If you like peanut butter but can’t eat nuts anymore, you might want to try apple butter. It’s not quite the same, but it can be a suitable replacement in some cases.
However, you might want to consider the best apple butter brands. That way you don’t waste your money on a product you don’t like.
What Are the Best Apple Butter Brands?
Some of the best apple butter brands include Musselman’s, Smucker’s, and Louisburg Cider Mill. Eden Foods and Tennessee’s Best also make good apple butters. Be sure to consider where to buy the product and what it will cost.
You might also want to compare apple butter to applesauce. Both are similar but serve very different purposes.
Best Apple Butter Brands
Apple butter may not be the most popular product, but countless brands make it. That can make it difficult to choose a good brand if you want to test them out.
Luckily, some brands come out on top when it comes to quality and other factors. If you’re new to apple butter, consider the following brands.
Musselman
Musselman’s Apple Butter is an excellent choice. You can order it online, and you might be able to find it at your local grocery store, depending on where you shop. The only ingredients are apples, cinnamon and cloves.
It has a fairly traditional flavor, so it’s a great first apple butter to try. However, some people find the spices overpowering. Also, you must eat or store it soon after opening as it contains no preservatives.
smuggler
Smucker’s Apple Butter is another excellent choice. The brand is known for many different spreads, so you can find them in many places. You have the choice between apple butter and spiced apple butter.
The brand also makes jars in different sizes, so you can get exactly what you need. They also sell disposable packs that you might find at a breakfast restaurant. Be sure to try this version, especially if you like Smucker’s products.
Cider Mill Louisburg
Just outside of Kansas City, Louisburg Cider Mill makes an amazing apple butter. They use apples they grow on site so you get a rich apple flavor. The butter also tastes a bit tart like an apple and goes well with many breads and other dishes.
You can buy the apple butter at the mill if you come by in person. However, they also sell it online and can ship it to you. Another option is to search for other cider mills in your area and you can buy their apple butter.
Eden foods
Eden Foods has an organic apple butter and the only ingredients are apples and apple juice concentrate. That means you don’t have to worry about corn syrup or anything else. However, it does not contain any preservatives, so you need to keep it safe.
The apple butter has a tangy taste and you can use it with many other foods. It’s low-calorie, gluten-free, vegan, and kosher. That makes it a fantastic choice for almost anyone wanting to try apple butter.
Tennessee’s best
Tennessee’s Best Apple Butter is a bit more expensive than its competitors. However, you can justify that price because it comes in a larger jar. It also has a few more ingredients, like spices and sugar.
However, this can make it taste different, so you might prefer it to other brands. There are still no preservatives, which is nice. Of course, you should store the apple butter in the fridge to keep it fresh.
Apple butter vs. applesauce
Apple butter and applesauce start out in a similar way. A company must grind, puree, or chop the apples it wants to use in either product. Then they cook the apples to make them into apple butter or applesauce.
However, apple butter requires a longer cooking time. This gives you a dark brown product that is easy to spread on pancakes or toast. Applesauce doesn’t take as long, so it’s lighter in color and can be more runny.
Is apple butter vegan?
Most apple butters are vegan, especially since many brands only use apples to make them. Even the brands that contain spices or sugar should still be vegan.
However, some brands may use other ingredients, including dairy. None of the brands on this list use animal products.
However, you should check the label of any brand you want to try. That way you can make sure it’s vegan or otherwise meets your dietary needs.
Can apple butter replace nut butter?
You can use apple butter to replace nut butter in some situations. This is especially true if you want to spread something on your toast or pancakes. Maybe you can even make an apple and butter sandwich.
Apple butter is also a great addition to a charcuterie board and other dishes. However, it probably won’t be a perfect replacement. Consistency may be slightly different and may not pair as well with your favorite jelly.
Still, you can try it in some of your favorite dishes or recipes. Then you can enjoy food even if you have a nut allergy.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Apple Butter?
Many local grocery stores sell apple butter. You’ll find it around the nut butters or the jellies or jams. Exact choices vary from store to store, so you can check different grocery stores in your area.
If you can’t find apple butter or can’t find the right brand, you can order it online. Then the company ships the apple butter to your door.
Final Thoughts
Some of the best brands of apple butter are Musselman’s, Smucker’s, and Eden Foods. Louisburg Cider Mill and other local cider mills also make great apple butter. Be sure to consider how the product differs from applesauce and how you can use it instead of nutsauce when preparing your next dish.
