When Dianne Wenz, Veggie Girl herself, contacted me to do a review of Nut Butter Universe, Robin Robertson‘s newest cookbook, I could not say no. Nut butters are probably one of my most favorite ingredients in my kitchen so an entire cookbook revolving around them sounded like a fantastic opportunity.
I’m sure that for most of you, Robin Robertson needs no introduction. She is probably one of the most prolific vegan cookbook authors around. I loved doing a review of her last book, Fresh From The Vegan Slow-Cooker, and still go to that book every time I want to put my slow-cooker to work. Robin’s recipes have never failed me.
When Nut Butter Universe arrived in the mail, I stopped whatever it was that I was doing and sat down to dig in. I must have ear-marked thirty different recipes to try. The book is bursting with recipes putting this wonderful kitchen staple to good use. There are recipes calling for every type of nut butter you can imagine, but don’t be worried about trying to hunt them down in the store- Robin provides and overview on how to make basic nut butters as well as other uses for nuts, like cashew cream or nut-based mayo for example.
Unable to make a decision, I decided to wait until the day I’d set aside for recipe testing to see what I felt like making. That morning, I thumbed through the different recipes I’d bookmarked: Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Almond Butter, Sun Butter Macaroni Pie, Chocolate-Hazelnut Panini Sandwiches, and even Peanut Butter Doggy Treats, just to name a few.
Then one title caught my eye: Nut Butter Fantasy Brownies. With a word like “fantasy” in the title, how could I not make them? Off to the kitchen I went. I got more and more excited as this dish came together. The blend of nut butter (I used a peanut cashew flaxseed butter that I’d made the day before) and banana was divine. I was captivated by the marbled chocolate on the tops of the brownies as I put them in the oven. About 5 minutes before it was to come out of the oven, Sophia, my step-daughter (and maybe the biggest chocoholic in the family), asked “What is that beautiful smell?” I said “They’re dog treats. You won’t want any. Just wait five minutes and you’ll find out!”
Let me start by saying this: These brownies should be illegal. Nothing should taste this good (Does that phrase even make sense?). After they’d cooled and the pictures had been taken, we each tried a piece. To say that we were all “wowed” would be an understatement. The only change I made to the recipe was to decrease the sugar by 1/4 cup and use coconut sugar instead of regular sugar and it was perfectly sweet for us. The recipe also says that gluten-free flour could be used instead of regular flour, so I used gluten-free flour instead and nobody could tell the difference. These babies are so moist and flavorful and the chocolate swirled into the bars is just heavenly. I will for sure be making these again and I can’t wait to dig into some of the other recipes in the book as well!
Another recipe from Nut Butter Universe that I’m dying to try is the Black Bottom Peanut Butter Freezer Pie. I’m waiting for a special occasion when I’ll have plenty of people to share with (in other words, I don’t trust myself to be alone with this pie).
black-bottom peanut butter freezer pie
Ingredients:
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups vegan chocolate cookie crumbs
- 1/4 cup vegan butter, melted
Filling
- 1 quart vegan vanilla ice cream, softened
- 3/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup chopped peanuts
- 1 cup chocolate curls
Directions:
Crust: Lightly coat a 9-inch pie plate with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine the cookie crumbs and the butter until well blended. Transfer to the prepared pan and press the crumb mixture onto the bottom and sides. Set aside.
Filling: In a large bowl, combine the ice cream with the peanut butter, mixing until well blended. Spoon into the prepared crust. Freeze for 4 to 6 hours or overnight.
When ready to serve, let the pie sit at room temperature for 5 minutes. Sprinkle the chopped peanuts in the center of the pie and the chocolate curls along the outer edge.
Serves 8
From Nut Butter Universe by Robin Robertson. ©2013 Robin Robertson. Used by permission from Vegan Heritage Press. Photo by Lori Maffei.
NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED (3/21/13). And very soon, one of you lucky readers will be able to give these recipes a try too! Vegan Heritage Press has been kind enough to offer one copy of Nut Butter Universe to give away to one of my readers. To enter, simply leave a comment telling me what your favorite type of nut butter is (Be sure to note that you did in the entry box below). For additional entries, follow the instructions in the box below.
Disclaimer: I was given this book to review, but the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Photography by Chris Miller
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Good old peanut butter!
