At long last, it’s back.
I almost tore into the Cookie Butter spread on my long (1 mile) car ride home, but figured I’ve waited this long, what’s another 5 minutes.
As soon as I got home, I found a spoon.
Then I got busy baking and although I didn’t actually bake with cookie butter, it’s on my baking radar screen of to-be-baked-with ingredients.
Instead, I invited my chocolate friends, white and dark, to the baking party.
In between doing baking dishes and folding laundry, there were quite a few BLT’s (bites, licks, tastes) of cookie butter. Oh how I have missed it.
It went out of stock right after Christmas and although I heard that some other San Diego area Trader Joe’s apparently got it back in stock about a month ago, it finally made it’s way to my store. Bonus for not having to drive around on a cookie butter scavenger hunt but I was getting close.
If you have extra cookie butter, Biscoff spread, or even peanut or almond butter that’s just burning a hole in your cupboard, I’d recommend:
Softbatch Cookie Butter Brown Sugar Cookies
“Egg”-in-a-Nest Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites (No-Bake, Vegan, Gluten Free) – I made these originally with peanut butter, but cookie butter will work in them. No candy-coated almonds? Try jelly beans, a mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, M&M’s, or any sort of chocolate “egg” that’s popular around Easter time. It’s about the dough itself more than what gets stuffed into it for me anyway.
No Bake Peanut Butter Biscoff Cookie Dough Bites (Vegan, almost GF, see notes for easy adaptation) – Made with peanut butter + Biscoff cookies.
Try it with cookie butter spread + graham crackers or any number of combinations based on what you have.
Biscoff Marshmallow Chocolate Bars (no-bake)
Chocolate Banana and Biscoff Graham Bars
Cookie Butter Spread Ginger Molasses Cookies (No Bake, Vegan, with GF option)
Creamy Cookie Butter White Chocolate Banana Smoothie
No-Bake Peanut Butter Biscoff Cookie Dough Bites (Vegan, almost GF with easy adaptation) – Made with peanut butter + Biscoff cookies or make them with Biscoff + Biscoff Cookies
Cookie Butter Funfetti Triple Chip Bars – sweetened condensed milk and cookie butter are so gooey and great – I loved these
Cookie Butter Brown Sugar Streusel Bars – Cookie butter, brown sugar, and streusel topping are three of my favrotie ingredients, all rolled into an easy, fast, dense, chewy and robustly-flavored bar
I’m convinced that the Dutch Speculaaspasta spread that I found in Aruba is the same exact product as Trader Joe’s Speculoos Cookie Butter. The taste, the texture, even the jars are the same size, the same kind of glass with the same words molded into the glass. I think that spread itself is being privately labeled, worldwide, apparently.
Have you tried Cookie Butter or Biscoff Spread?
If you haven’t tried cookie butter, I’d order some Biscoff if you can’t find any in stores in your area. You’ve gotta try it, at least once. Crushed graham crackers or molasses cookies, with a nice cinnamon-and-spice seasoning, sweetened, and thick like thick peanut butter. You can’t go wrong.
What’s your favorite nut butter or spread?
Peanut Butter, Nutella, Sunflower Seed Butter, and Cookie Butter are some of my favorites.
I am not really a big almond butter fan and never have been because it’s too runny and a little too neutral-tasting for me. I like my nut butters and spreads to be thicker and on the sweeter side. Basically, I love frosting.
I love the sound of your cookie butter, especially the addition of white chocolate. Problem is ,I really dislike peanut butter. Is there a way to adapt your recipe just using white chocolate but no peanut butter?
I’m sure there is a way to adapt it and if you think of the way, be sure to LMK! If you re-read my intro to the post where I discussed pulverizing massive amounts of speculoos cookies and then blending with oil, that’s probably one way. Or use another nut butter like AB or cashew butter. But really, this spread isn’t overly PB-flavored; it doesn’t taste like PB per se.
Yup…I haven’t ever tried the second kind but I heard that TJ actually buys different products at times to relabel as their own. And your also right about another thing…Cookie Butter is the best!!!
They definitely relabel; I’ve read it so many times and also certain products are carbon copies of brand name products, i.e. their pita chips and Amy’s Pita Chips.
Oh my god. I just went to trader joes and got the cookie butter. It is life changing!
I know, right! Hard to ever go back to “regular” nut butter after it!
Does the cookie butter from tj’s taste similar to the biscoff spread?
yes
I just first heard of this “cookie butter” from your website! When I first saw that it was in stock, the next day I hurdled over to my local Trader Joe’s & purchased a jar. <3
Glad you were able to try it…wish I got a commission for all the jars I’ve helped to sell…haha!
