20 Best Peanut Butter Snacks, Ranked
Peanut butter lovers unite; this piece is for you.
Maybe you spent a childhood eating the same PB&Js every day: a peanut butter (always creamy, usually JIF) and jelly (never jam, usually strawberry) sandwich on white bread with some milk. Then you'd go along your merry way to play in the backyard or those rusty schoolyard playgrounds and live to eat another sandwich another day.
If, after this sort of intense indoctrination, your love of peanut butter wasn't ruined but rather heightened, you've now grown up at least a little and discovered a whole new world of ways to enjoy your favorite food. There's crunchy peanut butter! There are fancy jams with real fruit and stuff! There's whole-grain bread or even sourdough toast! And don't even get started on all the peanut butter flavored snacks that go on beyond sandwiches.
Or maybe do get started on those snacks, and the sooner, the better. Peanut butter can lend its savory, nutty, satisfying taste and ethereal texture to so many other foods. Just think of peanut butter cookies (but don't think of peanut butter and pickles, please.) Also, if chefs are clever enough, they find ways to make peanut butter swirl, spread, and slather it onto other foods to create a snack that's the perfect pairing and an ingredient greater than the sum of its parts. Just think of basic vanilla or chocolate ice cream but with peanut butter ripples! The list is just getting started. Find your peanut butter partner below.
20. Peanut Butter Cookie Larabar
Larabars are an astounding achievement in food science. The unassuming snack bars use 100% real ingredients and as few ingredients as possible. If you go to their website, you can click "Our Food Values" and find products that fall under the umbrellas of dairy-free, non-GMO, kosher, and vegan, including a whole tab for Fair Trade Certified Chocolate. They believe in "Food Made From Food," and that's an idea the nation is gradually learning to get behind.
Now back to the star of the show, peanut butter. Larabar's Peanut Butter Cookie flavor is one of the top picks, especially for those looking for that extra-satisfying nutrition. Now, recall that mission to use as few ingredients as possible. This bar uses a mere three, and one of them is salt (sea salt, by the way). The other two are dates; for nutrients, sweetness, and texture; and peanut butter, because why else are you here? You can also try Peanut Butter and Jelly or Peanut Butter Banana. But if you're looking for something irresistible, try the delicious Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. Can't go wrong with that, right?
19. Nature Valley Peanut Butter Biscuit Sandwiches
Nature Valley is one of the leading brands of granola-based products. In fact, they literally created the first granola bar ever, and the world has never looked back. Their Peanut Butter Biscuit Sandwiches are a crunchy delight, almost like a sandwich cookie but much less sweet. The biscuit part (which means "cookie" in British English) is made with whole-grain oats, so they're hearty, nutritious, and reminiscent of a classic oatmeal cookie. Alright, alright, you get the cookie comparison, but it was definitely worth stressing that selling point.
These snacks have a nice little bit of protein and fiber, which keep you full longer. There are also two biscuits to a pack, so you can have one and save the other for later. But that idea never really works out, does it? Not when the creamy peanut butter layer always convinces you to come back for seconds.
18. Peanut Butter Clif Bar
Clif Bar and Company has a remarkable mission statement. They aim to "run a different kind of company: The kind of place we'd want to work, that makes the kind of food we'd like to eat, and that strives for a healthier, more sustainable world — the kind of world we'd like to pass on to our children." And while some may think of sleep-deprived college students desperately eating one of these bars in the library at 3 a.m., Clif bars have to be some of the tastiest ways to stay energized.
There are lots of delicious, fueling flavors to choose from. But scroll past the Cool Mint Chocolate and the Cappuccino Flavor Minis to find a collection of Nut Butter Filled Bars. Then scroll through those options until you land upon the pure brilliance that is a hearty peanut butter granola bar stuffed with, yes, more peanut butter. It's dense, chewy, savory, and "a peanut butter lover's paradise." If you were to put peanut butter pie in a granola bar form, it would end up tasting something like this.
