Is Peanut Butter Vegan? (Ingredients, Best Brands, and Recipe) (2024)

May 28, 2024 (Updated May 31, 2024) By: Michelle Cehn

5 from 6 votes

A distinctly American invention that has sustained generations for over one hundred years, there is nothing on earth quite like peanut butter. High in protein, perfectly suited for satisfying the sweet tooth or blending into spicy, savory sauces, it’s the ultimate pantry staple that never disappoints.

Some might say it was the original meat alternative, developed by John Harvey Kellogg in 1895 for those who couldn’t otherwise chew conventional animal proteins. However, as food technology and manufacturing advances change the products we find on grocery store shelves, the question remains for those trying to keep up: Is peanut butter vegan?

Is Peanut Butter Vegan?

Yes, peanut butter is a vegan’s best friend! At its core, the most basic peanut butter is made from just one ingredient: peanuts. When you blend peanuts they start to turn into a paste and then become peanut butter!

The same goes for other nuts and seeds—they can all be blended into a nut butter. Think: cashew butter, sun butter (made from sunflower seeds), almond butter, and beyond.

Most commercial nut butters have salt and sweeteners added for enhanced flavor, which is typically no problem for vegans. But occasionally you may run into some trouble. It’s possible to find a few peanut butter ingredients that aren’t vegan (such as honey) hidden among the rest.

But on the whole, peanut butter is usually safe, and a great protein-packed option for herbivores. In fact, in some cases like school cafeterias or airport kiosks, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches may be the only choice for plant-based sustenance.

Peanut Butter Ingredients

Beyond whole, roasted peanuts, peanut butter formulas can be basic or extravagant. Here are the main players to expect, and what to look out for.

Peanuts

To be legally called “peanut butter” in the United States, the spread must contain at least 90% peanuts, leaving space for additional flavors, sweeteners, and sometimes preservatives or stabilizers.

Salt

It’s common for most blends to include at least a small pinch of salt, but you can find some salt-free options in health food stores if you’re particularly concerned about sodium.

Honey is one of the most common ingredient issues to look out for. It’s a classic pairing for peanut butter but also a more expensive addition, so it’s typically touted on the front of the label. This is the only common additive that would make peanut butter not vegan.

Sugar may also be used to sweeten peanut butter. Sugar does not include any animal products or byproducts, and is therefore technically vegan! But some sugar is processed with bone char (an animal ingredients), which complicates the issue. If you’re concerned about sugar, read this “Is Sugar Vegan?” article.

Oils

For added smoothness and richness, oils are often added during processing. Commercial brands often opt for hydrogenated vegetable oil as a cheap way to prevent the blend from separating.

What About Palm Oil?

Palm oil presents a complex dilemma for ethical consumers. While palm oil itself is plant-derived and therefore vegan-friendly, its production has been associated with serious environmental concerns, including deforestation, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss, particularly in Southeast Asia.

However, efforts have been made to source sustainable palm oil through initiatives like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which aims to promote responsible palm oil production practices.

The challenge for ethical consumers lies in discerning whether the palm oil used in their peanut butter is certified sustainable, as this can determine whether their choice aligns with not only vegan values, but also broader ethical and environmental values.

What About Sugar—Is It Vegan?

While sugar itself is plant-based, the conventional production of cane sugar has raised concerns about its impact on animals. Large-scale sugar cultivation frequently involves the use of bone char in the refining process, which is derived from animal bones.

This practice has prompted heated discussions among vegans and underscores the broader challenge vegans face in navigating a world where seemingly plant-based products may still harbor hidden connections to animal products or exploitation.

Many those committed to vegan living do consider the source of the sugar used in their favorite products and opt for brands that explicitly use animal-free refining methods or alternatives. And many other vegans do not, and consider all sugar vegan.

This underscores the reality that vegan living, while a powerful commitment to animal welfare, is not always black and white, and individuals strive to make choices that align with their values to the extent possible.

Natural Peanut Butter vs Regular Skippy-Style

Some recipes specifically call for “natural peanut butter,” which begs the question: What is the other stuff, then? Here’s what you need to know, and what to consider for using in recipes.

