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VISIT NC

GIFT IDEAS FOR FOOD & DRINK ENTHUSIAST | NC FOODIE GIFTS

December 2, 2024

 

THE KITCHN

20 OF THE VERY BEST LITTLE LUXURIES TO GIFT ANY FOOD LOVER

November 26, 2024

 

EAST END TASTE

THE SPECIALTY FOOD AND WINE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

November 25, 2024

 

WOMEN'S HEALTH

42 BEST STOCKING STUFFERS FOR WOMEN THAT WON'T GO INTO THE JUNK PILE

November 23, 2024

 

THE STRATEGIST

95 CAREFULLY SELECTED, UNUSUALLY SPECIAL GIFTS UNDER $50

November 19, 2024

CARDINAL + PINE

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, SUPPORT BUSINESSES IN WNC AND BEYOND

November 18, 2024

 

THE LOCAL REPORTER

BIG SPOON ROASTERS

November 12, 2024

 

THE KITCHN

THE DELICIOUS NUT BUTTER I'M PUTTING ON ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING

November 9, 2024

EAT THIS, NOT THAT

30 BEST HIGH-PROTEIN SNACKS ON GROCERY SHELVES

October 24, 2024

THE EVERYGIRL

44 UNIQUE GIFTS FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING

October 17, 2024

EAT THIS, NOT THAT

22 HEALTHIEST PEANUT BUTTERS, ACCORDING TO DIETITIANS

Updated October 3, 2024

THE QUALITY EDIT

LAUNCH DIGEST: PUMPKIN, KUGEL, GINGERBREAD, AND HOLIDAY BUNDLES - TIS THE SEASON

October 4, 2024

REAL SIMPLE

THE 70 WHITE ELEPHANT GIFTS EVERYONE WILL ACTUALLY WANT

Updated August 20, 2024

 

DAVIDSON.EDU

FOOD CHAIN: ALUMS FIND FULFILLMENT IN EDIBLE ENDEAVORS

May 14, 2024

Working as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Zimbabwe, Mark Overbay ’98 missed the taste of good, natural peanut butter–so he made his own. With hand-crushed local ground nuts, salt, honey and coconut oil, it was one of the best things he’d ever tasted. Back in Durham, North Carolina, he and his wife, Megan, saw an opportunity to bring their love of the rising craft food movement to the world of nut butters. In 2010, their Peanut Pecan Butter caught the attention of Bon Appetit and Food and Wine magazines, and the demand for their products began to climb. In 2012, Overbay quit his day job to focus full-time on Big Spoon Roasters.

AOL.COM

15 HEALTHIEST PEANUT BUTTERS ACCORDING TO DIETITIANS

May 21, 2024

Manaker also enjoys the Crunchy Peanut Butter from Big Spoon Roasters. "Sweetened with sorghum syrup and slightly salty, this peanut butter leans on two varieties of peanuts to result in a crunchy and satisfying butter that is a perfect topping for your toast," she says. "No fillers, no preservatives, and GMO-free, this peanut butter is high-quality and delicious."

C'EST LA VIE MAGAZINE

CHEF'S CHOICE

April 1, 2024

This C'est la VIE collection is about culinary refinement, where every detail embodies the essence of living and dining well. Bigger in Texas: Big Spoon Roasters Cowgirl Cookie Peanut Butter. 

EAT THIS, NOT THAT!

15 HEALTHIEST NUT BUTTERS ON GROCERY SHELVES

March, 22, 2024

Made with organic cashews, organic coconut nectar, organic virgin coconut oil, and Jacobsen sea salt, this cashew butter is both rich and creamy. And if you are focused on only opting for Fair Trade cashews, you are in luck! The cashews used are Fair Trade Certified from a community of growers. No fillers, preservatives, or flavors are found in these jars—just quality ingredients.

BON APPETIT

WAIT, NUTS GO BAD?

March, 12, 2024

Candy your nuts for extra shelf life. At Big Spoon Roasters, every product contains a natural sweetener, like organic honey or maple syrup. The “thin layer of sugar” is stirred into the butter and creates a barrier between the fat and oxygen—keeping each jar fresher for longer. The inspiration to make them might have been practical, but they’ll reward you with pure joy.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

ALL THE WAYS YOU SHOULD BE USING MAPLE SYRUP NOW

March, 8, 2024

Even if you don't already celebrate maple-tapping season, adding the syrup's complex flavor to your late-winter repertoire could be as easy as slathering toast with Big Spoon Roasters Maple Cinnamon Pecan and Peanut Butter and laying a few thin apple or banana slices on top, or sprinkling crunchy maple sugar over your morning oatmeal.

WJHL

FOOD WITH FRED: BIG SPOON ROASTERS

March, 7, 2024

We are so grateful for Fred sharing Big Spoon Roasters with the WJHL audience. Click the title to watch his full review of our handcrafted nut butters.

SOUTHERN FLAVOR MAGAZINE

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: DISCOVER NEW PRODUCTS, TOOLS, AND INGREDIENTS FROM LOCAL LOWCOUNTRY BUSINESSES 

February, 19, 2024

Known for their high-quality, top-tier ingredients, Big Spoon Roaters directly sources from local and like-minded producers who share their dedication to genuine quality and sustainability. With incredible flavors like Chocolate Sea Salt, Pistachio Crunch, Carrot Cake, and more, these good-for-you nut butters are instant family favorites. For full write-up, check out page 16 here.

EAT THIS, NOT THAT!

17 QUICK & EASY MEALS OUR DIETITIANS ARE COOKING THIS WEEK

January, 29, 2024

Not sure what to do with those sweet potatoes you have left? You can always make them for breakfast like Manaker did this week. "One of my favorite breakfast ideas is a leftover sweet potato topped with nut butter and granola. When I have it on hand, I love using Big Spoon Roaster Maple Cinnamon Pecan and Peanut Butter, but any nut butter will do," she says. "Leaning on this for breakfast helps me sneak in some vegetables right out of the gate."

WRAL

BIG SPOON ROASTERS ANNOUNCES MOVE TO HILLSBOROUGH

June 8, 2022

Local nut butter company Big Spoon Roasters is growing.

The Durham-based company has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help with its move to a new, larger facility in Hillsborough later this summer.

 

DURHAM MAGAZINE

MADE IN DURHAM | BESTSELLING PRODUCTS FROM OUR READERS' FAVORITE LOCAL BRANDS

June 1, 2022

Marketing and Communications Manager Elise speaks with Durham Magazine to share some customer testimonials and the story behind Pistachio Crunch Almond Butter to celebrate our Best Durham-made Product win in Durham Magazine's "Best of Durham" awards.

 

BUDDY RUSKI 

HEALTHY EATING, MAINTAINING YOUR VALUES AT-SCALE, AND PEANUT BUTTER BY THE SPOONFUL WITH MARK OVERBAY | THE BUDDY RUSKI SHOW (EP. 26)

May 31, 2022

Co-founder Mark speaks with Justin Laidlaw of the Buddy Ruski Show about his and Big Spoon Roasters' origin stories, maintaining values, and growing a business based on passion, intention, and sustainability.

 

EPICURIOUS

DO YOU NEED TO REFRIGERATE PEANUT BUTTER?

June 1, 2022

EAT THIS, NOT THAT

THE BEST FATHER'S DAY GIFTS 2022 FOR THE DAD WHO DESERVES IT ALL

May 24, 2022

TASTING TABLE

20 BEST PEANUT BUTTER SNACKS, RANKED

May 12, 2022

THE SKIMM

18 EVERYDAY PRODUCTS THAT MAKE GOING GREEN SIMPLE

April 20, 2022

VANITY FAIR

DR. BECKY'S PICKS FOR THE BEST MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS THAT MOMS REALLY WANT

April 21, 2022

VEGNEWS

8 BEST TYPES OF NUT BUTTER

JANUARY 24, 2022

FEAST AND FIELD

JOY IN A JAR: BIG SPOON ROASTERS' NUT BUTTER CELEBRATES A SUSTAINABLE MISSION

JANUARY 10, 2022

SOUTHERN KITCHEN/USA TODAY

A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS: SOUTHERN-MADE FOOD GIFTS PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY LIKE

DECEMBER 14, 2021

The Durham-based Big Spoon Roasters makes delicious hand-crafted nut butters in micro-batches, which means this is the place to turn for the folks on your list who eat peanut butter out of the jar.  Big Spoon has a huge catalog to choose from, so I reached out to headquarters to get the skinny.

