Forget banana bread: why we’re turning to peanut butter in a time of crisis

Sales are soaring and recipes are going viral. We're going nuts for peanut butter, says Laura Hampson
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It’s hard to think of a more versatile food. Delicious dolloped on toast and rice cakes, on top of apples, swirled into baking and porridge and even eaten by the spoonful when we want to go straight to the source.

Its adaptability could be the reason why we’ve turned to it in a time of crisis. That, and its perfect balance of sweet and salty, its satisfying crunch and its unrivalled moreishness. As we settle into week seven of lockdown, trying to differentiate one day from another, it seems we've turned into a nation of peanut butter nuts.

Sales of the nut butter have grown by 163 per cent during the coronavirus pandemic, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com. The report describes peanut butter as a source of comfort as consumers look to stock up on ‘familiar’ brands.

“Nut and seed butters can last many months unopened so they are an ideal choice for consumers preparing for quarantine,” the study adds. “The growing trend towards meat-free products has also influenced demand for nut and seed butters as they are an excellent source of plant-based protein and are widely available in most supermarkets.”

Social media has also seen the effects of the peanut butter phenomenon. A recipe for three-ingredient peanut butter cookies went viral on Gen-Z video sharing platform TikTok last month, whipped peanut butter milk is having a moment on Instagram and searches for ‘peanut butter recipes’ is up by 175 per cent on Pinterest.

“We’re seeing that people on Pinterest are continuing to look for inspiration to transform cupboard staples into homemade creations," says a Pinterest spokesperson. "For many of us, comfort food means finding a spoon and dipping into our favourite go-to pantry staple - peanut butter. Searches for ‘peanut butter’ are up 165 per cent and ‘peanut butter recipes’ up by 175 per cent on Pinterest demonstrating the joy that even the basics can bring.”

How to make no-yeast peanut butter bread

Over on Reddit, a recipe from a 1932 Canadian cookbook “Five Roses: A Guide to Good Cooking” by Elizabeth Driver for a peanut butter bread that involves no yeast or kneading, has gone viral. Users have commented that it tastes 'just like peanut butter cookies'. Watch the full recipe in the video above and judge for yourself.

Comfort foods have been high on the list for UK shoppers during this pandemic - demand for flour has doubled as more people take up home baking, causing many supermarkets shelves to be devoid of it. Yet, as lockdown continues, we’ve seen a shift in priorities. Instead of wanting to cook everything from scratch, we’re giving ourselves more time by stocking up on healthy, filling snacks instead (if you want some baking inspiration, chefs tell us how they cook with peanut butter here).

“Since many of us aren’t on-the-go right now, we can use ingredients, like peanut butter, that we have available at home for a variety of things,” Tamara Willner, nutritionist at NHS-backed healthy eating plan Second Nature, says.

“Peanut butter is an excellent source of healthy fats, protein, and fibre. The protein and fat content help to keep us feeling full and satisfied for longer, which reduces the likelihood of cravings later in the day.”

But peanut butter fiends beware. Nutritionist and trichologist Simone Thomas says, although peanut butter presents a lot of health benefits, we need to be mindful of our intake.

“Peanut butter is a bit like marmite, you either have a love or hate relationship with it. For me I can’t get enough of it but I know I have to be careful," she says.

"Peanut butter can support and boost your metabolism and can help with fat loss if eaten in the right way and with the right foods. It is high in protein and one of the highest forms of protein from plant-based food groups. But it's also high in calories and fat, so people should enjoy it in moderation.”

See ya later sourdough starter, bog off banana bread - it's time to embrace peanut butter instead. Just try not to smash through the whole jar in one sitting.

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