I like maple pb from PB & Co. best, but I haven’t ever had cookie butter!! I am going to buy some when I am in NY.
Oooh I wish I would have found that spread when I was in Aruba for Xmas. That was the first island I haven’t brought something interesting back from. I haven’t gotten around to trying biscoff spread yet but I hear it’s amazing! I am still a die hard nutella fan :)
Speculoos Cookie Butter is just sooooo good!!!! I can’t buy because I’ll eat the whole jar in less than 10 minutes…
Yes it’s so tempting!
Hi there- I love all of your gluten free and vegan options! I hate to be a downer, but the Trader Joes cookie spread has wheat flour in it, thus making anything you make with it NOT gluten-free…
Finally grappled a jar and it’s sinfully good, very dangerous! I’ve somehow managed to dive into the jar only once do far, it’s almost too sweet.
“it’s almost too sweet.” <--oh you're turning into one of those people, now? :) I'll take the leftovers off your hands. lol
Oh that stuff looks dangerous!
Stopped by my local Trader Joe’s today just to try this. When checking out the lady at the register told me it is good three ways: on an apple, on a banana, or on a spoon straight from the jar. I tried it on a banana when I got home, and I have to say I am hooked! Could be a very dangerous thing to have in my house! Looking forward to some of your recipes using it though!
Glad you were able to find it and enjoy it already.
Dark chocolate peanut butter has to be my favorite, but sunflower seed butter is delicious too! And if cashew butter wasn’t so expensive I’d have to try it! Back when I could eat almonds I loved Barney Butter. But not in anything where I needed it to hold it’s shape.
Yeah I live in holland and I’m very very addicted to speculaaspasta ! It truly tastes like cookies in a cup (a)
Sure does!!
Nutella with bananas on fresh toasted bread, carrots dipped in peanut butter and apple slices with almond butter.
love the Biscoff spread! Really any of these top my list. I adore all nut butters, nutella, cookie spread…Just that and a spoon and I’m set for a snack :)
My favs are definitely nutella, biscoff and honey roasted peanut butter!
We love the same things :)
and now I need to go find my local TJ’s and check this stuff out.
I remember when you mentioned it before but I never got some to try.
dangit.
:)
don’t say I didn’t warn you :)
That’s one cookie jar I’ll need to dig into. Cookies on everything? Count me in!
The cookie butter has still YET to ever appear at any of the Trader Joes in Maryland (I’ve searched for it at three different ones)! The closest I have gotten is the chocolate bar that has the cookie butter inside (and… yum.). I have found Biscoff at the store, but man, I want the cookie butter!
My favorite nut butter ever is the freshly ground almond butter at Whole Foods. I can’t get enough of it. Sunbutter would be a close second. I’m currently obsessed with Golden Pea butter though! I love how smooth it is!
I’ve heard that most Walmarts carry Biscoff spread or order it online if the TJs by you still doesnt get with the program!
I love cookie butter cream, my favorite way to eat it is straight out of the jar. I tried it on apples, cookies, crackers and nothing beats the cookie butter and spoon method! Lol. We unfortunately don’t have any Trader Joe’s in the area (closest one is at least an hour away, though I emailed them to beg that they open a store nearby! I lived off of Trader Joe’s while in College in Pittsburgh, PA) but I was blissfully surprised to find The Biscoff Brand right next to the natural peanut butter, what I originally went in for, at Wal-Mart this weekend. Score!
The ‘cookie butter’ you found on Aruba is originally Dutch. We call it: Speculoos or speculaaspasta. It is pretty ordinary here. So funny to see products from our supermarkets on your blog! All the stuff you bought on Aruba I recognized.
Love your blog!
Kisses from The Netherlands.
Im a huge tahini fan, but not the raw kind. It has to be roasted for me to even get near it. I love it soooooo!!
Oh man I’ve been wanting to try that cookie butter FOREVER !!!!! No Trader Joes in our area, and not sure where to find any of the other types !!!!
I gave links in the post where to order Biscoff spread which is similar.
I haven’t read through all the comments but I think that store brands are often made by the same people who make the original product, a lot of times there will be inferior ingredients or a different mix of products, but it’s not like the store made up its own recipe and built it’s own peanut butter-manufacturing plant. The companies are willing to do that because they make the same money in either situation, but the brand name goods cost more because of advertising costs.
I think your points are right on…made by same people and perhaps not the exact same ingredients, but quite similar.