Recommended: The Staff Picks Trio, curated by operations manager Kevin Drake. Included is cashew butter with coconut nectar, almond butter with wildflower honey and a blend of peanut and pecan butter flavored with maple and cinnamon.

 

WRAL

GIFT GUIDE FOR PETS: WHERE TO SHOP AND WHAT TO BUY FOR YOUR PET

DECEMBER 15, 2021

FOOD52

36 PERFECT GIFTS FOR THE VEGAN IN YOUR LIFE

DECEMBER 14, 2021

CONDE NAST TRAVELER

16 GIFTS FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE ALL THINGS SPICY

DECEMBER 10, 2021

BON APPETIT

17 FOOD, BEV, AND ENTERTAINING GIFTS UNDER $50

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Who needs Netflix when you can watch your dog trying to figure out how to get frozen peanut butter out of the kong? But grocery store varieties are loaded with sugar, salt, and additives that your pooch doesn’t need. Big Spoon’s Coconut Chia Wag Butter contains just three ingredients—peanuts, chia seeds, and coconut—that are full of healthy proteins and fatty acids without the filler.

 

THE SKIMM

GIFTS TO HELP THE HOME CHEF STEP UP THEIR KITCHEN GAME

NOVEMBER 1, 2021

This decorative gift box comes with your choice of four handmade nut butters. It’s got a variety of irresistible flavors to pick from — like chocolate sea salt almond butter with wildflower honey, peanut pecan butter, Fiji ginger almond butter, and more. All they need now is a spoon.

 

OUTSIDE MAGAZINE

HOW TO MAKE YOUR LEAF-PEEPING HIKE TASTE LIKE FALL, TOO

OCTOBER 26, 2021

There is no fall flavor as scrumptious and subtle as Big Spoon Roaster’s Apple Pie Spice nut butter. For years, the North Carolina company has been making top-shelf butters and dense energy bars, earning the attention of Oprah and Bon Appetit alike. Its new harvest-time collaboration with pantry-supply connoisseur Spicewalla is perfect, with the spice of green cardamom and ginger offering the supreme foil for chunks of sweet apple and maple syrup. That’s all held together with almonds, pecans, and fancy salt supplied by Jacobsen.

 

AIR MAIL 

BEST SPREAD - BIG SPOON ROASTERS

OCTOBER 16, 2021

The question that keeps me up at night is not which brand of nut butter is the best, because it is, without a doubt, Big Spoon Roasters. The question that keeps me up is: Which Big Spoon Roasters flavor is the best? Mark and Megan Overbay, a husband-and-wife duo, started the small-batch nut-butter company in Durham, North Carolina, in 2010 with just four flavors—simple blends such as peanut pecan and peanut almond. Now they sell about a dozen rotating flavors at a time. Their current offerings range from lemon-coconut cashew butter to crunchy sorghum peanut butter to apple-pie spice. Every batch is handmade, as you can tell from the texture, which is somewhere between creamy and chunky. I even recommend their Wag Butter, which is technically made for dogs. Its ingredients—just peanuts, organic chia seeds, and organic virgin coconut oil—are better than most you’ll find in peanut butters sold for humans.

 

TEXAS MONTHLY 

THE MOST FESTIVE FALL FOODS COMING TO TEXAS GROCERY STORES

OCTOBER 5, 2021

Currently available at Central Market locations is Big Spoon Roasters’ limited-batch almond and pecan butter, made seasonal with spices designed to call to mind a warm apple pie. Described by the company as “coziness in a jar” that “warms from the inside out, just like a slice of homemade pie,” the combination nut butter with almonds and organic pecans is blended with apple pie spice from beloved chef Meherwan Irani’s company, Spicewalla. Added to the mix are apple chunks, touches of organic maple syrup, and Jacobsen sea salt.

 

TASTE OF HOME

19 FOOD OF THE MONTH CLUBS WORTH JOINING

OCTOBER 4, 2021

Jam clubs may never be as exciting as, say, a pool (just ask Clark Griswold), but we found a spin on this classic that comes pretty close. Big Spoon Roasters offers a PB&J of the month subscription, which includes a jar of featured jam perfectly paired with a nut butter.

 

DOMINO 

WE TESTED DOZENS OF DIFFERENT PANTRY ITEMS TO SEE IF THEY TASTE AS GOOD AS THEY LOOK

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Here are the products that check all the boxes—pretty enough to keep on display, but tasty enough to warrant buying them on repeat...

Real talk here: All of these items are so delicious, I would (and actually have) consumed them straight from their containers. They’re also great on toast (here’s looking at you, Rustic Cafe Jam and Big Spoon Roasters’s Chocolate Sea Salt Almond Butter), crumbled over vanilla ice cream (hi there, Seed + Mill Halva), or eaten alongside any other number of conventional pairings. But no judgment here if you just dive right in. 

 

FOOD NETWORK

10 GIFTS YOUR FAVORITE TEACHER WILL LOVE TO RECEIVE

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

For a gourmet, grown-up take on the ubiquitous school lunch classic, give the gift of Big Spoon Roasters, a Durham, North Carolina based company beloved for their small batch nut butters. In this PB&J-inspired gift set, they’ve teamed up with award-winning, Washington jam purveyor Girl Meets Dirt to create an irresistible mix of nut butters and jams.

 

THE INFATUATION

43 BEST GIFTS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY INTO FOOD

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

Variety is the spice of life, and that’s also the case with nut butter. Give the gift of not just one, but four unique spreads — from Fiji ginger almond butter to wildflower honey-infused peanut butter.

 

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

STOCK UP: THREE WAYS TO ENJOY PISTACHIOS

AUGUST 31, 2021

Big Spoon Roasters in Durham, North Carolina, makes several kinds of nut butters — cashew, almond, pecan and peanut — in a wide array of imaginative flavors. We think they are masters of all things crunch, and their limited-batch Pistachio Crunch almond butter is our latest crush. Whole roasted California pistachios are blended with coarse-ground almond butter and flavored with a bit of maple syrup. Even the fragrance of this pistachio butter is rich and enticing, and every spoonful has big chunks of roasted pistachio. Half a jar went in minutes, as our testers spread it on crackers of all sorts. What’s next in seasonal flavors? Apple pie spice almond and pecan butter, made in collaboration with Spicewalla, the spice brand from Meherwan Irani’s Chai Pani. We can’t wait.

 

USA LOVE LIST

BEST FOODIE GIFTS, ALL AMERICAN MADE

AUGUST 13, 2021

Big Spoon Roasters makes handcrafted nut butters from scratch with ingredients sourced directly from like-minded producers who share a dedication to authentic quality. Select any two nut butters to build a customized gift for someone you know who loves nut butter. The Custom Two Jar Gift Box from Big Spoon Roasters makes for the perfect gift. We love the Chai Spice and Toasted Coconut Almond Butter best! Crunchy, flavorful, with the perfect amount of sweetness, any of these nut butters pair perfectly with crispy, juicy fruits like pears and apples.

 

BUZZFEED

20 THINGS FOR ANYONE WHO CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH PEANUT BUTTER

AUGUST 11, 2021

Big Spoon Roasters Chai Spice Peanut & Almond Butter: It's my absolute favorite and turns my morning toast into morning treasure. A promising review: "Wow. I anticipated that it would be good, but I underestimated how delicious it would be! What a fabulous mingling of flavors, not to mention the satisfying crunch in the texture. Big Spoon Roasters absolutely nailed it, and I’m so glad I came across this product on Amazon...Get you some!"

 

THE KITCHN

10 OF THE VERY BEST FOOD GIFTS FOR ANYONE WHO LIKES TO COOK (OR EAT)!

AUGUST 14, 2021

No offense to the nut butters you get in a grocery store — they have their place, too. But once you try flavors like Chai Spice Peanut and Almond Butter and Maple Cinnamon Peanut and Pecan Butter, it’s going to be hard to go back to topping your oatmeal with anything else. Try some for yourself and then get your favorite flavor for everyone on your gift list.

