The most popular spreads for bakers

The holiday season heralds cookie swaps, family feasts and office luncheons. No seasonal get-together, however, would be complete without a sweet treat. This time of year is the perfect occasion to showcase pantry staple ingredients in flyers and in store, as well as creative – and delicious – ways to put these items to use. Beyond butter and sugar, spreads have a strong presence in the dessert category.

According to Erickson Research, 92% of Canadian households have peanut butter on-hand – more than jam (78%), honey (75%) and butter (69%). The convenience and versatility of peanut butter make it a perfect companion to holiday treats. Use of peanut butter as a baking ingredient has remained steady since 2014, with 27% of Canadians naming it a good baking staple. Here’s a ranking of the top spreads for bakers:

  • Butter: 60% of Canadians use butter in baking. From flaky pastries to cookie dough, its versatility makes it the top spread in this category.
  • Honey: This sweet spread has been surging in popularity, and almost two in five Canadians use it when baking.
  • Cream cheese: Call it the cheesecake effect, with one-third of Canadians using cream cheese in desserts.
  • Peanut butter: 27% of Canadians spoon and spread peanut butter into their baked goods. Check out some holiday dessert recipes featuring peanut butter below.
  • Cashew butter: After peanut butter, cashew butter (surprisingly) ranks above all other nut butters - including chocolate hazelnut spread - in baking. Cashew butter is used by 22% of Canadians as a baking ingredient.

These holiday recipes, featuring peanut butter, are a delicious use of Canadians' favourite pantry staple:

Double Decker Peanut Butter Fudge
Double Decker Peanut Butter Fudge

 

Peanut Butter Nanaimo Bars
Peanut Butter Nanaimo Bars

 

Peanut Butter Buttons
Peanut Butter Buttons

 

Peanut Butter Swirled Chocolate BarkPeanut Butter Swirled Chocolate Bark