My absolute favorite nut butter is raw cashew butter….it’s so creamy and versatile and yummy…
My fave nut butter is cashew butter! Every morning I make a banana cacao cashew smoothie with it. Yum!
My favorite nut butter is almond butter, but classic peanut butter is a close second! This book sounds fantastic. Can’t wait to get my paws on it.
I love almond butter and feel my day is not complete without it! I go to a local store and their machine grinds it for me…I have it on waffles, pancakes, matzoh (Passover’s coming, have to buy more!), or just a spoonful in my mouth!
My favorite nut butter is almond butter to the max! Second up is def peanut butter. Especially the dark chocolate kind from Wegmans:)
Guess I’m kind of old fashioned… nothing can beat peanut butter!
Kim @ Cooking in the City recently posted…Pinkalicious
peanut butter
Almond butter, and then cashew butter. Love the thought of an entire cookbook dedicated to nut butters!
Oh goodness, this looks so good with so few ingredients, I’m in!
Organic crunchy peanut butter!
I really love hazelnut butter. I’m hoping to find lots of recipes with hazelnut butter in this book!
Almond butter!
Not sure if this counts, but Sunflower Seed Butter. I just tried it for the first time last month and fell in love! My husband and I have to hid it from ourselves, otherwise we would go through a jar in a day.
My favorite type of nut butter is cinnamon raisin almond butter, but since I am eliminating tree nuts & cinnamon right now, it’s crunchy peanut butter. I realize peanuts aren’t a nut, but that’s all I can do right now! Thanks for the giveaway! I’m going to have to get that cookbook if it turns out I can eat tree nuts again1
Beth recently posted…A new challenge
OH my! How could you show us those brownies with no recipe?! For me it kind of depends on my mood but I’m a little (*couch* a lot*) obsessed with nut butters in general. PB of course is a standby, sometimes I totally crave cashew and sometimes Almond. But give me PB and Co white chocolate or cinnamon raisin and there’s no contest
Gaby recently posted…Staycation
I absolutely LOVE Peanut Butter! I’m addicted! I also adore hazelnut butter of course. I’ve never really tried walnut butter or cashew butter, but I’m sure they would be delish as well. I’m interested to try pistachio butter, too, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet
my favorite nut butter is PECAN!!!
Caitlin recently posted…Refried Bean, Rice, and Corn Burritos
OMG that dessert looks to die for! I am SO into the peanut butter these days …. sadly I think I might have developed a slight sensitivity in recent years… I’m looking into it!
Gorgeous Kristy!
Lately it’s sunflower butter!
Carrie recently posted…Back at it
My favorite nut butter is Artisana raw macadamia butter. I love it because of its wonderful creamy taste, and also because Artisana nut butters are free of peanut contamination, which makes it even more special for me since I have a severe peanut allergy.
either peanut butter or roasted almond butter… it’s too hard to decide!
PEANUT BUTTER! It’s so dangerous, I can’t even keep it at home!
I absolutely LOVE raw cashew butter!!
I’ll have to go with good old crunchy peanut butter! Tough to beat!
I want those brownies!!! Personally, I don’t discriminate, I love all nut butters. When it comes to downright addiction, it is peanut butter for me!
I love all nut butters, but peanut butter is my all time favorite! It’s just one of those things that serves as a reminder of my childhood.
I love cashew butter… and almond butter… and peanut butter.. okay, I like pretty much all nut butters
Those brownies look divine. I cant want to make some.
It’s so hard to pick just ONE favorite nut butter, but I’m going to have to go with good old classic creamy peanut butter. It is the best partner with fruit spread, bananas and sprinkled with nutmeg and cinnamon in my take on a pb&j sandwich.
Justins Maple Almond Butter takes the silver in my book.
Hazelnut butter is dangerous for me.
i love to make raw chocolate almond butter. i also make a mean coconut cream butter with cashews & coconuts
OH MY!! Those brownies! Truly deserving of their “fantasy” name..
I’ve been following this cookbook tour longingly. Being a poor student means I have to wait for birthdays and Christmas to fulfill my cookbook addiction
As for nut butters, it’s a toss up between almond and good old pb. Almond probably just wins at the moment.
Emma recently posted…Finding Peace in Uncertainty
macadamia nut butter
I am not ashamed to admit that I have at least 3 nut butters on the go at any given time.
