Ok, that could be a slight exaggeration… but it is actually possible that peanut butter is in fact America’s favorite treat. After all, I have never seen so many hugely popular products containing peanut butter (or a variation of it) in any other country. Granted, I haven’t been to all countries in the world, but I’ve been to quite a few and Americans just seem to have a special place for peanut butter in their hearts. And you know what? I’m slowly, slowly starting to get it. I just realized it this weekend when I made a birthday cake for Marco. He absolutely loves Reese’s, so I dug around online and found a recipe for a chocolate peanut butter cake that looked delicious. I made it and now, I can’t stop eating it. Constant exposure to peanut butter and treats made with peanut butter have resulted in me actually liking that stuff now. Go figure!
Peanut Butter Products
via Wikimedia
When I first moved here, I didn’t ever eat peanut butter, I tried Reese’s and didn’t particularly like it, peanut butter cookies weren’t for me, and I couldn’t believe the immense array of products that contain peanut butter: cakes with peanut butter frosting, peanut butter pretzels, M&Ms filled with peanut butter, brownies with layers of peanut butter, ice cream with peanut butter, apples dipped in peanut butter, … peanut butter everywhere! And of course there is the ubiquitous peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Check out Andrew’s post about this very American sandwich on his blog. My take on it? Well, let’s just say that the idea of combining peanut butter and jelly seemed to strange to me that I never even tried it until last year. My conclusion then? Not bad at all, but not crazy good either. It’s probably one of these things that you have to eat a few times to develop a taste for it.
Peanut Butter in Germany and Peanut Butter in America
via Wikimedia
One reason for why many foreigners might frown at the thought of combining peanut butter and jelly is the fact that peanut butter tends to be much chunkier and saltier in countries outside the US. In fact, I couldn’t believe how many different kinds of peanut butter you can find in a regular American supermarket: chunky, smooth, reduced fat, natural, organic, any combination of the above terms, and tons of different brands. You just don’t see that in Germany. While you can find the odd jar of peanut butter nowadays in German supermarkets, there are much less variations and the peanut butter itself seems to be different as well. American peanut butter tends to be much sweeter. I think what is sold in Germany as regular peanut butter would be considered “natural peanut butter” here since it’s saltier and chunkier.
Slowly Coming Around To It
As I said earlier, I am slowly developing a taste for peanut butter. I still don’t go crazy for Reese’s peanut butter cups, but I do really like the Reese’s ice cream and I like the peanut butter M&Ms. And as I said, the cake I made contains a surprising amount of peanut butter in both the frosting and the glaze and I can’t stop eating it. Mine didn’t look quite as good as the original, but it tastes delicious! Have a look below 
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PB is by far and away American expats’ favorite treat. Considering how hard it is to come by decent PB outside of the US, we tend to crave it even more when outside the country. I for sure consume more PB now than I ever did before – these days I have it every single morning in my oatmeal. Soooo good. When it comes to PB&J – I agree to some extent. It’s not crazy delicious, but I think more than anything the easy-to-make sandwich reminds us of our childhood.
Also, I think most people have their preferred, go-to variation (brand and type) which they stick to religiously. For me? These days it’s Skippy extra chunky
.
Enjoy it while it lasts
By the way, I never heard of peanut butter and oatmeal. Yet another variation! I think for most German expats it’s probably decent bread they miss – oh, you should hear me wine sometimes. I’ve sort of gotten used to the American bread and have found a few specialty places to buy German-ish bread, but it just isn’t the same… Skippy extra chunky? Haha, I have the Great Value brand at home. I guess I just don’t know any better 
All you need to know is that peanut butter goes with EVERYTHING. The variations are endless
Nice
I’ll keep that in mind!
That cake looks delicious! I never got peanut butter either, but once you start dating an American
… Jess got me into it slowly, and I really like PB&J sandwiches! Reese’s cups are a little bit TOO MUCH for me, but the other day I found myself ordering a peanut butter cookie… so I guess it is time to admit that I like peanut butter 
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Thanks! Nice to hear that I am not the only one who had to get used to that stuff first
I’m with you though. It’s finally time to admit that I like it.
I’ll admit it, one of my favorite ways to eat Peanut Butter is with a spoon. Thats it, you don’t need anything else. Skippy is the best!
The cake looked fantastic! Yum.
Debbie Beardsley recently posted..Do the French hate Americans?
Thanks Debbie! With a spoon?? I see I still have ways to go…
Call me un-American, but I’m not a big fan of peanut butter EXCEPT for a PBJ!
