Not Just For Smearing! Ingenious Ways to Use Nut Butter

Energy balls make a quick and tasty snack after a workout. Whip up these peanut butter crisp balls or these peanut butter protein balls.

Made using crunchy peanut butter, these frozen smudgies are the perfect healthier alternative to ice cream sandwiches. Not a fan of graham crackers? Try this recipe that uses bananas instead.

Although it's sweet and juicy, plain fruit can get boring. Spice up your snack by dipping your slices into this fruit dip made with peanut butter. The recipe calls for Greek yogurt, but if you're avoiding dairy products, swap it for soy yogurt instead.

For a quick and healthy breakfast, whip up a batch of oatmeal protein bars, made with almond butter. Each 176-calorie bar offers 8.4 grams of protein. Or for a breakfast bar made with raisins, try these nut butter breakfast bars.

Chocolate and peanut butter are a classic combo, but you can switch things up by subbing in sunbutter (made from sunflower seeds) instead. These homemade sunbutter cups are so easy to make, and at 52 calories a piece, you can satisfy your sweet tooth without breaking the calorie bank.

Whether making overnight slow-cooker steel cut oats or regular rolled oats, stirring in a little nut butter not only adds to the comforting creamy consistency, but also helps keep you satisfied longer.

The peanuttiness in these vegan protein rice krispies treats makes them even more irresistible. And you'll feel good knowing each 150-calorie buttery square offers 4.6 grams of protein.

Adding healthy fats to your smoothies can make them more filling, which is great if you're trying to lose weight. This 16-grams-of-protein strawberry banana spinach smoothie calls for almond butter, and is under 350 calories.

Made with only two ingredients — frozen bananas and creamy peanut butter — this vegan ice cream couldn't be easier to whip up. The peanut butter adds to the creaminess, and also gives it a protein boost.