Crunchy Peanut Butter Bars - Easy No Bake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to get peanut butter runny? ›

When using peanut butter only, the key is heat. Peanut butter is naturally high in fat, but that fat is nearly solid at room temperature. In order to soften it up, you need some heat. In my case, I heated two tablespoons in a heat-proof bowl and then stirred like crazy.

If your peanut butter sauce is too thick to drizzle, simply add water a little bit at a time (no more than a tablespoon at once) and stir to incorporate.

Sunflower seed butter has a similar consistency so works really well as a peanut butter substitute. If you want a closer match to crunchy peanut butter add in some chopped roast sunflower seeds.

Although it has the same consistency as applesauce, peanut butter is denser, so it can make your baked products denser and dry. To avoid this, I suggest using half the amount of the required applesauce in your recipe when substituting it with peanut butter.

Scoop peanut butter into the blender or food processor.

Add two tablespoons of water per tablespoon of peanut butter. For a creamier consistency, you can use milk in place of water. If you're making a savory sauce, you can use the other ingredients, like soy sauce, for example, in place of water.

More ways to thin peanut butter

Simply warm your water, oil, milk, or other liquid and pour it over the butter while whisking it. Add a little liquid at a time and it should reach the right consistency in no time.

You do not have to add anything to thin out peanut butter for a good drizzle. The simplest way to drizzle peanut butter is to first melt it by heating. The heat will thin it out without compromising flavor. Then, spoon it over by holding the spoon straight down and letting the peanut butter fall from the tip.

If you want to THICKEN peanut butter, you need to get rid of water, not add it. Some obvious ways: add a little starch — use a cooked or pure starch (Wondra, potato starch, etc.) add a little gelatin and beat like heck.

Oil: This is optional, but if your peanut butter is too thick, add a teaspoon or two of light-flavored oil (like avocado or peanut oil).

Coconut Butter

Created by grinding the meat of a coconut and combining it with salt, sugar, and other flavor elements, coconut butter is a great peanut butter alternative. Depending on the flavor profile of the added elements, it can create a similar taste and texture to the original.

What is better than peanut butter? ›

In general, almond butter is healthier than most other nut butters because almonds have less saturated fat than other nuts. Instead, they are full of monounsaturated fats, which are tied to reduced heart disease and better blood sugar control.

The grocery store shelves are dominated by three varieties of classic peanut butter: crunchy (chunky) peanut butter, creamy (smooth) peanut butter, and natural (organic) peanut butter.

Common peanut butter substitutes are: almond butter, sunflower butter, cashew butter, tahini, and the many types of mixed/superfood butters available now.

In general, you can substitute Crisco shortening for butter or margarine in equal amounts (1 cup Crisco shortening = 1 cup butter or margarine). Not only does Crisco shortening have 50% less saturated fat than butter and 0g trans fat per serving, it gives you higher, lighter-textured baked goods.

It looks like a nut butter, but its original recipe is only made with four ingredients: sunflower kernels, cane sugar, salt and non-GMO emulsifier for creaminess. SunButter's ingredients are sourced and the product is made in allergen-friendly environments.

Warm water is best because it helps to loosen the nut butter more quickly, and generally equal parts nut butter to liquid is the best ratio. Start with a little less than equal parts warm water to nut butter and add more water as needed, until the sauce is your desired consistency.