Flavor of the week: Almond Butter, peanut butter’s premium cousin

Almond butter, which like peanut butter and other nut butters is simply the nut ground into a paste, sometimes with sweeteners and stabilizers, is trending on menus, appearing on 27% more of them now than four years ago.

Its more subtle flavor gives it broad appeal to consumers, retailers and restaurateurs alike as it can blend seamlessly into smoothies and other dishes traditionally made with peanut butter. Though pricier than peanut butter, it is a great alternative for people with peanut allergies but not tree nut allergies.

Popular with vegan consumers, almond butter provides protein, heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and creaminess to a variety of dishes. It can also bring a savory balance to some sweeter items.

Market research firm Datassential reports that 80% of the population is familiar with almond butter, but only 48% of consumers have tried it.

Click through the gallery to learn more about this week’s Flavor of the Week and see how one restaurant is using it on its menu.