 

TOWN & COUNTRY

17 GIFTS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

AUGUST 19, 2021

Upgrade the PB&J doldrums with a variety pack of kid-and-adult-friendly peanut butters.

 

WRAL

NOT YOUR AVERAGE PB&J: GET TO KNOW DURHAM'S BIG SPOON ROASTERS

AUGUST 11, 2021

Co-Founder Mark Overbay shares the story and mission of Big Spoon Roasters with WRAL's Kathy Hanrahan on WRAL's Out and About podcast.

 

USA LOVE LIST

10 THINGS WE LOVE, MADE IN NORTH CAROLINA

AUGUST 5, 2021

This brand makes the best handcrafted nut butters from scratch. They use ingredients sourced directly from like-minded producers who share a dedication to authentic quality. Each flavor option is unique and lets you discover nut butters in a way you never thought possible. These are next level! Surprise and excite with this ultimate gourmet gift.

 

GOOD GRIT

SMALL BATCH, BIG SPOON

AUGUST 2, 2021

Making all products in-house, Big Spoon aims for its production to be a “point of pride” within the community and a skilled and valuable job for its family of employees. In addition to remaining true to small-batch quality, Big Spoon is working to debunk and redefine employment stereotypes and foster healthy eating practices within North Carolina and beyond.

The Overbays also seek to give back to hunger-related causes within their local community, aim for a zero-waste company, offer generous employee benefits that are nearly unheard of for small businesses, and provide profit sharing. Creating delight for customers through their better-for-you nut butters and bars, Big Spoon is simultaneously changing the game and raising the bar for competitors and peers alike, and making the world a better place.

 

VEGOUT

13 FLAVORED NUT AND SEED BUTTERS YOU NEED TO TRY

JULY 29, 2021

Made in small batches with premium ingredients, Big Spoon Roasters is the epitome of artisan nut butters. While it may be difficult to justify $14 for yourself, these make for a tasty and thoughtful gift. Vegan-friendly flavors we love include Go Get ‘Em Tiger Espresso Almond Butter (made exclusively with Go Get ‘Em Tiger Minor Moments Espresso), Fiji Ginger Almond Butter, Hot Mamba Peanut Butter, and Maple Cinnamon Peanut & Pecan Butter. The company even sells “Wag Butter”—a peanut butter made for dogs, so you can each have your own jar.

 

ALLRECIPES

ESSENTIAL PANTRY INGREDIENTS FOR QUICK MEALS WHEN PRODUCE IS AT ITS PEAK

JULY 19, 2021

Big Spoon Roasters Hot Mamba Peanut Butter is the secret weapon you never knew your produce needed. This organic, non-GMO peanut butter is blended with Guajillo, Ancho and Habanero chiles for a savory spicy peanut butter that is the ideal basis for everything from peanut satay sauces for grilled vegetable skewers, to spicy peanut salad dressings to amp up your garden greens, to adding to salsa verde or chimichurri sauces to add both richness and heat. My favorite use is to make chilled peanut noodles with cucumber and radishes.

 

MINDBODYGREEN

THE 10 HEALTHIEST NUT BUTTERS: FROM PEANUT TO PISTACHIO (AND BEYOND)

JUNE 14, 2021

Cashews are something of a culinary wonder—you can blend them into vegan cheese, dairy-free ice cream, and so much more. And, of course, the copper- and magnesium-rich nut makes for a delectably creamy nut butter. This Big Spoon Roasters offering takes it to the next level, with a touch of coconut nectar for natural sweetness, coconut oil, and Jacobsen sea salt (is your mouth watering, yet?)

 

WHOLE FOODS

WHOLE FOODS MARKET ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF NINTH ANNUAL SUPPLIER AWARDS

MAY 24, 2021

Big Spoon Roasters awarded Whole Foods Market's South Region Supplier of the Year.

Award recipients span all product categories and were selected by Whole Foods Market leaders, category experts and buyers who work closely with suppliers every day.“It is Whole Foods Market’s honor to celebrate our suppliers who have demonstrated fantastic cooperation, resilience, creativity and commitment to quality, rising to excellence in a year unlike any other,” said Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Whole Foods Market.

 

CUPCAKES AND CASHMERE

WHAT OUR TEAM LOVED IN APRIL

APRIL 30, 2021

Our puppy Toast is extremely active, which means he's the world's best trail buddy, but also prone to bursts of energy every afternoon while Jonah and I are finishing up work. Enter, the savior of dog owners everywhere: peanut butter. Every morning, I add peanut butter to this West Paw puzzle and freeze it to give him when he gets antsy, but I recently learned that some peanut butter can be bad for dogs due to ingredients like xylitol (an artificial sweetener that's dangerous for pups) and added sugar. Granted, most of the peanut butter we buy for ourselves has no added ingredients, but because Toast also goes nuts for pumpkin purée, we recently bought this dog-safe peanut butter from Big Spoon, which has peanut butter, pumpkin (extremely nutritional for dogs), cinnamon, and ginger (which is good for their stomachs too!). Toast is obsessed with it. - Leslie

 

THE DAPPLE

WE TRIED IT: OUR REVIEW OF WAG BUTTER

APRIL 26, 2021

Wag Butter is a special small-batch peanut butter created with dogs’ needs in mind. The unique blend of protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, pre-biotic fiber, and Vitamin C promotes healthy muscles, joints, skin, and coats. We got to try out some of Big Spoon Roasters’ Pumpkin Spice Wag Butter, as well as their Banana Flax Wag Butter—and no surprise, both were a huge hit in our house! Each blend is formulated to be healthy for both dogs and humans, which I loved because they both smelled SO good.

The best part is that I love that Big Spoon Roasters is a company I can feel good about shopping from—they source their organic and GMO-free ingredients from ecologically-sustainable farmers, pay their employees a living wage, and make all their nut butters in small batches at their headquarters in North Carolina.

I think Wag Butter has become a new must-have product in our house, and I can’t wait to try more of Big Spoon Roasters’ nut butters for humans when I order more. (I’m coming for you, Chocolate Sea Salt Almond Butter!) I’m thrilled to have found a peanut butter that I can feel good about feeding the dogs—both for their health and for the planet. 🐾

 

CRAVINGS BY CHRISSY TEIGEN

CHRISSY AND PEPPER'S MOTHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE

APRIL 27, 2021

Nothing distracts and delights a dog more than when you fill a toy with peanut butter. This peanut butter from Big Spoon Roasters is made with good-for-pups ingredients: just peanuts, organic chia seeds, and coconut oil! This pack comes with a fancy nut butter for you, too—either peanut or almond butter with wildflower honey & sea salt.

 

BLOOMBERG

THIS MOTHER'S DAY, BRING THE RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE HOME FOR MOM

APRIL 23, 2021

Founded by Brooklyn-based Ashley Rouse and named for the street she lived on in Charlotte, when she created the brand, Trade Street offers a handful of singular flavors, including smoked yellow peach, as well as strawberry, chipotle, and fig. For Mother’s Day, Rouse, a former chef, has teamed up the nut-butter specialists Big Spoon Roasters. The combo package evokes the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches—one potential pairing is blackberry mulled Merlo[NOT MERLOT?] jam with chocolate sea salt almond butter.

 

THE SKIMM'

THE LAZY PERSON'S GUIDE TO GOING GREEN

APRIL 21, 2021

The bars are handmade in a roastery in Durham, North Carolina, with a nearly waste-free production process. Ingredients are sourced from ecologically sustainable and organic farmers, with packaging that uses nontoxic materials and is 60% lighter than the industry standard. The bars are gluten-, soy-, and palm-free. A delicious snack that’s also good for planet Earth? Yes, please.

 

MY RECIPES

THE BEST NUT BUTTERS TO BUY RIGHT NOW

APRIL 20, 2021

When it comes to having a flavor for every occasion, you cannot go wrong with Big Spoon Roasters, from their handcrafted basics like peanut butter sweetened lightly with sorghum or honey to specialty flavors like lemon coconut cashew butter, carrot cake almond walnut butter, or espresso almond butter. Big Spoon even makes a line of peanut butters especially for your dogs, and we all know a pooch who could use a special treat! Even better, they also sell their products in mini sizes perfect for exploring flavors or for giving as gifts and party favors.

