5 New Spreads You’ll Want to Eat by the Spoonful, From Pistachio Cream to Black Sesame Butter

My trick to never being bored in the kitchen? Keeping the pantry stocked with spreads. From nut butters to marshmallow crèmes, an excellent spread can transform the most average piece of toast, amp up the flavor of a smoothie, or make for a great snack — paired with fruit and crackers or eaten straight out of the jar. And with dozens of new brands making high-quality products with upgraded flavor profiles, your spread of spreads can be better than ever. Here are five excellent new-school jars to seek out. 

Il Colle del Gusto Pistacchiosa

Thanks to the rise of Dubai chocolate, pistachio spreads seem to be everywhere these days. But this one from Il Colle del Gusto, which launched in 2013 — well ahead of the trend — is the best of them all. Made in Italy with Sicilian pistachios and extra-virgin olive oil, it has a smooth texture and a beautiful, glossy sheen.

One Trick Pony Silky Smooth Peanut Butter

Few things embody the adage “less is more” quite like this spread, one of the most luxurious and deeply nutty peanut butters of all time. It’s made with just two ingredients — roasted Córdoba peanuts and really good sea salt. Sourced from Argentina, Córdoba peanuts are known for their subtly sweet flavor, meaning this spread doesn’t need the added sugar — and it still pairs well with jelly.

Big Spoon Roasters Carrot Cake Almond & Walnut Butter 

There’s almond butter, and then there is almond butter that tastes like a thick slice of carrot cake. Big Spoon Roasters crushes heirloom almonds with walnuts, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and sea salt to create this upgraded almond butter that you’ll want to share with no one. It’s a good thing you can buy it in a 12-pack.

Rooted Fare Crunchy Black Sesame Butter

This striking, jet black, Chinese American–inspired nut butter, made from crushed black sesame seeds, cane sugar, breadcrumbs, and vegetable oil, is incredibly versatile, adding an earthy, not-too-sweet flavor to everything it touches. It’s amazing slathered on a waffle, swirled into brownie batter, or shaken with cream to top off matcha lattes and iced coffees.

Dandies Vegan Marshmallow Cream

Marshmallow fluff has undergone a glow-up thanks to Dandies, a plant-based marshmallow company. Its version is nostalgic but not sickly sweet — the traditional corn syrup is swapped out for tapioca syrup and cane sugar — and it still tastes just as good sandwiched with peanut butter or dolloped onto a mug of hot chocolate.