Peanut Butter: A classic. Especially delicious in spicy savoury dishes. Or out of the jar with a spoon. 100% Natural is a MUST.
“Kitchen Sink Seed Butter”: An original blend of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and sesame seeds. Took a while to get the ratio right, but this stuff is addicting! Never again will I buy sunbutter. (Sadly, my food processor maxes out at seeds. I dream of making my own nut butters without blowing up my food processor!)
Tahini: So delicious with so many uses! Try raw veggies with tahini and Sriracha drizzled on top. Or a frozen banana cut in half lengthwise with tahini and molasses drizzled on top. mmm…
So you see, you can’t pick just one!
How could I choose a favourite nut butter?! It all depends on my mood…and what I’m eating it with. I’m in LOVE with bananas and peanut butter right now. Almond butter with apples is also a lovely snack. I also really like cashew butter in my banana ice cream to emphasize the sweetness of the bananas. Of course, I’ll eat just about anything with homemade “nutella”! Whew, long story short, I love all the nut butters!
OH MY GOSH. I need those fantasy brownie bars in my mouth now!
I can’t decide on a nut butter, I love them all and can’t discriminate…
Somer recently posted…Meaty Cravings?
My favorite nutbutter is unroasted cashew butter – it’s so creamy and sweet. But if a seed butter is allowed, I’m now hooked on roasted pumpkin seed butter!
pumpkin seed butter!
I’m very fond of cashew butter.
I love pretty much all nut butters. Crunchy peanut butter has been my all time true love, but there’s room for others in my heart, too
I absolutely love raw almond butter (I get it from Trader Joe’s) and I’ve also lately been loving the multi-nut/seed butter Nuttzo. I’m dying to try some pecan butter one of these days.
Peanut butter!
Chunky peanut butter is my passion, but I recently discovered a creamy dark chocolate peanut butter than I eat with a spoon right out of the jar (blush). I can’t have Nutella because of my dairy allergy, but this yumminess has made it all better
So simple too, so I plan to mix my own using my chunky PB (swoon!) 
I’m a nut butter whore so asking me to pick my favorite is like asking a mother to pick her favorite child. But, if I had to pick one to eat for the rest of my life, I’d have to say roasted cashew butter.
OR coconut butter. Is that even considered a nut butter? Coconut is a fruit, right?
Okay, so, then hazelnut butter. Yeah, the hazelnut butter. It’s gotta be that one.
Alright fine. Cashew-coconut-hazelnut butter. Oh. My. God. I just gave myself the best nut butter idea. I need to go make that. Right now. (Or, maybe that’s the WORST nut butter idea. How will I ever stop EATING that?! )
Almond is pretty dang good….
hmm… cashew butter for me too!
Richa recently posted…Butternut Squash Rosemary Onion Crackers for us and Butternut Multigrain biscuits for Dogs. Vegan Recipe
My favorite Nut Butter is gound up almonds with vegan cocoa powder and toasted coconut. Tasted like an almond Joy bar yummy
oops I meant GROUND up almonds (not goound)
Raw creamy almond unsalted!!
My favorite “nut” butter is sunflower seed butter.
I love a crunchy unsalted almond butter. Gotta love tahini for making hummus though!
I love all types of nut butter, but almond butter on apple slices is my favorite!
My favorite nut butter is almond butter for sure! It is SO yummy. Raw cashew butter is also great in smoothies.
Dark chocolate almond butter
I just recently tried walnut butter. It was really yummy
Haven’t met a nut butter that I don’t like.
peanut butter was my favorite……………
I guess I’m a traditionalist, peanut butter is my favorite!
Creamy almond butter is probably my favorite but that is a hard question!
Oh My GLOB! These look AMAZING!
Alexander Willow Harvey recently posted…Blueberry-almond breakfast pastries.
Almond butter is my favorite.
peanut butter is definitely still my fav, despite all these other options out there!
Gotta love peanutbutter!
My favorite nut butter is peanut butter. Although I adore all the others too!!!
Almond butter!!
I love them all…but if I had to pick just one…I’d say peanut butter.
It’s so difficult to choose, but I recently fell in love with cashew nut butter.