 

THE INFATUATION

THE BEST ALMOND BUTTERS TO BUY ONLINE, ACCORDING TO AN OBSESSIVE

APRIL 14, 2021

If you’re committed to peanut butter but consider yourself almond-curious, stick your spoon in a jar of Big Spoon Roasters Chai Spice. It’s a decadent blend of almonds and peanuts, with a dash of chai spice and it basically tastes like dessert. Add a spoonful to vanilla ice cream or if you want something lighter, pair with apple slices.

 

CUPCAKES AND CASHMERE

7 ACTUALLY CUTE PET ACCESSORIES TO SPOIL YOUR PUP WITH

APRIL 11, 2021

Before we adopted Toast, his foster mom gave us the helpful advice that he's obsessed with pumpkin everything. We fill his Kong with pureed pumpkin, but have also been using pumpkin-nut butter from Big Spoon since coming across it (many peanut butters aren't great for dogs, since big brand butters can be made with Xylitol).

 

ESQUIRE 

30 GREAT (AND CHEAP) FATHER'S DAY GIFTS FOR $50 OR LESS

MARCH 26, 2021

We cannot express enough how much these specialty nut butters elevate any PB&J.

 

PS.

21 GAME-CHANGING ADDITIONS TO YOUR KITCHEN FROM FOOD52

MARCH 7, 2021

I bet this Big Spoon Roasters Mini Nut Butter Sampler Box is delicious.

 

WHOLE FOODS 

FOCUS ON FREE-FROM FOODS

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Our co-founder, Mark Overbay speaks with WholeFoods Magazine about natural foods, labeling trends, and the critical role of retailers as the gatekeepers for end consumers.

 

WRAL

WRAL DOCUMENTARY: MARYANN

JANUARY 13, 2021

Big Spoon Roasters founders Megan and Mark Overbay discuss Project Search, a program created by MaryAnn Black to help young adults with developmental disabilities find fulfilling employment opportunities.

 

THE SPRUCE EATS

THESE CONDIMENTS, SAUCES, AND BUTTERS ARE THE PERFECT FOODIE STOCKING STUFFERS

DECEMBER 14, 2020

The palm-oil free nut butters by Big Spoon Roasters are now available in TSA-friendly three-ounce minis, available individually or in perfectly packaged variety packs.

 

APARTMENT THERAPY

THE (NON-CHOCOLATE) GOURMET GIFT I’M GETTING EVERYONE THIS YEAR

DECEMBER 2, 2020

This 13-ounce jar of gourmet almond butter might just be the perfect Christmas gift.

 

THE BEET. 

STOCKING STUFFERS: THE BEST GIFTS FOR $5 AND UP, FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST

DECEMBER 12, 2020

This isn’t your average nut spread! Big Spoon Roasters’ maple cinnamon peanut and pecan butter with sea salt will have you thinking of cinnamon rolls or pecan pie, rather than ho-hum peanut butter.

 

WRAL

OUT AND ABOUT'S FAVORITE FOODIE GIFTS

NOVEMBER 30, 2020

This Durham-based company serves up delicious nut butters! While the jars will cost you more than the average container of JIF, they are so worth it!

 

PG 

SHOP HOLIDAY: GIFTS FOR HOME CHEFS AND FOODIES

NOVEMBER 27, 2020

Nothing beats a sandwich for a quick meal or snack. With a PB&J of the Month subscription from Big Spoon Roasters, you’ll enjoy variety.

 

YOUR TANGO

BEST HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR HIM 2020: 52 GIFTS FOR DADS, SONS, HUSBANDS FROM A-Z

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

For the PB&J lover, why not gift regular shipments of monthly featured PB&J pairings from Big Spoon Roasters, which include a jar of featured jam paired with a recommended fresh-roasted peanut butter.

 

TOWN & COUNTRY 

18 GIFTS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Upgrade the PB&J doldrums with a variety pack of kid- and adult-friendly nut butters.

 

ENTERTAINMENT

YOUR 2020 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: EW'S PICKS FOR THE SEASON'S BEST PRESENTS

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

Almond butter is so last year — try flavors like Chai Spice and Maple Cinnamon.

 

CNN

18 OF THE SWEETEST TREATS TO SEND YOUR LOVED ONES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

Handmade in North Carolina and with savory sweet flavors, these editor-favorite nut butters are packed with flavors from fresh Vermont maple syrup, organic honey and fresh roasted peanuts.

 

FOOD NETWORK

18 EDIBLE GIFTS FOR THE PERSON WHO TAKES THEIR PANTRY VERY SERIOUSLY

NOVEMBER 3, 2020

Yes, you’ll have to stir it, but that’s the beauty of Big Spoon Roasters’ exceptional nut butters. Durham, NC-based co-founders Mark and Megan Overbay are adamant about letting the flavor and nutrition of their small-batch nut butters shine without added stabilizers.

 

SPRUDGE 

EAT YOUR FEELINGS WITH THESE COFFEE NUT BUTTERS

NOVEMBER 3, 2020

Big Spoon Roasters is no stranger to coffee nut butters.... For their latest iteration, Big Spoon tapped Go Get Em Tiger, who provided their Minor Monuments Espresso blend to be included with heirloom mission almonds, coconut nectar, coconut oil, and sea salt.

 

MY RECIPES 

7 DELICIOUSLY NON-TRADITIONAL NUT BUTTERS WE’RE LOVING RIGHT NOW

SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

When a nut butter is made to order, you know it’s going to be good. Headquartered in Durham, NC, this nut butter is all handcrafted with premium ingredients like Jacobsen sea salt and heirloom almonds. We are partial to the Fiji ginger variety, made with crystalized ginger from Fiji, spread on crisp apple slices.

 

AJC ATLANTA NEWS

BUY THIS: SUMMER SNACKS WE THINK YOU SHOULD TRY

MAY 25, 2020

When you take a bite of their bars, you get the satisfying whole grain/nut texture experience, just a tiny bit of sweetness from the figs and honey and the last sensation is just enough chai (cloves and other warm spices) to provide a delicious finish.

 

BEAUTY NEWS NYC

KITCHEN BEST BETS: BIG SPOON ROASTERS

MAY 23, 2020

With unique flavors such as Figgy Chai, Apricot Pepita, Cranberry Cashew, and Cherry Pecan, these fresh and flavorful bars boast ingredient-integrity, are made from scratch, and contain raw honey, organic virgin coconut oil, peanuts, quinoa, gluten free oats and other goodness. They’re also soy free, palm free, and gluten free.

 

BARK 

A SPREADABLE DOG TREAT

MAY 20, 2020

We love nut butters ourselves, so we were delighted to discover Wag Butter—peanut butter for dogs, made by Big Spoon Roasters, a small North Carolina company making handcrafted, fresh-roasted nut butters and snack bars.

 

VEGNEWS

WE'RE EATING IT STRAIGHT FROM THE JAR WITH A SPOON.

MAY 10, 2020

This Big Spoon Roasters nut butter is so good we’re eating it straight from the jar with a spoon.

 

EAT THIS, NOT THAT!

THE 9 BEST MEAL REPLACEMENT BARS, RECOMMENDED BY NUTRITIONISTS

FEBRUARY 13, 2020

Made with wholesome ingredients like quinoa and wildflower honey, these bars are as close to homemade as you can get.

 

REAL SIMPLE 

WE TRIED 182 SNACK BARS—HERE ARE OUR 5 FAVORITES

JANUARY 28, 2020

Big Spoon’s small-batch nut butter has a cult following, and these luscious, cranberry-sprinkled bars are loaded with the stuff.

 

AJC ATLANTA NEWS

BUY THIS: THREE SPREADS YOU HAVE TO TRY

JANUARY 27, 2020

This may be one of the simpler combinations in their line-up but it’s just right for fans of crunch. The chunks of toasted almonds are recognizable, the big flakes of toasted organic coconut are crisp and the organic coconut nectar adds just a tiny bit of sweetness.