17. Lance ToastChee Peanut Butter Crackers
Oh wow, remember these? A single glance at Lance peanut butter sandwich crackers (they're so toasty, too!) unlocks a deeply nostalgic sense of memory. Suddenly you're a little kid at school lunchtime, reaching into the lunchbox that mom packed for you. First, you sift through the boring stuff (an apple, celery sticks, and a tiny box of really dry raisins), and then you feel the plastic-y film of a rectangular shape. Score! These are always the snacks you're looking for.
Sandy and crumbly, crisp and, yes, a tad dry, these sandwich crackers are also a tad perfect. Lance also makes cheese-filled sandwiches, fancy-schmancy cream cheese, chive sandwiches, and whole-wheat varieties that you may have had if your mom was concerned about stuff like that. But for peanut butter lovers, this is where it's at. Honor your inner child by purchasing a package of these and watch your grown-up sad desk lunches turn a whole lot more playful.
16. Hu Kitchen Grain-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
This one's for the dietary-restricted individuals reading this list. Hu Kitchen makes incredible products all designed for inclusivity, including chocolate, crackers, and their amazing Grain-Free Peanut Butter Cookies. The co-founders were fed up with food that didn't meet their high standards, so they made their own. They studied the gut-brain connection and discovered some great results from using simpler ingredients: You know, those that don't make you squint in confusion when you look at the label.
Of course, the chocolate bars are incredible because how could chocolate bars made with this level of care not be incredible? But the real steal over here is the cookies. Just about anyone can eat these because they have no gluten, no added cane or refined sugar, no dairy, no palm oil, and no grains of any sort. With all of this nothing, where's that somethin'-somethin'? Oh, don't worry, it's there in the dates, coconut oil, and, duh, the peanut butter.
15. Skippy P.B. Bites
How does a huge, well-established company like Skippy get creative and shake up their peanut butter game? Enter the P.B. Bites. These smile-worthy and wholly clever poppers are shaking up the game. The label says that they have a "peanut butter flavored center with peanut butter coating," but that's a little vague, isn't it? Let's crack this (nut)case wide open.
Both elements of this all-in-one snack are all about the peanut butter. The interior is the creamy, lightly sweet, nostalgic spread one can expect from Skippy. The exterior is an almost candy-like shell, still smooth and silky but just solid enough to provide a protective seal. It's peanut butter two ways! The little cartons can sit in your car's cup holder, desk, or nightstand. These little bites are also an excellent snack for kids, seeing as they're neater than the messier and stickier sandwiches while being fun and interactive. Plus, they add some much-needed protein.
14. Quinn's Peanut Butter Pretzel Nuggets
Peanut butter stuffed pretzels are ingenious! The brand Quinn was founded by a mom who wanted to do right by her new baby son, named Quinn, by nourishing him with chemical-free foods. While you can find and purchase generic peanut butter pretzels all over the place, most will have ingredients you can't identify or even pronounce, and also, most will be underwhelming.
Quinn's Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets can be ordered online or found in some grocery stores, and they're worth the hunt. If you go down this sweet and salty rabbit hole, your taste buds will be a wonderland of complementary flavors. But perhaps even better than the toasty pretzels paired with the savory, nutty peanut butter is the textural contrast in this snack. Bite into one of these and you get a satisfying crunch (a double crunch thanks to the chips of sea salt dappling the pretzel) before sinking into the creamy, smooth, almost melty peanut butter interior. There's a lot going on in such a little nugget!
13. KIND Peanut Butter Granola Whole Grain Clusters
From its granola bars to a new line of frozen treat bars, pints, and smoothie bowls, KIND makes some delicious and nutritious products. But before going too far into the newfangled ways to eat with plenty of kindness, this list must sing the praises of the humble granola. Yes, not even granola bars, just plain old granola.