Kris Koeller recently posted..Weekend in Yosemite and Climbing Half Dome
Haha! I think even if you didn’t like a PBJ, you’d have to say you did, because otherwise someone would come and question your citizenship
And we have George Washington Carver to thank for it, given that he was looking for a healthy, cheap food for poor people. Peanuts used to nothing but hog fodder, until he made and marketed it. A really success story.
Cheers.
R. Sherman recently posted..The Last Ocracoke Photos And A Culinary Report.
I read about that! Funny how one little idea can lead to… can I call it a “national food”?
I loooooove me some peanut butter!! It may the food I have missed most in Latin America. I don’t understand how peanut butter has not swept the world.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Day Tripping: Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
I think it’s a taste you have to get used to somehow first. And also… it tends to be different in different countries. In Germany for example it’s much less sweet. Maybe that’s another reason?
Hi Sabrina,
My wife loves peanut butter, but I have not yet come around to like it, and probably never will. It’s just that I don’t like the taste. Well, I don’t really care for peanuts either, except for the salted ones.
Best regards from southern Texas,
Pit
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Never say never, Pit! When I came here seven years ago I didn’t eat peanut butter cookies or Reeses or would even take a bite out of a PBJ. And now? I still don’t eat it by the spoon (like Debbie above
), but I do have to say… not bad at all in some forms. Have you tried Reeses ice cream? Yummy!
I don’t care for peanut butter but I recently discovered it pairs perfectly with fresh apples.
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I didn’t either really for a long time. And no I actually like it in some forms. Haven’t tried with fresh apples, but will definitely give it a shot. Sounds like a great afternoon snack!
I LOVE me some peanut butter… i’m obsessed… to the point where I’ll come home at night and have to eat a spoonful before bed. It’s sick! And delicious! Funny how you are just coming around to it- considering PBJ’s are a staple for most kids!
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I think it’s because I didn’t have it as a kid. In Germany, it’s really not that common and we had cheese and cold cuts and jam and Nutella (of course!) instead. Maybe I’ll start spooning down peanut butter instead of Nutella in a few years too
By the way, you should try Nutella if you haven’t. Us Germans are almost as obsessed with it as Americans are with peanut butter 
I didn’t realize peanut butter was different in Germany and the US, guess I haven’t bought it since I’ve been living in Germany. One of my favorite recipes is for peanut butter cookies, it’s really simple and the recipe is on the jar, the kind with the cute teddy bears on it I think (can’t remember the name). OK, now I’m craving peanut butter
/
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Peanut butter cookies were the first thing I started liking that had peanut butter in them
Haven’t baked them myself yet, but if you find that recipe, I’m all ears!
Yay peanut butter!
I found a “USA Brand” PB here that is pretty good. When I was home and tried the stuff actually bought in the US; I can tell the difference, but it is fine when it is all I have. Actually having only the choice of creamy or chunky makes it easier somehow too.
The cake looks great.
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Thanks! I hear you on the differences… I found a German Deli here and found Wiener Wuerstchen that almost match what I could find in Germany. I can almost convince myself that it’s the same thing… until I go home and eat them there
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are my favorite. When I eat them I feel like I have died and gone to peanut butter heaven. But they’re so high fat/calories I rarely eat them. If only I had the metabolism of a 14 year old boy
Your cake looks insanely, good, btw.
Thanks
I’ll definitely make it again. Probably with half the ingredients though. Since it’s so rich, you can only eat tiny quantities. Similar to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups actually. You’re so right on the fat/calories!!
I haven’t always been a big fan of peanut butter, but the last few years I started to see why people love it so much. M&M’s with peanut butter would be awesome to try, never seen them anywhere in Europe though
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True! I’ve only found M&Ms in Europe without any filling or with peanuts. Here, they also have some around Christmas filled with mint. Delicious!!
Ha! Now that you mention it, it is somewhat strange how into peanut butter Americans are. When I lived in Sicily, I made my mom send me a few jars every so often. I was craving the taste after not having it for awhile. So awful… Your cake looks delicious!
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Thanks! You made your mom send you peanut butter to Sicily?
That’s too funny! But we all crave what we grow up with, don’t we?!
I never realized how American peanut butter was until I moved to Australia – my husband doesn’t love it and hardly ate it before meeting me…but I love it! Great post =)
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Thanks
You haven’t gotten your husband to like peanut butter yet? I’m telling you… it’s only a question of time. It won me over, that’s for sure!