Costco and I have a bit of an on-again, off-again relationship. I go through phases of shopping at the mega-popular warehouse every month or so to long periods of needing a little space like we all do from that friend who is a bit too energetic. As my kids are getting older, with noticeably larger appetites, I find myself navigating the crowded aisles with an extra-wide cart practically overflowing with my favorites, like nuts, seeds, frozen fruit, maple syrup, olives and string cheese. And the last time I was at Costco, I was delighted to find that my favorite nut butter was back in stock: NuttZo Organic Power Fuel Crunchy.

To be clear, your local Costco may or may not carry this nut butter, made with a blend of seven nuts and seeds, including cashews, almonds, Brazil nuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds. But at mine here in Vermont, I’m finally seeing this crunchy, protein-packed spread again. That is not to say NuttZo is explicitly a spring product, like the great deals you can find on gardening essentials, fresh asparagus and even rain jackets, but it sure was good to see it back on the shelves a couple of weeks ago.

I was first introduced to this incredibly flavorful nut butter by my father-in-law’s girlfriend. That probably sounds like the start of some phony story, but I promise it’s true. A few years ago my wife’s dad and his girlfriend were visiting and went shopping at Costco to restock our pantry and refrigerator. She does the same thing for her kids, so we’re happy to give them a list and sometimes they come home with some interesting finds. One time they brought home this jar of nut butter with a green lid and lots of little health claims on the label: 6 grams of protein, 1 gram of sugar, no palm oil and paleo. Look, I love trying new foods, but this dad lives off those big jars of Costco’s natural creamy peanut butter (we go through an unfathomable amount of PB&Js in our household). At any rate, I was reluctantly willing to give the new spread a try. 

Why I Love It

The NuttZo Power Fuel Crunchy spread is like if almond butter had a serious glow-up. Actually, I’m not a huge fan of almond butter to begin with, so the fact that this is more like the sultry sister of almond butter means it’s far more my speed. In fact, the lead nut on the ingredient list is cashews, so almonds are not the predominant flavor. 

So why do I love it? It all comes down to taste and texture. This blend of nuts and seeds has a more complex, toasty flavor compared to peanut or even almond butter. I think what gives this spread such a unique flavor is the pumpkin seeds, which of course are healthy but also so delicious. The hazelnuts and Brazil nuts likely add just a touch of bitterness, which actually rounds out the otherwise straightforward cashew and almond flavors. And finally, the Celtic sea salt creates a sweet-salty combination that is utterly mouthwatering (a 2-tablespoon serving has 65 milligrams of sodium). 

Perhaps what keeps me coming back to this nut spread is the unique texture. It’s mostly smooth, but there are these little crunchy bits throughout, likely roughly ground flaxseed and chia seeds. It makes eating a spoonful of NuttZo spread so delectable. 

How I Use It

Believe it or not, I actually don’t like to swap in this nut-and-seed spread for peanut butter on something like a PB&J sandwich. Instead, I love it as a dip for crunchy celery and carrot sticks, spread on rice cakes and drizzled over my morning oatmeal. It’s also terrific in peanut sauces. I make a no-cook peanut sauce and drizzle it over a rainbow noodle bowl for a unique, fun dinner for the family.

My two words of caution when considering trying NuttZo butter: first, it may feel expensive, especially if you compare it to peanut butter. A single 26-ounce jar costs about $14, while two 28-ounce jars of Kirkland’s creamy natural peanut butter cost about $11. That means it’s more than double the price of peanut butter. But, again, that’s why I don’t treat this nut and seed butter like regular peanut butter. 

Second, because there are so many different seeds and nuts in this spread, you’ll want to refrigerate it if you don’t plan to eat it within two weeks (the label even recommends that, as well). Some seeds and nuts tend to go rancid at room temperature, which is why you should refrigerate NuttZo as you would nuts and seeds. In addition to getting a longer shelf life, refrigerating after stirring also prevents the nut butter from separating.

Next time you are at your local Costco, check to see if they have NuttZo in stock and give it a try. It just might become one of your new favorite finds, as well, so long as you like a uniquely nutty flavor and some serious crunchy texture.