KIND's peanut butter granola packs a nutty flavor punch and does not dilute that flavor with other mix-ins. Of course, chocolate chips, dried fruit, and nuts are all delicious ways to spice up another manic Monday morning breakfast; but if peanut butter is your sweet spot, this is peanut buttery to the max. Deeply satisfying, these clusters contain a solid 10 grams of protein per serving delivered in the form of hearty whole grains. This snack not only fills the void left by a lack of peanut butter but provides high-quality energy to carry you over to the next meal (which may or may not include another handful of this granola).
12. Justin's Super Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
These are super: as in Super Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups by one of the most respected high-quality peanut butter brands in the industry. Justin's is a company with a charismatic founder, charming story, and commendable mission. The founder, Justin himself of course, started making his own nut butters armed with a food processor in his kitchen, and the company still advertises in his signature first-person voice. And what is that mission? "Why not?!" That spark of curiosity disrupted the food industry and made a big splash.
Now, these fantastic nut butters give the bigger brands a run for their money. While the Coconut Almond Butter and Honey Almond Butter Protein Bar are worth a try, nothing beats peanut butter. Justin's Classic Peanut Butter serves as the core of a snack that's almost too good to be true: decadent slabs of peanut butter encased in rich dark chocolate. For an upscale sweet snack that still incorporates plainspoken ingredients, this one's hard to beat.
11. Magic Spoon Peanut Butter Cereal
Cereal can go in so many amazing directions, and this is one of the most exciting, almost futuristic, directions: a peanut butter protein punch. Grab yourself a Magic Spoon, or at least the biggest spoon in your utensil drawer, because this cereal is a big deal. The company's products aren't likely to be found on your local grocery store's shelves, but they're ready and waiting to ship right to your doorstep.
Somehow, Magic Spoon cereals taste like your childhood but incorporate 13-14 grams of protein per serving with little carbs and zero sugars and grains. Still can't believe that it can possibly taste good? Just see the 100% Happiness Guarantee or read the countless positive reviews. Olympian Priscilla Frederick-Loomis reports, "when they said 'breakfast of champions' they meant Magic Spoon," so there's your epic endorsement. The peanut butter flavor is obviously the best choice, but all of Magic Spoon's flavors are top-notch.
10. DŌ's Nuts for Nuts Cookie Dough
DŌ's Nuts for Nuts cookie dough is a unicorn. Well, it's a unicorn that stumbled into a forest where peanuts grow on trees and the lakes are pools of creamy peanut butter. What a wonderful world. The unicorn part is the whole edible cookie dough idea. Okay, all cookie dough is edible, but is it safe or recommended to consume? No, and not just due to the raw eggs, but the raw, untreated flour. Still, it tastes so good that many go ahead and do it anyway. How about next time you want to eat cookie dough, you DŌ this instead?
The DŌ flagship store in New York City is a great place to stop by when exploring the Big Apple, but for those who don't live there and can't pay a visit, luckily, DŌ also ships nationwide. In true New York style, they freshen up the flavors with the seasons and keep customers on their toes. But if there's a particular inspiration that strikes and you don't see it (though how could it get better than this smooth and creamy peanut butter base, chunks of Reese's Cups, and crunchy Reese's Pieces?), you can even submit a flavor idea!
9. Barbara's Peanut Butter Puffins Cereal
As previously established, breakfast cereal is flourishing. There are sugary-sweet options that are really dessert shamelessly masquerading as breakfast; there are wholesome, hearty, heart-healthy ones made with bran or other grains that you've never even heard of; there are standby classics that reel in fresh customers by introducing ridiculous flavor concepts; and then there are Peanut Butter Puffins!
Just look at those happy birds. As a company, Barbara's knows what it's doing, both in the marketing department and in the recipe development department, because these puffs are as delicious as they are cute. With joyful invitations like "Happy is the new healthy" and a quiz to test your puffin knowledge, there's nothing not to love. The cereal is light and flaky, a little pillow of nut butter goodness that gradually softens as milk seeps into its ridges. It leaves some truly delectable milk, by the way.