Conventional (processed) peanut butter is silky-smooth and consistent from the top of the jar to the bottom. Unless otherwise specified, this is usually the best option for baking, since wide variations in oil content can throw off carefully balanced ratios. It’s especially well-suited for frostings, fillings, and custards.

Natural peanut butter has no additives or stabilizers, which means the solids and oils will separate as it sits on the shelf. As a result, you’ll need to stir it well before each use. These options often have a more coarse, chunky, or slightly gritty texture, akin to what you can expect from something homemade. This would be a great option for mixing into soups and satay sauces, adding richness and texture.

Powdered peanut butter is another lesser-known variation, created by pressing out most of the natural oils and grinding the peanuts into a fine powder. This process significantly reduces the fat content while retaining the rich peanut flavor. It can be reconstituted with water to create spreadable peanut butter, but it truly shines as a versatile ingredient in smoothies, baked goods, and sauces, providing a boost of flavor without the added fat. Its lightweight and long shelf life make it a convenient choice!

Brands of Vegan Peanut Butter

There are hundreds of peanut butter brands out there, from small batch producers to million-dollar businesses. You could try a different one every day and never run out of options!

Here are just a few of the most common brands you might find in mainstream supermarkets that offer vegan peanut butter options.

• Santa Cruz Organic
• Georgia Grinders
• Once Again
• Justin’s
• Peanut Butter & Co.
• Peter Pan
• Teddy’s
• Crazy Richard’s
• MaraNatha
• Jif
• Skippy
• Smuckers

Many stores also offer fresh peanut butter that’s either made in-store, or by a machined before your eyes (it looks a little like a frozen yogurt machine).

And, you can make your own at home with just one ingredient: nuts! More on that (and a simple peanut butter recipe) below.

A quick note about cost. It may seem crazy to drop nearly $10 on a jar of peanut butter when you can grab a plastic container for $2.99. But from our experience, you are in fact getting what you pay for with peanut butter.

Should I Buy Organic Peanut Butter?

Peanuts are never on the dirty dozen list, but they don’t make the cut for the clean fifteen, either. If you’re concerned about pesticide use, it would be wise to opt for organic whenever possible.

Since it’s a prepared, ready-to-eat product, there’s no option for washing or peeling that might otherwise help reduce exposure.

Other Popular Nut & Seed Butters

Peanuts don’t have a monopoly on the sandwich spread category. In fact, any nut can be made into butter! Whole seeds are welcome to this party too. That includes but isn’t limited to:

• Cashew butter
• Pecan butter
• Pistachio butter
• Macadamia nut butter
• Sunflower seed butter
• Pumpkin seed butter
• Hazelnut butter (try this chocolate hazelnut vegan Nutella recipe—it’s the best!)
• Sunbutter (sunflower seed butter popular among parents, kids, and schools for being nut allergy-friendly)

Is Jif Peanut Butter Vegan?

Yes, Jif peanut butter is vegan, except for the Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Honey.

Is Skippy Peanut Butter Vegan?

Yes, Skippy peanut butter is vegan, except for the Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Spread with Honey and Roasted Honey Nut Creamy Peanut Butter.

Is PB2 Vegan?

Yes! PB2 is fully certified as vegan. They’re also involved in the Vegan Strong organization, supporting vegan body builders and providing education about the vegan movement.

Is Nutter Butter Vegan?

Yes, Nutter Butter cookies are “accidentally” vegan! Some of the ingredients are of questionable quality, but they’re a safe snack to enjoy from an ethical standpoint.

Is Peanut Butter Dairy?

No, peanut butter is completely dairy-free. In some cases, it may be produced in factories that share equipment with dairy-based ingredients, so here’s the possibility of trace cross-contamination, but only in rare instances and only a concern for those with life-threatening allergies.

Is Peanut Butter Vegetarian?

Yes! What’s vegan is automatically vegetarian, so peanut butter easily makes the cut.

Is Peanut Butter Plant-Based?

Yes, peanuts are technically legumes, like chickpeas and other beans, which means that peanut butter is 100% pure plants.

Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?

Yes, dogs love peanut butter! It’s a great treat in moderation, but always look for brands with no artificial sweeteners, since xylitol can be incredibly dangerous for dogs to consume.