According to the USDA, the average American ate 7.5 pounds of peanuts in 2018. And of the approximate 2.5 million metric tons of peanuts that the United States consumed, 56% of those peanuts came in the form of peanut butter.
Clearly, Americans love peanut butter. It's a childhood favorite that we'll just never get over. What we have gotten sick of, though, are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Our much-loved nut spread is too good for you, white bread! Here are 20 deliciously creative ways to put your favorite peanut butter jar to use.
Coat the bottom of an ice cream cone. The peanut butter creates a salty little seal that will keep any melted ice cream from dripping into your hand, plus it's a divine dessert addition.
Make salad dressing. A smart way to use the bottom of your peanut butter container: Drizzle dressing ingredients (like ginger, sesame oil, sriracha, and lime juice) directly into the jar, add the lid, and shake it up. Zero PB gets wasted, plus you can serve it on salad directly from the jar.
Spread on pancakes, waffles, or crepes. It's less sweet than syrup and packs way more protein. Plus PB won't run or drip, so you can take that waffle to-go.
Use it as a butter substitute. Fun fact: You can add a 50/50 mix of peanut butter and oil for the required butter amount in most dishes and desserts. It'll add a heavy hit of delicious peanut butter flavor to whatever you're baking.
Make dessert pizza. Cover a pizza crust with a thick layer of peanut butter, then add fresh kiwi, berries, bananas, cacao nibs, coconut flakes, extra peanuts, and whatever else you like.
The Genius Trick to Keep Your Peanut Butter From Separating (No Stirring Required)
Make nutter butter s'mores. Spread PB on the sides of graham crackers before adding chocolate and roasted marshmallows. The hot marshmallows will melt the peanut butter...and your soul.
Drizzle it over popcorn. Heat peanut butter with butter, pour over popcorn kernels, and finish with a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and cayenne. For a sweet snack, you can swap the S&P for cinnamon and sugar. Just don't forget the napkins!
Blend into smoothies. Think of it like a drinkable PB & J sandwich. If you're a grape jelly fan, toss in frozen grapes and almond milk. A perfect idea if you're partial to strawberry jam or fresh bananas or apple slices.
Use as a gum remover. Not an edible application, but peanut butter is a hero when it comes to removing gum. If you have gum stuck in your carpet, clothes or furniture, cover it completely with PB. Wait a few minutes for the peanut butter to work its magic.
Add it to hummus. Next time you're making homemade hummus, swap peanut butter for tahini. Spread on toast with sliced apples, bananas, or berries and a dash of cinnamon.
Bake muffins. Peanut butter muffins are easy to throw together in a pinch.
Eat an Elvis burger. This little-known burger hack is shockingly good—just spread PB on your bun instead of (or in addition to) other saucy condiments. If there's bacon on there, too, we promise you won't be mad about it.
Treat yourself to homemade peanut butter cups. Chocolate and peanut butter? Always a perfect combination.
Thicken frosting. Peanut butter icing is perfect on banana bread, scones, or served straight into your mouth on a spoon.
Bake homemade peanut butter cookies. For the most meta dessert, take two and spread PB and your favorite jelly between them. You'll love this six-ingredient recipe.
DIY granola. Rather than shelling out on granola at the grocery store, make your own. You'll save money and get complete control over the ingredients!
Cook Satay skewers. Peanut butter makes for the perfect dipping sauce for chicken skewers, but you can also mix it with garlic, lime, and soy sauce for a mouthwatering marinade.
Add to overnight oats. It'll boost the protein content even more, plus it pairs deliciously with every fruit, spice, or seed you'll be mixing in.
Stir up your own fruit dip. Mix PB with yogurt, cinnamon, and a hint of honey or maple syrup. Dip in apples slices, celery, or spread on toast with banana slices and coconut.
Mix into noodles. Thanks to its salty, nutty flavor and creamy texture, Asian-inspired noodle dishes taste divine with peanut sauce. Best part is that you can serve them hot or cold.