8. Funky Chunky Peanut Butter Cup Popcorn
Sweet and salty is one of the best taste sensations available to human beings at this moment in time. The company called Funky Chunky naturally showcases that fact with its line of artisan-made, fantastically-flavored popcorn. It's perfect for gifting to anyone in your life who needs a good treat. From cute little canisters of chocolate pretzels to gift boxes of all the best varieties — it's always a good time at Funky Chunky.
For those looking for a balance of salt with a generous dose of sweetness, Peanut Butter Cup Popcorn was designed for you. This isn't just chocolate and peanut butter-flavored popcorn. It also includes caramel corn, peanut butter cups, peanuts, and two flavors of drizzles: caramel and triple-chocolate (dark, milk, and white). While popcorn is meant for sharing, it will be really, really hard to share this popcorn. You'd better get your family and friends one of those gift boxes or tins, but get a secret side order of this one just for yourself.
7. Trader Joe's Bamba Peanut Snacks
Is that a bowl of white potatoes, you ask? No, it's a bowl of Trader Joe's Bamba Peanut Snacks! Maybe you don't know what they are, but you absolutely should. Everyone gather around because these are going to be your new favorite snack. Unless you're allergic, in which case, sincerest apologies, but do not gather around.
Do you love the texture and utter joy of Cheetos? Do you even love the powdery residue they leave behind? Do you ever wish there were Cheetos in, um, peanut butter flavor? That's a Bamba right there. They have only four ingredients: corn grits, peanut paste, palm oil, and salt. The corn gets popped like the movie-theater snack, which gives these nuggets their distinctive feathery-light texture. Instead of weird dusty cheese-like stuff, though, how about peanut-flavored dust? Peanut butter lover, take these to your next movie night; both popcorn and Cheetos will just seem corny in comparison.
6. Chobani Flip Peanut Butter Dream Greek Yogurt
Chobani makes lots and lots of delicious Greek yogurt and other dynamic products. They now offer different varieties of milk, coffee creamers, coffees, and even fermented plant-based drinks. Their mission is "Making Good Food For All," and the recently developed nondairy, plant-based, and all-natural ingredient-based options really do provide something for everyone. One of the best, most delicious, and downright convenient ways to get all that nutrient-dense Greek yogurt goodness is to grab a Flip.
These clever snacks have two compartments in each cup. The first contains a flavored, signature Greek yogurt, and the second is filled with a sort of granola that incorporates complementary mix-ins. You can get a coconut-flavored yogurt and enjoy it with honey-roasted almonds, coconut flakes, and chocolate chips, or find your bliss with cream cheese-flavored yogurt plus red velvet cake crunch, chocolate cookies, and frosted cake pieces. But for the readers of this list, Chobani's Peanut Butter Dream is top of the line with milk chocolate chips, honey roasted peanuts, and peanut butter clusters alongside vanilla Greek yogurt. Peanut Butter Cup is another delicious option, with peanut butter-flavored yogurt, peanut butter cups, fudge-coated peanuts, and peanut butter clusters. This certainly isn't your grandma's basic vanilla yogurt.
5. Rollin' n' Bowlin' Peanut Butter Dates
Medjool dates stuffed with peanut butter? Sounds pretty luxurious, but Rollin' n' Bowlin' got its start in a very down-to-earth way. Two Texas Christian University students (who somehow weren't busy enough?) realized that their locale of Fort Worth, TX wasn't satisfying their craving for more wholesome foods (no one's knocking Tex-Mex, though, this list must make that very clear. Respect the Tex-Mex). Before transitioning to a successful brick-and-mortar store, the company started as a food truck. Then, adjusting to the changing times and increased demand, they began to ship.
Now you can get these decadent Peanut Butter Dates delivered straight to your home and enjoy them as soon as possible. A box contains eight packs with three dates per pack, so they'll last you at least a little longer than they would if you could just grab them out of a single bag. They're deeply satisfying, rich, and still majorly nutritious.