My favorite is the chocolate peanut butter powder that is all the rage right now (i.e. Just Great Stuff brand). Perfect for lots of things, especially smoothies and fancy desserts!
peanut butter is my fave
I love peanut butter! My second fav is cashew butter.
My favorite nut butter is probably peanut butter. I know that’s so boring, and I do love cashew butter and almond butter too, but there’s something about that classic I just can’t deny!
The pictures in this post are so gorgeous! I like the wood cutting boards that you used. If you ever felt like doing a behind-the-scenes post, I’d really enjoy seeing your set-up and how you make your beautiful shots come together.
Cadry recently posted…My Take on Fake: Plant-Based Milks & Meats
Thanks, Cadry! I’ve been finding some great cutting boards at TJ Maxx Home Goods and we really like the way wood shows up in the photos. That’s something to think about, though… A behind the scenes post. I’ll start thinking about that!
Peanut!
Love almond butter!
Either cashew butter or coconut butter (technically not a nut, but delicious nonetheless).
I love almond butter!
My love of peanut butter has been reignited since I started buying the natural stuff. So delicious and not full of sugar. LOVE peanut butter
First love pb!
Chocolate hazelnut for sweet, or good old peanut butter for savoury! YUM!
Recently ADDICTED to Trader Joe’s Sunflower Butter!
Chocolate hazelnut!
Kelly G. recently posted…Angel Hair with Sweet Corn and Lemon-Basil Pesto Sauce
Cashew butter hands down!
I just tried maple almond butter yum
creamy peanut butter, hands down
I’ve tried a pretty wide variety of nut butters, but it’s hard to beat the nostalgia and taste that come with traditional peanut butter!
Do I haveeeee to pick? I guess it would be peanut butter. I was raised on Peter Pan!
I love Justin’s nut butters, and Jem nut butters (but they’re dangeous to have in my house).
Definitely peanut butter, but I’ve gained an appreciation for almond and cashew butter and their versatility since going vegan.
I love making my own cashew butter–so versatile as a dairy substitute for sauces!
I love almond butter! In smoothies, oatmeal, on fruit or just with a spoon
My favorite type of nut butter is def peanut butter!!! But I do love to munch on a homemade blend of almond and cashews
I love the ol’ standard peanut butter, crunchy
Peanut Butter is my favorite!
I put almond butter in my smoothies all the time, but my secret favorite is chocolate hazelnut butter!
Melissa recently posted…Berry Quinoa Spinach Salad with Maple Vinagrette
It is hard to choose but I think peanut butter wins.
janet @ the taste space recently posted…Chinese Baby Bok Choy and Tofu Stirfry (& a vegan FODMAPS diet for IBS)
Cashew butter. Hands down!
Hazelnut!!!!
Just good old chunky peanut butter.
Swaan recently posted…Great Green Hummus
I love organic peanut butter. So versatile – can use it for savory or sweet.
Peanut butter!
I LOVE raw almond butter! This cookbook looks incredible!
I love cashew butter!
Peanut butter!! It’s delicious in nearly everything or just straight from the jar.
My favorite nut butter lately is pistachio butter. I found it in a small Italian grocery store. I love its bright green color and creamy texture!
Maria Tadic recently posted…Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Pizza
peanut butter, tahini, almond butter and I’m sure I’d love a hazelnut spread, just haven’t found one yet.
My favorite is good ol’ peanut butter!
Bobbie {the vegan crew} recently posted…Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day
I think I have to go with cashew-macadamia nut butter that used to be sold at Trader Joe’s. That stuff was so creamy and worked with a lot of recipes!
My fave is homemade cashew butter. Thanks!
My favorite nut butter is… cashew? I mean really I love sunbutter, but that’s a seed! Cashew butter is fun to make and tastes so wonderful.
Hazel recently posted…Super Amazing Carrot Cake
I’m boring – my fave is peanut butter!
Bella @ Feed Me, I’m Cranky recently posted…The Best of Expo West 2013
Tastewise, peanut butter is my favourite, but health-wise I try to change it up, using more almond butter and hazelnut butter. Thanks for the giveaway!
Sarina @ Earthgiven Kitchen recently posted…Spinach Black Bean Brownies with Vanilla Cream Frosting and a giveaway!
Peanut butter!
Cashew butter!
I love almond butter!
I love peanut butter!
peanut butter!