Product Review: Barney Butter and Nature’s Pride

Via FoodBuzz’s Tastemaker’s program, I was able to try two new types of Nature’s Pride bread recently, 12 grain and 100% whole wheat, both with no high fructose corn syrup and lots of whole grains. 

Via Swagapalooza, I was able to try Barney Butter, which is almond butter made in a peanut-free facility (ie, even if you’re allergic to peanuts, you can eat this stuff, since it’s not made anywhere near peanuts!).  Two varieties, crunchy and smooth, though I only tried smooth. 

Very few ingredieans and pretty much all natural – almonds, evaporated cane juice, palm fruit oil, and sea salt. 

I actually combined the two, along with Harry & David cherry butter (which is like cherry jam or preserves, not really butter-like as I don’t believe there’s any dairy in there), for a new twist on the old classic PB&J – almond butter and cherry butter sandwich on Nature’s Pride 12 grain! 

Along with my tall soy latte, that made up lunch one Saturday, between classes. 

Now the taste.  Nature’s Pride 12 grain still tastes sweet, but plain like the above photos (as in untoasted), the flavor is very mild and the only way you can tell it’s whole grain (aside from appearance) is biting into the occasional grain.  Not bad.  Honestly, I decided that while it’s fine the way it was (I didn’t get a chance to try it with sliced meats for another type of sandwich), it tastes much better lightly toasted, which brings out a nuttiness in the bread, and gives it a great crunch-factor. 

As for the almond butter – I really like it; it tastes like a much milder peanut butter, with not much distinct nut-taste, but a great creaminess and smoothness to it (this is the smooth style).  I have to say, I’ve only tried almond butter once before – Justin’s Natural brand (which is sold in individual packets at Whole Foods for about $1, thank goodness), which I DETESTED.  It was gritty and grainy and just yucky; I only know this next bit from my own experience with almonds, but it was pretty clear that they didn’t skin the almonds, which leaves a very gritty taste to it.  I don’t know if Barney Butter skinned theirs or if they just pulverized it enough that I couldn’t taste the grittiness, but the smooth is super smooth and creamy and really delicious.  I considered what this might taste like mixed with noodles (like cold sesame noodles with peanut sauce), but I haven’t been able to get past eating it on toasted 12 grain bread for breakfast yet 🙂  It isn’t too sweet, either.  Just… right. 

One thing I don’t like about it is the $8 price tag though…

Yvo says: I like both products very much together, and I’m sure I’ll eventually be able to break myself from eating them together… even though they are delicious like so!  I bet the almond butter would be awesome spread onto chocolate rounds… or mixed into noodles… eaten off a spoon… spread on celery… really, any way you’d eat peanut butter.  As for the Nature’s Pride 12 grain bread, I do foresee becoming my new brand of bread (unless it’s prohibitively expensive… I try to balance my food choices based on taste, price, and healthfulness); I was growing annoyed with my previous brand who shall remain nameless since they include high fructose corn syrup in their ingredients. 
highly recommended

*full disclosure: I received the above items free-of-charge; the bread through Foodbuzz, and the almond butter through Swagapalooza.  However, in neither case did anyone from either company contact me, nor do they even know I exist.