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Top Kid-Approved Peanut Butter Alternatives for School

by Laura Fuentes

April 26, 2019
updated Jul 10, 2023

All the articles & recipes on this website have been created through real-life testing and experience (no ai) since 2010. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

We spread it onto sandwiches, mix it into recipes, and eat it by the spoonful, but for anyone who has a nut allergy or parents with kids in a nut-free school, peanut butter, and nut butter can be a problem.

Below, you’ll learn the top peanut butter alternatives that passed the test and became kid approved!

collage of peanut butter alternatives

What is the Closest Non-Nut Butter to Peanut Butter?

Most kids agree that soy butter tastes the closest to peanut butter and don’t mind the swap in their sandwiches, toasts, and treats. It’s perfect for lunches because it spreads smoothly on sandwiches, can be sealed in a DIY uncrustable, and holds no-bake treats like energy bites very well!

Best Nut-free Peanut Butter Alternatives:

Now, we’re at the most important part of the whole post. The review! I bet you are wondering “how do they taste?”, “where can I get them?”

I’ve got all the answers right below, so let’s begin:

small container of wowbutter soy butter
Top Pick: Soy Butter
The #1 ranked PB alternative is easy to find and is kid approved!
Get it here
small container of nut-free sunflower butter
Soy Alternative: Sunflower Seed Butter
This seed butter is a terrific performer for kids who can't have soy products!
Get it here
small container of chickpea butter
Extra Protein: Chickpea butter
This spreadable option is made with chickpeas and sunflower seeds and has 5g of protein per tablespoon!
Get it here
container of five seed butter
Most Nutritious: 5 seed butter
A combination of sesame, flax, pumpkin, chia, and sunflower seeds, this option packs loads of nutrition per serving.
Get it here
small container of nut-free granola butter
Made with Oats: Granola butter
This is both a soy and seed-free option and tastes just like granola and spreads great!
Get it here
small container of biscoff spread
A Treat: Biscoff Spread
This original cookie spread is great on toast, sandwiches and more. Kids love it but it's not the healthiest option.
Get it here
small glass container of sesame butter
Best on Toast: Sesame butter
Made with roasted sesame seeds, it's a bit milder than traditional tahini. The least kid-favorite, but it's an option.
Get it here

Peanut Butter Alternatives for School

Sunflower butter is the most popular peanut butter alternative for school lunches because it spreads easily, has milder taste kids enjoy, and is available at most local grocery stores.

Whether you use it to make a quick peanut butter sandwich, pack it in a bento lunch to dip apples, or for a snack, ultimately, the best option is one your child enjoys.

Nut Butter Substitutions Video

Watch the video to see why these made my choice for the top peanut butter alternatives!

Peanut Butter Alternatives Using Tree Nuts 

Other peanut butter alternatives that are peanut free but are made with tree nuts include almond butter, cashew butter, walnut butter, and pecan butter.

Top tree-nut butters to try:

  • Nut-zo butters: made tree nuts and seeds they are super nutritious and delicious.
  • Almond butter: few can resist it’s delicious taste and if you love it, buy it big!
  • Cashew butter: smooth taste, pairs great with everything, and tastes luxurious.
by Laura Fuentes
onApril 26, 2019

If you enjoyed the article, please share it with others. Thank you!

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Myrna Smith

    August 10, 2021 at 2:38 am

    I really like your review. For my child, texture is as much of importance as flavor. Your presentation was helpful. Thanks for doing it.
    Now that Soy is frowned upon by many nutritionist, it’s not so easily accessible as it once was. My son has Milk AND Nut allergies, so the trendy Cashew & Almond milk alternatives are not an option for him. I’d really like to find a soy whipping cream or ready-made whipped cream, just something that’s neither nut or milk based. Any ideas?
    Thanks,

    Reply
    • MOMables-Laura

      August 25, 2021 at 1:13 pm

      Possibly soy whipped cream or coconut whipped cream?

      Reply
    • Huong Nguyen

      March 05, 2022 at 6:39 pm

      reddiwhip makes a vegan whipped cream made from coconut !!

      Reply
      • Christina

        March 25, 2022 at 3:56 pm

        It’s really good too!

        Reply
  2. tara

    February 14, 2021 at 8:30 pm

    sunbutter is gross. is wow butter that much better?? i miss PB

    Reply
    • MOMables-Laura

      February 19, 2021 at 1:17 pm

      My family and others that have tried it are pleasantly impressed with WOW butter. It’s not exactly like peanut butter but a similar taste and texture.

      Reply
    • Lori

      May 11, 2021 at 5:00 pm

      I enjoy wow butter it what we use as our house is peanut free now. I have baked with it as a peanut butter substitute also.

      Reply
    • Sandy Buchart

      December 13, 2021 at 9:23 pm

      I missed Pb for many years and then I found wow butter ! It tastes so much like Pb that I eat my first jar by the spoon ful try it you will like it !

      Reply
  3. WINKS

    January 25, 2021 at 10:09 am

    Good alternatives for nut allergies but a PEANUT IS NOT A NUT. It is a LEGUME. You can have an allergy to peanuts but not be allergic to nuts. I did not develop a peanut allergy until I was in my 50’s but eat nuts almost daily. Putting peanuts in the nut catergory is misleading.

    Reply
    • MOMables-Laura

      January 25, 2021 at 2:49 pm

      Hi Winks, I realize peanuts are a legume but most people reading this post, are looking for peanut butter alternatives for basic lunch recipes, therefore tagging it in the nut category makes it easier for them to find.

      Reply
  4. Judith Parker

    September 17, 2020 at 4:23 pm

    I mix Wow utter and Sun Butter to a consistency and taste that’s not as good as my beloved Jiff, but closer than anything else I’ve tried.

    Reply
    • MOMables - Laura

      September 22, 2020 at 9:13 pm

      Brilliant mix!

      Reply
  5. Jenna

    February 13, 2020 at 8:20 am

    I bought the granola butter and the seed butter and they were great! Thanks for the recommendation!

    Reply
    • MOMables - Laura

      February 13, 2020 at 1:58 pm

      The sesame seed butter way my favorite. So glad you liked them!

      Reply

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