 

BON APPETIT

20 WAYS TO FEEL BETTER IN 2020

JANUARY 15, 2020

As someone who’s eaten peanut butter on the subway (the train was stalled and I was starving, okay?!), I am very down with this whole nut-butter-bar trend. And the bars from Big Spoon Roasters, the staff-favorite nut butter company out of Durham, North Carolina, are at the top of my pile.

 

NY SPORTS DAY 

2019 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

DECEMBER 20, 2019

Big Spoon Roasters out of Durham, North Carolina makes nut butters, healthy snack bars, and jams from scratch and have gift sets of their various products.

 

THE ATKIN REPORT

PERFECT PRESENTS FOR ALL IN OUR HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

DECEMBER 17, 2019

Want them to go nuts over your gift? Choose two gourmet nut butters ranging from almond butter to cashew butter and of course, peanut butter, all handcrafted in Durham, North Carolina with the highest quality ingredients from local producers dedicated to sustainability.

 

WRAL

GIFT GUIDE: OUT AND ABOUT'S FAVORITE FOODIE GIFTS

DECEMBER 4, 2019

This Durham-based company serves up delicious nut butters! While the jars will cost you more than the average container of JIF, they are so worth it!

 

CINCINATTI.COM

2019/2020 WINTER RUNNING GUIDE: HOW TO STAY WARM, SAFE AND HEALTHY

NOVEMBER 28, 2019

Other great snacking options include having an apple smeared with nut butters like Big Spoon Roasters, which has a variety of peanut and almond butters in various flavors. Maple Cinnamon Peanut & Pecan Butter with Sea Salt is reminiscent of pecan pie spiked with maple and cinnamon.

 

WALTER

AN A TO Z GUIDE TO LOCAL, GIFTABLE FOOD IN RALEIGH

NOVEMBER 23, 2019

Big Spoon Roasters offers more flavors of peanut, cashew and almond butter than you would have thought possible, plus jams and bars and their gift sets online come in earthy, attractive packaging. They even offer a monthly PB&J subscription!

 

BON APPETIT

THE UNDER $25 GIFT GUIDE FULL OF GIFTS YOU’D NEVER GUESS WERE UNDER $25

NOVEMBER 21, 2019

For the nut butter nut: This heavenly mixture of peanuts, almonds, cardamom, sugar, honey, clove, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, vanilla, and Jacobsen sea salt is so straight-out-of-the-jar good.

 

HEALTHYISH

THAT NUT BUTTER BAR YOU'RE OBSESSED WITH IS EASY TO MAKE AT HOME

SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

Inspired by the nut butter bars we love from Big Spoon Roasters, this just-sweet-enough, chewy-but-firm bar is bound together by peanut butter and honey.

 

FARM FLAVOR

10 DELICIOUSLY ADDICTIVE CRAFT NUT BUTTERS

AUGUST 22, 2019

Unlike many big brands that have added sugar, oils and preservatives, however, a new crop of companies is producing craft nut (and nut-free) butters using only the best ingredients.

 

FOODBORO

MUST-WATCH FOOD AND BEVERAGE MAKERS IN EVERY U.S. STATE

JULY 10, 2019

Companies across the country are constantly and creatively changing how we find, share, and eat our food. This is our list of must-watch makers.

 

VACATIONIDEA 

BIG SPOON ROASTERS - ALL NATURAL, HANDCRAFTED NUT BUTTERS

JUNE 3, 2019

Big Spoon Roasters is a brand specializing in handmade nut butters and other nutty products, all produced from natural ingredients in safe and sustainable ways.

 

BON APPETIT 

I HATE MYSELF FOR SPENDING $14 ON PEANUT BUTTER, BUT DAMMIT, BIG SPOON ROASTERS OWNS ME

APRIL 2, 2019

Basically, this is the chunky peanut butter equivalent of fairies and cloudless 74° days and rainbows, but like…the indie, small-batch version of those things (the fairies definitely wear naturally dyed linen jumpsuits).

 

BUSTLE

THIS PB&J OF THE MONTH SUBSCRIPTION FROM BIG SPOON ROASTERS GIVES YOUR CHILDHOOD LUNCH A MAKEOVER

MARCH 18, 2019

Not only do PB&J of the month clubs exist, but — even better — the PB&J Of The Month subscription from Big Spoon Roasters will provide you with the makings for the fanciest PB&Js you’ve ever tasted each month.

 

HEALTHYISH

TOO MANY LINES, NOT ENOUGH TACOS

MARCH 14, 2019

The best bar? Big Spoon Roasters’ cherry pecan, by a mile. It’s all about that salty-sweet.

 

THE COASTAL TABLE

MEET THE MAKER

MARCH 13, 2019

Big Spoon Roasters stirs up rich and nourishing nut butters for elite athletes and toast-lovers alike.

 

RUNNER'S  

4 RECOVERY SECRETS FROM THE MAN WHO JUST RAN THE FASTEST 10 MARATHONS IN 10 DAYS

FEBRUARY 15, 2019

Wardian is a vegetarian, but he always makes sure that he’s eating a balanced diet. That means enough protein. Some of his favorite sources? Eggs, hummus, and almond butter, as he told Runner’s World previously when talking about how he fuels his ultras.

“I usually have pretty good nutrition. This time involved a lot of airplane food, but I packed some bars and love Big Spoon Roasters,” he said.

 

INDYWEEK

HOW DURHAM’S BIG SPOON ROASTERS TOOK ITS NUT BUTTERS AND BARS FROM FARMERS MARKETS TO AMAZON

FEBRUARY 13, 2019

Big Spoon’s ethos is built on meticulous ingredient sourcing, environmental and social responsibility (it’s also part of Durham’s Living Wage Project), and quality without cutting corners.

 

PEOPLE

EDITOR'S PICKS: THE BEST FOODS WE'RE EATING RIGHT NOW

JANUARY 31, 2019

Big Spoon Roasters‘ super-nutty spread is flecked with chewy chunks of ginger, making it ideal for slathering over a hunk of crusty bread or, you know, just eating it straight from the jar. We don’t judge.

 

PELOTON

THREE COOL BITS TO EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY

JANUARY 1, 2019

It's rare that an energy bar brings something new -- and tasty -- to the table. Made with simple ingredients, Big Spoon Roasters' nut butter bars have done just that.

  

THE PRODUCE BOX 

INSIDE DURHAM'S BIG SPOON ROASTERS

DECEMBER 21, 2018

We wanted to sit down with Mark to share the story of his company with our members.

 

RUNNER'S

HOW MICHAEL WARDIAN FUELED A 184-MILE RUN ON A VEGETARIAN DIET

DECEMBER 12, 2018

"My sources of protein now come from hummus—one of my favorite foods—and almond butter. I only knew peanut butter growing up, but now I have a relationship with Big Spoon Roasters’ hand-crafted nut butter, especially the almond ginger flavor."

 

THE NEWS & OBSERVER

UNC HEALTH CARE BOOSTS THE PAY OF 9,000 EMPLOYEES AS IT RAISES MINIMUM WAGE

DECEMBER 11, 2018

Overbay said Big Spoon Roasters doesn’t have to cut back on hiring or on employee hours, because the company’s values are part of what it sells. The commitment to a living wage, health insurance and other employee benefits is intended to appeal to customers, who are supporting a shared value system by buying Big Spoon Roasters’ handcrafted nut butters, Overbay said.

 

CHOWHOUND 

CHOWHOUND GIFT GUIDE 2018: GIFTS FOR PEANUT BUTTER LOVERS

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

Keeping in touch with friends and relatives in other cities can be hard. But buy them a subscription to a peanut–butter-of-the-month club and they’ll receive a monthly reminder of how much you care. Big Spoon Roasters offers subscriptions that range from three months to six months to ongoing.

 

TRIATHLETE

IS PEANUT BUTTER GOOD FOR YOU?

JULY 8, 2018

These peanut butter products make it easy to skip over Skippy.

 

MEN'S JOURNAL

THE 10 HEALTHIEST, ALL-NATURAL NUT AND SEED BUTTERS

JUNE 28, 2018

This classic peanut butter will satisfy your cravings. It’s made with a touch of honey and sea salt. Do yourself a favor and spoon out the correct serving size: If you spoon from the jar, it’s going to take a Herculean amount of self-control to stop.