4. BNutty Gourmet Classic Flavors 3-Pack
BNutty has the right idea. Trust two busy soccer moms to come up with a snack that not only their kids would crave but they themselves would enjoy after a long day shuffling kids around. The website kindly provides recipes, various sizes of jars, multiple collections to choose from, and even subscription boxes. You'll sign up for that last one in a flash after you try a sample, and the Classic Flavors 3-Pack is a great way to start.
It comes with three 12-ounce jars of gourmet peanut butter made with the best honey roasted peanuts. Each jar has a different flavor profile: Irresistible Pretzel, Totally Toffee, and Blissful Blueberry. The pretzel one becomes "irresistible" thanks to the white chocolate and buttery pretzel bits. The toffee variety also swirls in milk chocolate and crunchy almonds. Best of all, though, might be that blueberry flavor because it's got the peanut butter and jam part down with a sophisticated berry twist. If you want to level up your peanut butter game, be careful — this is a slippery slope.
3. Figgy Chai Peanut Butter Bar
Figgy Chai Peanut Butter Bar. What a delightful set of words. First of all, figs are some of the most underrated and divine fruits ever. There's nothing like biting into a juicy fresh fig in the summertime, and they are naturally candy-like with a sun-ripened sweetness. If your only association with figs came long ago when rebelling against bland, fake-dessert Fig Newtons, you're in for a delicious surprise. Now, if you're someone who already respected the mighty fig and even enjoyed a Fig Newton every so often, you're probably pretty darn excited about pairing it with peanut butter.
Big Spoon Roasters makes handcrafted nut butters and bars all from scratch with high-quality and locally-sourced ingredients. They're curious and creative, with a journal page on their website that houses useful information like, "Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?" which, being the peanut butter nut that you are, might be of service. Obviously, these bars are portable gold, combining sweet figs, gourmet peanut butter, gluten-free whole grains, and, oh yes, chai.
2. Peanut Butter Ritz Bits
Ritz Crackers are a classic snack for a very good reason. Crispy, flaky, buttery, with a light crunch and a touch of subtle sweetness yet savory enough to hold up to your favorite cheese or charcuterie — it almost sounds like a croissant, doesn't it? But no, it's just a humble, golden, all-terrain cracker that also happens to pair with peanut butter in perfect harmony. If you're someone who spent way too much precious time spreading peanut butter over these original crackers (and needing to wash a knife), then Ritz Bits is what you've been looking for.
Ritz has no shortage of products to discover, and one of the longer-established of these treats is the Ritz Bits. It's quite literally mini, a sandwich made from two tiny crackers and a layer of real creamy peanut butter. Infinitely munchable, these go great with a glass of ice-cold milk. And if you want to get really adventurous, try pouring a flurry of these into a bowl of milk like a savory cereal. Or carefully pull them apart and break out the old butter knife so that you can spread a spot of your favorite jam, and then layer it all back up. A teeny-tiny peanut butter and jelly sandwich! No matter how you eat them, Ritz Bits is delightful.
1. Reese's Cups
How could this list leave out Reese's? These classic milk chocolate peanut butter cups are some of the best snacks, or maybe desserts, or maybe just plain old foods in existence. Do you really need a primer? It's doubtful, but here goes nothing. It's a rich, dense, sweet peanut butter patty encased in a smooth milk chocolate coating. The best part might actually be those little scalloped ridges that create a textural contrast, a nice bite, and just a touch of fanciness.
Everyone has their favorite way to eat a Reese's. You can eat them at room temperature by popping them straight out of the packet into your mouth. You can stick them in the fridge and have them chilled, making those ridges even crisper. If you can manage to wait that long, you can even freeze them or crumble them up on ice cream. Why are you listening to any of this, though, honestly? No doubt, this list has made you hungry — just go eat a Reese's however you like.