Developed with a man who once ran across the entire United States. Still his first choice.
Most almond butter is smooth and stays out of your way. This one has opinions. Big Spoon Roasters starts with heirloom Mission almonds milled with their skins on, then folds in house-toasted coconut chips — actual crunch, not fine shredded filler. The result is texture-forward in a way most nut butters are not: crispy where the coconut is, substantial where the almond is, lightly sweet from organic coconut nectar, and finished with Jacobsen sea salt flakes. Four ingredients. Nothing added to smooth it out or fill it up.
The recipe came out of a collaboration with Mike Wardian, a record-setting endurance athlete who has run across the United States and logged more ultra-distance miles than most people will ever drive. Toasted Coconut is still his go-to, spread thick on toast or banana. It works just as well stirred into overnight oats, blended into a smoothie bowl, or used anywhere you want something more interesting than standard almond butter. The 3-oz jar is TSA-approved — the right size for travel, gifting, or handing to someone before they have time to form an opinion about nut butter.
- Developed in collaboration with endurance athlete Mike Wardian
- Heirloom Mission almonds — milled with skins on for texture and bite
- House-toasted coconut chips for real crunch, not background sweetness
- Bee-Friendly almonds
- Non-GMO, Vegan, Soy Free, Palm Oil Free, No Refined Sugar
- Gluten Free
- 3 oz — TSA-approved, travel-ready, the right size for gifting or sampling
- Four ingredients. Nothing you need to look up.
The Snack
Big Spoon Roasters is a small-batch nut butter maker based in Durham, North Carolina. For this recipe, they source heirloom Mission almonds and mill them with their skins intact — a production choice that keeps the texture more substantial than standard peeled-almond butters. The coconut chips are toasted in-house, low and slow, until the natural sugars caramelize and the chips develop an actual crunch. The sweetener is organic coconut nectar, not refined sugar. The salt is Jacobsen — flaky, not fine-grain.
The collaboration with Mike Wardian, one of the most accomplished ultra-distance runners in the world, grew out of a straightforward brief: he wanted a nut butter with real texture that could go anywhere he was going. Toasted Coconut has been his answer to that question ever since, and it has not changed in the years since they developed it together.
Spread it thick on toast with sliced strawberries or banana. Stir it into overnight oats the night before. Blend a spoonful into a smoothie bowl in the morning. It holds up to heat, so it also works as a peanut butter substitute in cookie dough or on anything warm enough to let it soften into what you are eating.
Ingredients & Allergens
Ingredients: Heirloom Mission Almonds, House Toasted Coconut, Organic Coconut Nectar, Jacobsen Sea Salt
Allergens: Contains almonds and coconut. May contain traces of peanuts and other tree nuts.
Nutrition Facts — Serving Size: 2 Tbsp (29g / 1 oz) | Servings per container: approximately 3
- Calories: 170
- Total Fat: 15g (19% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 2g (10% DV)
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
- Sodium: 55mg (2% DV)
- Total Carbohydrates: 6g (2% DV)
- Dietary Fiber: 3g (11% DV)
- Total Sugars: 2g (includes 0g Added Sugars)
- Protein: 6g
- Calcium: 6% DV | Iron: 6% DV | Potassium: 4% DV
Non-GMO. Vegan. Soy Free. Palm Oil Free. No Refined Sugar. Gluten Free.
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Toasted Coconut Almond Butter
What does it taste like, and what makes the texture different?
The texture is the thing that surprises people. The house-toasted coconut chips stay crispy in the jar, so every spoonful has actual crunch rather than the uniform smooth consistency you get from most nut butters. The flavor runs warm and lightly sweet — the coconut is toasted until the natural sugars caramelize, which gives it a different character than raw coconut. Jacobsen sea salt flakes bring up the back end cleanly. It tastes like something that was made carefully, which it was.
Is this safe if I have a nut allergy?
No. This product contains almonds and coconut, and is produced in a facility that also processes peanuts and other tree nuts. It is not appropriate for anyone with an almond, peanut, or tree nut allergy. If you have a coconut sensitivity, note that coconut is listed as a primary allergen on this product. Consult your allergist before purchasing if you have any concerns.
What do I use it for?
Toast with fresh berries or banana is where most people start. Stirred into overnight oats it adds crunch that holds up overnight — the coconut chips stay crispy even after sitting in oats. It blends smoothly into smoothie or acai bowls. It also substitutes for peanut butter in baking, where it holds up to heat and adds a toasted coconut note to the finished result. Straight from the jar with a spoon is also a completely legitimate use case.
Who is Mike Wardian and why did he help develop this?
Mike Wardian is an endurance athlete who holds records across ultramarathon and ultra-distance running — including running across the entire United States. He collaborated with Big Spoon Roasters on this recipe because he wanted a nut butter with real texture and a short ingredient list that would hold up in the field and at home. Toasted Coconut has been his go-to spread since they developed it together. He spreads it on toast, banana, and anything else nearby.
What is a heirloom Mission almond, and why does it matter here?
Mission almonds are an older California variety with a more pronounced almond flavor and a firmer texture than the commodity almonds used in most commercial nut butters. Big Spoon mills them with their skins on rather than blanching first, which keeps more of the almond's natural texture in the final butter. The result is a more substantial consistency — less paste-like, more bite to it. It is a production choice that shows up in how the finished product feels and tastes.
Why is the jar only 3 oz?
The 3-oz jar is TSA-approved, which makes it a legitimate travel companion rather than a suggestion. It is also the right size for gifting — the jar you hand to someone to make your case before they have formed any opinions about nut butter. If a jar disappears in a week, restocking is easy.
Is it vegan? Does it contain dairy?
Yes, it is fully vegan. No dairy, no honey, no animal products. The sweetener is organic coconut nectar. Every ingredient in the jar is plant-based.
How do I store it, and how long does it last?
Store at room temperature for everyday use. The coconut chips can soften slightly over time at room temperature in warmer climates — refrigeration will keep the crunch going longer. No added preservatives, so refrigeration is recommended if you will not finish the jar within a few weeks. Let it come to room temperature before spreading if it stiffens in the fridge. Check the best-by date on your jar for the specific window.