 

SPRUDGE 

BIG SPOON AND EQUATOR COFFEES JOIN FORCES FOR AN ESPRESSO NUT BUTTER

MAY 1, 2018

Like with all of Big Spoon’s edible spreadables, the new collab is light on ingredients; it’s made up of only “fresh-roasted heirloom California Mission almonds, Oregon Barcelona and Clark variety hazelnuts, [raw organic] coconut crystals, [organic Madagascar] vanilla, [Vietnamese] cinnamon, and sea salt with Equator Coffees & Teas’ flagship Tigerwalk Espresso,” per a press release.

 

VEGNEWS

GO NUTS

MARCH 1, 2018

Inspired by mamba, a popular Haitian peanut-pepper condiment, this intensely fiery spread blends fresh-roasted peanuts, organic sugar, and sea salt with guajillo, ancho, and babanero chilies for a unique PB you won't soon forget.

 

REFINERY29

KEEP THESE PRODUCTS AT YOUR DESK FOR BETTER OFFICE LUNCHES

FEBRUARY 27, 2018

Forget a regular old PB&J. Go bigger with an unexpected flavor blend for spreading on bread or crackers in a breakfast or lunchtime pinch.

 

TRAILBLAZERGIRL.COM

BIG SPOON ROASTERS HANDCRAFTED NUT BUTTER BARS

JANUARY 25, 2018

Big Spoon Roasters Handcrafted Nut Butter Bars are a definite must on your next TrailblazerGirl hiking adventure!

 

MY RECIPES

5 HIGHLY GIFTABLE FOOD ITEMS THAT WE WOULDN’T BE MAD TO RECEIVE (HINT HINT)

DECEMBER 4, 2017

As if Big Spoon Roasters nut butters couldn’t get any more delicious, they recently announced a new (limited batch!!!!!!!) collaboration with Jacobsen Salt Co. and Bee Local. The final product? Well, let’s just say, any nut butter lover in your life definitely needs a spoonful of this. Make that happen for them, okay?

 

THE WANDERING EATER

THE WANDERING EATER: HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2017

NOVEMBER 20, 2017

The North Carolina-based artisan nut butter brand, Big Spoon Roasters released a limited batch Jacobsen Salt Co. + Bee Local Nut Butter 2-Pack collaboration set. Both nut betters are delicious on its own or on anything from toast to fruit to cake.

 

USA LOVE LIST

17 AMERICAN MADE PEANUT BUTTER, AND OTHER UNIQUE SEED AND NUT BUTTERS WE LOVE

NOVEMBER 7, 2017

Chai spice isn’t just made for lattes anymore. Big Spoon Roasters offers you the chance to eat your favorite chai spices.

 

BABELY

BABELY // SPONSORED GOODIES: PART I">BABELY // SPONSORED GOODIES: PART I

NOVEMBER 5, 2017

Because we all a little nutty on the Babely squad, it seemed appropriate to team up with the kings of nut butter- Big Spoon Roasters. We were so excited to receive a big ol' box filled with what I believe to be the best flavor combo ever - their almond ginger nut butter.

 

FOOD52

THE SPICY-HOT PEANUT BUTTER YOUR PB&J IS LONGING FOR

SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

I first heard about mamba from Mark Overbay, who first heard about mamba from a friend who grew up in Haiti. Mark is the guy behind Big Spoon Roasters, a little company in Durham, North Carolina that makes the best nut butter you’ll ever find in a jar. They start with raw nuts that they roast until toasty and colorful and then mill through custom steel plates.

 

INTERACT

THE GROWTH OF NUT AND SEED BUTTER

APRIL 5, 2017

Inclusions and unique flavors set brands apart in this ever growing category. Big Spoon Roasters also offer various nut butter flavors, like Espresso and Vanilla Peanut Sorghum.

 

TRIATHLETE

THE CASE FOR PEANUT BUTTER

JULY 1, 2017

Big Spoon Roasters Peanut Butter: Small batch, made-to-order peanut butter made with roasted heirloom peanuts and wildflower honey.

 

SOUTHERN LIVING

HOT PEANUT BUTTER: 2017 SOUTHERN LIVING FOOD AWARD WINNER

MAY 30, 2017

Inspired by his experience with spicy peanut butter in Haiti, Mark Overbay adds ancho, guajillo, and habanero chiles to this signature Hot Peanut Butter. Smear with strawberry jam on crusty bread for a grown-up PB&J, or warm it up and drizzle over a noodle bowl.

 

PEOPLE

10 LAST-MINUTE FOOD GIFTS YOU CAN STILL GET IN TIME FOR MOTHER'S DAY

MAY 17, 2017

This super-nutty spread is flecked with chewy chunks of ginger, making it perfect for slathering over a hunk of crusty bread or, you know, just eating it straight from the jar.

 

FOODTRAILY

ENERGY BAR REVIEW: BIG SPOON ROASTERS APRICOT PEPITA BAR

MAY 17, 2017

As soon as you tear open Big Spoon Roasters’ Apricot Pepita bar, the aroma of the hand-roasted nut butter fills the air. The roasting concentrates the flavors, giving it complexity and body beyond that of other peanut butter flavors we’ve tasted. The bar itself is very soft, but with each bite, you notice the coarseness of the peanuts, roasted pumpkin seeds, and quinoa.

 

CLEAN PLATES 

NEW HEALTHY ENERGY BARS WE LOVE

MARCH 11, 2017

The eco-chic compostable packaging is what caught our eye at first, before being drawn in by the bars’ two unique flavors: Apricot Pepita and Cherry Pecan. Even the nut-butter base of these bars is homemade. We love their texture; it’s a combo of melt-in-your mouth creamy with a bit of crunch from puffed quinoa and cacao nibs. They’re great snacks on their own, of course, but we also love crumbling a bar over yogurt or a smoothie bowl.

 

SPOON UNIVERSITY

BIG SPOON ROASTERS IS CHANGING THE NUT BUTTER SCENE WITH ARTISANSHIP IN MIND

MARCH 6, 2017

Mark Overbay, founder of Durham-based Big Spoon Roasters, speaks to not only the texture of his nut butters, but also what his company stands for as a whole. Last month, Meredith Davin and I visited Big Spoon Roasters' facility, met Mark, and fell further in love with this company.

 

WASHINGTONIAN 

WHAT A NURSING MOM GETTING READY FOR PAGEANT SEASON EATS IN A DAY

MARCH 1, 2017

These gluten and soy-free treats are all handcrafted and you can taste all the whole natural ingredients they use!

 

INDYWEEK

COOK THIS: BIG SPOON'S LATEST PEANUT BUTTER SPICES UP SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

Mark Overbay has been thinking about Hot Peanut since he started Big Spoon Roasters in 2011. He stumbled upon the flavor more than a decade before that—in 1999 in Zimbabwe, where he lived and worked as a Peace Corps volunteer. There, his local neighbors roasted peanuts over an open fire, smashed them into butter by hand, and stirred in any number of ingredients. Some went the sweet route with coconut oil or meat. Others, savory with avocado. And others still, fiery with bird's eye chili. The last, especially, had Overbay wide-eyed.

 

GRUB STREET 

12 FOODS THAT WILL HELP YOU BE AT LEAST A LITTLE HEALTHIER IN 2017

JANUARY 5, 2017

Noted nut-butter producer Big Spoon is behind these apricot-pepita bars, made with roasted peanuts plus oats, quinoa, cocoa, and wildflower honey. It’s certainly a better way to start your day than a bacon-egg-and-cheese or a Clif bar.

 

MSN

THE BEST ARTISANAL FOOD GIFTS OF 2016

DECEMBER 31, 2016

Based out of Durham, North Carolina, Big Spoon Roasters makes a mean nut butter. Made with all-natural ingredients and none of those fillers and preservatives that you'll find in the grocery store, these nut butters are no joke. With nontraditional flavors like hot peanut, almond cocoa, and chai spice, this variety pack is sure to make your loved ones go nuts!

 

COOKING LIGHT

HOW TO COOK A NUT: GRIND THEM

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

There's no comparison between homemade nut butter and store-bought for Mark Overbay, founder of the handcrafted nut butter company Big Spoon Roasters, as long as you follow his rules of the road.

