Ultralight Hiking Lunch: Peanut Butter Powder Recipe

Peanut butter is the OG hiking food; it’s budget friendly, nutrient dense, has upwards of 8 grams of protein per spoonful and goes with just about everything. Peanut butter powder is the 21st century iteration of this backpacking classic. PB powders have all the flavor of peanut butter without the weight or bulk. Carrying peanut butter powder, rather than peanut butter, also significantly reduces the likelihood of a sticky, rodent attracting mess in your pack and cuts down on the trash generated by individual packets.

Part of the processing, however, reduces the fat and oil content. This is well suited for those looking for a low-calorie peanut butter option in the lowlands, but on the trail calories are king. Rehydrating peanut butter powder solely with cold water is an option, but the texture and taste does suffer. Instead, you’ll want to reconstitute the peanut butter powder with both water and oil to achieve rich creamy spreadability.

For those with a peanut allergy, there are now alternative nut butter powders on the market. Substitute cashew butter powder or almond butter powder to achieve to cashew butter or almond butter.

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Selecting a Nut Butter Powder

There are several brands of peanut butter powder and another nut butter powders on the market, each of which vary slightly in fat and sodium content, but they can all be constituted the same way. PB2 Classic and PBfit are the two major brands, with PBfit having slightly more protein per serving. For those looking to carefully control salt content, PB Pure and PBfit Simply have no added sugar or salt. There are also organic versions of each.

Reconstituted Peanut Butter Powder Recipe

• 1/2 cup peanut butter powder
• 1-2 packets olive oil (1-2 Tbsp)
• ~1/3 cup water

Preparation Instructions: Measure out the peanut butter powder into a resealable bag and include the olive oil packets if using.

Serving instructions: This recipe doesn’t need to be precise. When reconstituting, start with the olive oil and slowly add water, stirring until the desired consistency is achieved.

Eating Peanut Butter and Nut Butters in the Backcountry

I doubt you need me to tell you how to eat peanut butter (if you do, please carefully reconsider whether hiking away from civilization is a wise decision) but I will share a few tips I’ve discovered over the years.

• Store crackers inside your cup to prevent breakage until ready to eat, if going the peanut butter & crackers route. Those unbroken Ritz crackers featured in this post had already survived roughly 50 miles of Mt Rainier’s Wonderland Trail before being photographed, and if you know Ritz crackers you know they’ll break just by looking at them sideways.
• Use buns rather than bread for sandwiches. We accidentally discovered the genius of PB&J buns many years ago when we were out of bread. As it happens, hamburger buns squish down in all the right ways and none of the wrong ones. These are best for day hikes and overnights rather than extended backpacking trips.
• Consider both sweet and savory flavor variations to incorporate peanut butter powder into your meals. Think peanut butter and chocolate powder for a sweet treat or try incorporating sriracha for an extra kick.

 

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Have you tried rehydrating peanut butter powder while hiking? Share your suggestions with fellow hikers. We love to hear all the places this recipe has been enjoyed!