I live in Holland and am completely obsessed with the Lotus Speculoos spread! But, my Dutch friends always tease me that it isn’t a ‘normal’ thing to eat here. It’s good to know there are other addicts out there :)
I’ve heard from people in the past who live in Holland or Europe that speculoos spread is pretty common there but sounds like for your friends, not so much. Glad you’re enjoying the spread, though!
so they tell me ;p i live in holland too but it’s soooooo good !
I’ve never had the Cookie Butter… and being that I am a HUGE fan of nut butter I know I need to try some. Believe me, it has caught my eye too many times to count!
I do love almond butter… but I am a peanut butter girl for life. It’s one of the best foods on this planet! =)
Tasha, great to hear from you!
I know! I actually visit your blog regularly and I am starting to be more active on my blog again. I really do miss it. Also, I am in Southern Cal from time to time and I always think of you!
Hope you are well!
Thanks for saying hi….seems like a lifetime ago that we “met” each other in the blogosphere about 3 years ago! wow…time flies! :)
OMG, Why have I not heard of this before?!?! I’m buying this ASAP!!
Nutella, peanut butter, and sunbutter are my absolute favorites! Although, now that I’m dairy free, I’m thinking of replacing Nutella with Justin’s chocolate hazelnut butter =)…gotta have the chocolate!
Oh dear, I never noticed Cookie Butter at TJ ‘s – now I’m in trouble…
Liz, it’s off the hook delicious. You have GOT to try it!!! And go now and hoard it…before I do :)
Read this tonight and had to try making a batch. i only had 1/4 cup of cookie dough butter left so I just made it. you know its a good recipe when you just have to get out of a warm c
ozy bed after 12 hours of work today,just so you can eat one MORE! Thanks Averie for introducing us all to this wonderful spread:-) I think they turned out perfect hhtp:/cannedtime.blogspot.com
Wow they look fabulous and anything that gets you out of bed after 12 hours of work is a keeper :)
it look good to eat for me
I haven’t seen you in my Google reader for several days, and came here from another blog. I am confused. Ok, signing up with the e-mail subscription.
hazelnut and sunflower (although, it’s not a nut, but a tasty one!)
Just replied to you on email. LMK!
I am not sure if they have cookie butter in Canada, I have never seen it, However, I think I need to find some and try it, stat! :)
You can always order the Biscoff I linked up!
OMG!!!!! this post just made my day!! i’m going to TJ’s asap.. i hope they aren’t sold out!!
awesome recipes.
is the cookie butter much different than biscoff spread, or is it the exact same?
it’s not very different at all…it’s the difference between Puffs and Kleenex. Super similar :)
I saw the Cookie Butter yesterday and thought of you!! I didn’t buy a jar, I’m trying, I repeat trying to be good. ha ha
Don’t even try to be good…just cave in like me :)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve opened up a container of something tasty while on my ride home from the store. Sad part is, the store is literally 3 minutes from my house!
Well it was wait or use my thumb or index finger…so I waited the 1 mile. Lol
I tried some Biscoff at a sampling event at a store a couple weeks ago. I couldn’t buy it because HOLY SHIT I would eat that jar in a millisecond. I went back for three samples! Luckily the sample lady just nodded and smiled and said, “I know, right?” and winked. She got it.
I know. I understand. Why do you think I’ve been in hot pursuit of it ever since January 1!
Seriously, the jar is gone…didn’t even get around to baking anything with it.
I’ve never tried cookie butter but recently spotted the Biscoff brand at Kroger–need to put that on my list to try this week. I love nut butters and it’s easy to whip them up in the food processor or vita mix. I’m into an almond-macadamia nut butter (with a small handful of pecans). I think adding macs or cashews in with the almonds helps with the processing.
Get it! It’s really in a league of it’s own and if I thought I could make it, I would. But not re-inventing any wheels on this one :)
I still have never tried cookie butter, even after seeing it on so many blogs! I need to get some :-)
Do you know I STILL haven’t tried cookie butter? This needs to change, stat. :-)
Change it, asap! And glad to see your comment came in, no snags!
Oh goodness, I just ran out of cookie butter and Biscoff last week. I compared them side-by-side and think I like Biscoff better but love the cookie butter too. I think creamy peanut butter (Peter Pan!) will always be my favorite!
Did you know that Christina Tosi uses Skippy? When I read that, I was so happy. Jif, Skippy, Peter Pan….that’s Americana for you. Nothing highbrow and I loved that factoid!
Oh my gosh, I am SO glad that cookie butter is back! Bring on the cookie butter recipes! :-D
OH.MY.GOSH. getting myself to TJ’s this weekend! I was just thinking about cookie butter yesterday and saying to myself how I should ask you since you are the queen of it :)
Yes I am and YES get some while the gettin’ is good!
