disappointed but not surprised because it seems that if I like a Costco product, it is not long before it is off the shelves!) until they replaced it with…Kirkland almond butter.
The Kirkland version is just as good as the other brands, and, at $9.99 for 27 ounces is a great deal. The version is creamy vs. chunky, which I prefer. It is made of 100% roasted almonds, and, naturally tastes like…almonds. The flavor is strong but less so than peanut butter. Because it is all natural, the oil separates on top, so stirring it well is important. I suggest using a knife to stir all the way to the bottom and then to store it upside down so that the oil distributes. Otherwise, the bottom fourth of the jar will be extremely dry. It must also be refrigerated after opening.
I was surprised by how messy this product is…extremely runny. Instead of coming out in neat blobs (hmmm…”neat blobs” sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it?), it will run over the sides. Therefore, it is not the best meal to take on the go…unless you put it in a wrap or pita bread. And even if you eat it at home, you may still want a spoon and plenty of napkins! I especially like it on a warm piece of toast or an English muffin, as the heat makes it even more delicious (albeit more messy). It is also delicious with slices of bananas. I know many people add almond butter to oatmeal or smoothies but I have never tried it.
What are your thoughts about alternative nut butters?
Have you tried this almond butter? Other suggestions for eating it?
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