I have developed severe allergies to all things peanuts.  I can’t touch them, I can’t smell them.  In fact I have every batch of our goodies tested to make sure that peanuts did not somehow get into or near our products and I don’t release them until I get the test results. I am also allergic to tree nuts.  So I cannot substitute other nut butters for peanut butter.

A few years ago my friend introduced me to sunflower butter.  The first time I smelled and tasted it I was scared.  It smelled too much like peanut butter.  But a while later I gave it a try and found that I really liked it.  It’s a great alternative to peanut and nut butters and it tastes great.  All from sunflowers.  The thing is, that each and every time I have it I always, always, always double check the jar to make sure I did not by accident take peanut butter.  That’s because it still smells like peanut butter to me and has the same texture.

I use sunflower butter to make crunchy chocolate sunflower treats (see my earlier blogs and recipes to see how to make them), I spread it on apples and on celery.  A little bit goes a long way.

If you haven’t given sunflower butter a try it’s worth it.  You can find it at natural food stores and now at many supermarkets.  I’d love to hear if you have a favorite substitute for peanut and nut butters too.