 

SOUTHERN LIVING

SOUTHERN LIVING 2016 FOOD AWARDS

MAY 13, 2016

Over the past year, our editors have canvassed the South, from Atlanta to Austin, sipping and sampling hundreds of artisan-made products; we've finally narrowed it down to one delicious list. Here are our favorites: Big Spoon Roasters' Vanilla Peanut Sorghum Butter. Coarsely ground with rum-like sorghum syrup, this is grown-up peanut butter.

 

BON APPETIT

AN ACTUALLY USEFUL GUIDE TO RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

MARCH 24, 2016

My favorite vendor, Big Spoon Roasters, based out of Durham, sells peanut and nut butters. I love the almond cashew and cashew peanut butters. They also have these neat little protein bars—in flavors like Apricot Pepita—that I order by the case.

 

TEEN VOGUE

12 ENERGY BARS THAT ARE BETTER THAN STARBUCKS

FEBRUARY 23, 2016

Most commercial nut butters are made with hydrogenated vegetable oils, which is why it’s best to go with brands like Big Spoon Roasters, whose products not only taste fantastic, but are actually good for you. They’re handmade Nut Butter Bars are made in small batches with their own fresh-roasted nut butter, are naturally sweet, and loaded with fiber and protein to keep you full longer.

 

MOUF

11 QUESTIONS WITH MARK OVERBAY OF BIG SPOON ROASTERS

FEBRUARY 22, 2016

To say that Big Spoon Roasters‘ nut butter is better than the smooth or chunky peanut butters found on the shelf of most super markets is not only an understatement in flavor, but an epic understatement in inspiration.

 

SPOON UNIVERSITY

20 UNIQUE NUT BUTTERS THAT WILL PUT SKIPPY TO SHAME

FEBRUARY 5, 2016

No. 1: Big Spoon Chai Spice
Big Spoon’s handcrafted nut butters like Chai Spice and Almond Ginger have some zing. The strong cinnamon and cardamom spices in chai make this an awesome butter to pair with anything apple, like this delicious cinnamon apple quinoa breakfast bowl.

 

TASTING TABLE

TASTING TABLE 2015 HOLIDAY PANTRY

DECEMBER 14, 2015

Keep the chai spices out of mulled wine this winter and try them spun into nut butter instead. Every batch of this textured peanut-and-almond spread is hand-roasted and packaged in Durham, North Carolina. Pro tip: While you're at it, tack a cherry pecan nut butter bar (or five) onto your order. Go nuts.

 

EXIT EVENT

WITH NEW JARS & BARS, BIG SPOON ROASTERS READIES FOR NUT BUTTER EMPIRE EXPANSION

AUGUST 28, 2015

“We’ll never compromise quality for any reason, as doing so would defeat the whole purpose of our business, which is to create the best possible version of every food we make,” Overbay wrote. That mission is so unique and inspiring, that the national Good Food Awards added its first “Pantry” category this year just to include Overbay and entrepreneurs like him.

 

INDYWEEK

TRY BIG SPOON ROASTERS' NEW ENERGY BAR

AUGUST 26, 2015

"It’s soft and chewy, with pockets of crunch. It’s sweet, with the apricots sitting alongside bits of chocolate, and a little spicy, as though a dab of pepper had been dropped into the mixer. I wanted to keep working out just so I could have another."

 

REAL SIMPLE 

NEED IN YOUR PANTRY: BIG SPOON ROASTERS ESPRESSO NUT BUTTER

AUGUST 11, 2015

A partnership with Counter Culture Coffee gave rise to this not-too-sweet offering made from espresso, fresh-roasted almonds, raw wildflower honey, and sea salt. Slather on a toasted English muffin to get a jump on your daily grind.

 

COOKING LIGHT 

GOOD FOOD: BIG SPOON ROASTERS ALMOND COCOA BUTTER

AUGUST 13, 2015

Amongst recipes like Peanut Cashew and Chai Spice Nut Butter, the Almond Cocoa Butter stands out as a mix of Mission almonds and roasted cacao nibs, with a touch of North Carolina wildflower honey, organic dark chocolate and sea salt.

 

MEN'S JOURNAL 

THE BEST ALL-NATURAL PEANUT BUTTERS

MAY 26, 2015

Perhaps the current king of small batch nut roasters, Durham, NC’s Big Spoon makes a peanut butter that is heavy on the roast and just about perfect on the honey and sea salt. The small, charmingly designed jars of must-stir butters are packed with a butter the consistency of brownie batter, crunchy and sweet but with the spotlight shining straight on a perfectly roasted peanut.

 

CULTURE

PAIRING NUT BUTTER AND CHEESE

JUNE 2, 2015

Big Spoon Roasters’ Chai Spice Nut Butter: Ready to take your pairing prowess to the next level? A variety of nut butters featuring the piquant notes of ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, and cloves make a playful bite alongside especially fruity and creamy cheeses.

 

SOUTHERN LIVING 

THE SOUTHERN LIVING FOOD AWARDS

JUNE 1, 2015

Mission Almond Butter: A three-ingredient nut butter that blends wildflower honey and sea salt with heirloom Mission almonds, which are creamier and richer than regular almonds.

 

TASTING TABLE

FIVE TOAST TOPPINGS TO TRY NOW

MARCH 30, 2015

Big Spoon Roasters Chai Nut Butter: Adding the warm spices of chai (cardamom, clove, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla) to hearty peanut and almond butter may seem like it’s going to be overkill, but it works: Each of the components is present in each bite, but they don’t overpower one another. Every jar is made to order, so give the Durham roasters a week to send yours to your door.

 

IMBIBE

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

NOVEMBER 1, 2014

Coffee Nut Butter: The classic PB&J gets a caffeine boost with this Counter Culture bean-infused butter from North Carolina-based Big Spoon Roasters.

 

BON APPETIT

HOW BIG SPOON ROASTERS MAKES SOME OF THE COUNTRY’S BEST NUT BUTTER

NOVEMBER 11, 2014

Welcome to Out of the Kitchen, our ongoing exploration of America’s coolest food artisans. Over the next few months, we’re apprenticing with the best knife forgers, cider brewers, and spice blenders, then bringing their knowledge and expertise back to our home kitchens—and to yours. Our first profile is Durham, NC’s Mark Overbay and his Big Spoon Roasters.

 

BON APPETIT

ALL-STAR ALMOND

NOVEMBER 1, 2014

Our favorite almond butter, Big Spoon Roasters Mission Almond Butter has intense flavor and crunchy-creamy texture. It’s subtly sweet and salty, so it works equally well in a sandwich with banana or alt-hummus.

 

FOOD & WINE

10 OBJECTS OF OUR OBSESSION

SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

Almond Ginger Butter… My favorite new morning snack; slices of Honey Crisp apple dipped into Big Spoon Roasters’ almond butter studded with candied ginger.

 

PREVENTION

HOTTEST PACKAGED FOOD TRENDS

SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Big Spoon Roasters’ Almond Brazil Butter: Outside of the mixed nut tin, the Brazil nut hasn’t had an outsized influence. But we’re loving its new all-spread-out look.

 

TASTE OF THE SOUTH 

TASTE 50: THE BEST IN SOUTHERN FOOD

AUGUST 1, 2014

These handcrafted, small-batch nut butters are ground in Durham, North Carolina, and use ingredients from local farmers. Trust us: Your PB&Js will never be the same.

 

SPIRIT: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

THE FOOD NETWORK: ART AND CRAFT AREN’T THE ONLY WAY TO BE CREATIVE

MARCH 1, 2014

While working in marketing, the North Carolinian Mark Overbay decided to create made-to-order nut butters inspired by what he’d tasted as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zimbabwe. “Freshness is paramount,” Overbay says.

 

COOKING LIGHT 

LOCAL FINDS: CAPTURING “FRESHLY GROUND”

MARCH 1, 2014

Mark Overbay first tasted minutes-old nut butter un the rural Zimbabwe village where he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Back home in North Carolina, Overbay began roasting fresh peanuts, then grinding them between custom-made plates to mimic the texture of African nut butters.

 

MEN'S HEALTH 

SPREAD ‘EM!