Apparently I need to find this (or maybe not LOL). I love almond butter and just plain old peanut butter. I tried Nutella finally. And I know I’m in the minority, but I didn’t like it.
The hazelnuts are a flavor that it’s either a make it or break it thing…definitely a strong taste so if you don’t like it, it’s like a Cadbury Egg. They are either an ewww or awesome…no in between!
I truly love almond butter these days. And can I count tahini because I love its bitterness. I saw cookie butter for the first time in my store the other day in fact! And its been a year since I’ve had sunflower seed butter, neeeed need to change that asap I forgot how great it is.
Ok AB and tahini are two that are not my thing. I think it’s the texture. The thinnest I can deal with is sunflower seed butter..but that’s sweet so it’s easy to forgive the shortcoming :)
i have yet to try cookie butter!! i need to buy some ASAP. the cookie butter ideas are dancing around my head! i bet i could come up with an amazing recipe with cookie butter and the new baking emulsions i’m expecting! :)
Oh gosh, I’ve got to find the TJ’s cookie butter! I was in a TJ’s in NYC a couple weeks ago but they didn’t have any. And you know, it could be the same product as the one you found in Aruba – doesn’t TJ’s find its products from other merchants? I heard that once…
Yes they do private label stuff which is why I am almost certain it’s the same product. Like their chocolate bars are said to be Scharffen-Berger; their chips some of them (are the same as Stacy’s brand Pita chips), lots of little things like that!
Have you tried the grind-you-own almond butter at Whole Foods? I love it! It’s thick and very crunchy.
I also recently tried Nuttzo 7 nut & seed butter. So good! A little expensive, but worth it to me since nut butter is basically a food group for me!
NuttZo is great! And no, I haven’t tried the grind your own…I just love PB or any other nut butter more than almond but thanks for the nudge. Maybe I will try it one day :)
I need to try me some of this cookie butter! Maybe spread it on a mushroom sammy? I’m kidding. Maybe.
gotta try that smoothie!
going to trader joe’s this week
i miss that pepper jelly!
did you try the Nancy’s Corn Relish yet?
Haven’t tried the Nancy’s yet..forgot about it. So many things to try and try to *remember* to try. lol
I miss pepper jelly, too. Canning gives me the taste but it’s…work! I want my 2.99 jars and I will gladly pay for them. I hope they bring it back for the holidays next year!
Averie, this looks sooooo good! Anything that starts with cinnamon rolls has to be great! I have had my eye on the apple pie made with cinnamon rolls as the crust. Have you seen it on pinterest?
I think you meant to put this on the cinnamon roll post (this is the next one, cookie butter) but I gotcha :) And yes, I have seen things made with cinnamon roll crusts on Pinterest now that you mention it…oh boy…that just made me want to try that..like, ASAP :)
i JUST bought some this afternoon at TJ’s!! i have already had about a million and 4 dipped animal crackers. this stuff is dangerous…
I’m not a big almond butter fan either—tree nuts are not my friend. That’s why I’m kind of in love with peanut butter. I have to admit, though, I finally tried PB2, and I love it because I can mix it with other ingredients like pumpkin and cocoa powder and end up with weird-good concoctions in a matter of seconds. Still, plain old unsalted creamy PB will always be #1 in my book.
I just read your post about passing out in a patient’s room..eek! Hope you’re on the mend! And I havent had PB2 since 2008! Lol. I hopped on that train years ago but forgot about it!
Thanks! Fortunately, a few days rest helped me feel a lot better. Suffice it to say I don’t think I have much of a future in Oncology…
I haven’t been able to find cookie butter! I go to college in a town that doesn’t have a trader joe’s (lame) but I check every time I’m home and I still haven’t seen it. My brother just got a job at Trader Joe’s so I’ll have to bribe him to stalk out the cookie butter situation for me.
I’ve never met a nut butter I didn’t like. I’m not allowed to buy them at the moment though because the last jar I bought was gone within 48 hours. It’s a borderline addiction.
For awhile there, 100% of stores were out of stock but in the last 4-6 weeks it seems that some got it in. even with the same city, but other stores didn’t. Bribe your brother…for sure!
I’ve never tried cookie butter, but I love the creamy unsalted almond butter from Trader Joe’s. That store is amazing.
i recently bought biscoff spread. omgg, i don’t think i can go back to regular pb!
I know, I feel the same way many times…haha!
we must have the same taste buds when it comes to nut butter/spreads… the ones you listed are my top favorites too! :)
Great minds think alike I guess :)
I LOVE cookie butter! It’s delicious on apples :)
It’s delicious on…anything!