MARCH 1, 2014

Big Spoon Roasters Peanut Cashew: Big Spoon’s handcrafted nut butters are carefully blended to have a creamy texture while retaining the crunchy bits. The North Carolina company also sells killer peanut-almond and peanut-pecan blends.

 

THE LOCAL PALATE

A LA CARTE: GIFTS FOR THE SAVORY SET

JANUARY 1, 2014

Big Spoon Roasters Peanut Pecan Butter: We don’t know what to suggest with this since we eat it out of the jar, but rumor is it makes a mean peanut sauce.

 

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

BUILD YOUR BEST-EVER PB&J

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

More adventurous flavors include the spectacular chai, laced with cardamom and clove, and a peanut butter spiked with stone-ground chocolate. The silky handmade spreads are dotted with irregular nutty chunks. Sweetened with wildflower honey and seasoned with sea salt, they showcase the taste of the nuts themselves: rich, roasty and most certainly memorable.

 

O: THE OPRAH MAGAZINE

THE FIND: WE’RE NUTS FOR IT

SEPTEMBER 1, 2013

Chai lovers can enjoy the Indian spice blend in everything from cupcakes to coffee, but the latest – and we think greatest – incarnation is Big Spoon Roasters Chai Spice Nut Butter. Laced with piquant ginger and warm cardamom and cinnamon, the mix of peanut and almond butters is perfectly salty and just enough sweet. We like it straight from the jar.

 

BETTER HOMES

WHAT WE’RE LOVING: BETTER SPREAD

SEPTEMBER 1, 2013

Dozens of nut butters are popping up on grocery stores, and some of the tastiest come from Big Spoon Roasters in North Carolina. Their Secret? A short, simple ingredient list of the highest quality.

 

WELL + GOOD NYC

GET OUT YOUR SPOON FOR THESE NEXT GENERATION NUT BUTTERS

AUGUST 28, 2013

Founder Mark Overbay discovered the incredible flavors of handcrafted nut butters as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zimbabwe, and decided to try to whip them up back home in North Carolina. His creations (he literally hand makes each jar) combine peanuts with almonds, cashews, or pecans, and then add a touch of sea salt and local wildflower honey. The result is an all-natural culinary product that tastes utterly amazing.

 

THE HERALD SUN

BIG SPOON ROASTERS FOUNDER LOOKS TO BOOST NUT BUTTER PRODUCTION

JULY 27, 2013

Overbay started the business out of a passion for food, its ability to connect people, and agriculture, he said. “I want Big Spoon to help support farmers and other people participating in sustainable agriculture that contribute to the products we make.”

 

SOUTHERN LIVING

RALEIGH AND DURHAM

JULY 1, 2013

Get the best of both towns on your next trip to the Triangle: Big Spoon Roasters Peanut Almond Butter.

 

THE CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER GALLERY

A TASTE OF DURHAM

JUNE 10, 2013

Big Spoon Roasters tastes great, it’s natural, and it’s made with high-quality ingredients in small batches. It’s run by a very nice guy named Mark Overbay who cares deeply about flavor, nutrition and sustainability, among other things. You should read the inspiring tale behind Mark’s line of nut butters and peek at his unique flavors so that you can understand my enthusiasm for them.

 

SEMI-SWEETNESS

BIG SPOON ROASTERS

FEBRUARY 18, 2013

There isn’t a spoon in the world big enough to shovel in the amount of Big Spoon Roasters Peanut Cashew Butter that I desire to consume into my face. I’m also keen on consuming a substantial amount of their Peanut Pecan, Peanut Almond and plain ol’ Peanut Butter – and by substantial I mean a sickening amount by most people’s standards.

 

THE SPOON FEED 

BIG SPOON ROASTERS: MARK OVERBAY

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

Big Spoon Roasters prides themselves on flavor, craftsmanship, and their pursuit of redefining how the production of a food product should be handled. At the foundation of each jar is flavor.

 

BRIDES

FOODIE FUN 

Send your guests home with a savory – and unexpected – surprise: Big Spoon Roasters Peanut Cocoa Butter.

 

ENDURANCE MAGAZINE

BIG SPOON ROASTERS PEANUT BUTTER

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Big Spoon owner Mark Overbay works with local and regional peanut farmers to be a positive force for sustainable peanut agriculture and transparent marketing.

 

WHOLE LIVING 

ON OUR WISH LIST: BIG SPOON ROASTERS PEANUT PECAN BUTTER

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

No Jam Required: We like to eat this salty sweet mix of peanuts and pecans straight from the jar.

 

NONA BROOKLYN

WHAT’S GOOD TODAY: BIG SPOON PEANUT BUTTER AT GREENE GRAPE PROVISIONS

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

The best day yet for me here at Greene Grape was when the first samples of Mark’s peanut butter came in. I made everyone working in the store that day taste it. I’m a peanut butter geek, and I am really excited about this peanut butter. It’s the best all-natural peanut butter I’ve ever had.

 

VALET

THE ULTIMATE MAN’S FOOD

AUGUST 16, 2012

A Better Butter: Creamy, with just a hint of crunch, Big Spoon Roasters in Durham, North Carolina, produces a top notch spread made from freshly-roasted local peanuts, wildflower honey, organic coconut oil and sea salt.

 

SF WEEKLY

THE ARTISANAL IRONY

At Big Spoon Roasters in Durham, N.C., Mark Overbay, a veteran of the fair-trade coffee business, makes every batch of his locally sourced nut butters by hand.

 

TASTE OF THE SOUTH

PIGTASTIC PICKS… WHAT WE’RE LUSTING AFTER

JUNE 1, 2012

We can’t get enough of these peanut butters from Big Spoon Roasters in Durham, North Carolina. They’re handcrafted using local wildflower honey and peanuts.

 

DAILY CANDY

SNACKS TO GET YOU FROM MORNING TO MIDNIGHT

MARCH 6, 2012

Turn the blank canvas of sliced fruit or toast into a masterpiece with Big Spoon Roaster’s Peanut Almond Butter.

 

GARDEN & GUN

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY GROWS UP

FEBRUARY 28, 2012

Big Spoon owner Mark Overbay spent a decade searching grocery shelves for the perfect peanut butter before deciding he could do better. The resulting nut butters (classic peanut and blends of peanut–pecan, almond, and cashew) are roasted and ground by hand, using local peanuts, wildflower honey, organic coconut oil, and sea salt.

 

BON APPETIT

THE DIXIE PANTRY: OUR FAVORITE SOUTHERN FOOD PRODUCTS

FEBRUARY 1, 2012

Local runner peanuts, wildflower honey, organic coconut oil, and sea salt make for a pitch-perfect peanut butter care of Big Spoon Roasters in Durham, NC.

 

FOOD & WINE

TRENDSPOTTING: SMALL-BATCH PRODUCTS

JANUARY 1, 2012

From the hundreds of new small-batch products we taste every year, these are some of our recent favorites. These North Carolina nut butters are ground with local wildflower honey and nuts.

 

EDIBLE PIEDMONT

LOCAL ENTERTAINING

Mark Overbay has put together handcrafted nut butters with nuts and honey from local and like-minded farmers. You do in fact want to grab a big spoon and eat it out of the jar.

 

INDYWEEK

DO YOU FEEL LIKE A NUT (BUTTER)?

DECEMBER 7, 2011

Overbay buys his nuts from local farmers and includes local wildflower honey (honey contains medicinal elements unique to its environment) along with a minimal amount of salt in his basic nut butter recipes.

 

BON APPETIT

PEANUT PECAN OATMEAL COOKIES

NOVEMBER 1, 2011

The big flavors of Mark Overbay’s artisanal Big Spoon Roasters nut butters inspired his partner, Megan Lynam, to create this instant favorite. The complex nuttiness comes from the addition of ground pecans to the mix.

 

VICTUS POPULI

TWO GREAT NEW REASONS TO VISIT THE CARRBORO FARMERS’ MARKET

APRIL 22, 2011

Locally crafted nut butters blended with a beautifully brief ingredient list. Vic Pop fave, Peanut Cashew, contains peanuts, cashews, wildflower honey and sea salt. We already need a new jar.

 

BON APPETIT

NUT BUTTER REVOLUTION

APRIL 20, 2015

Mark Overbay launched Big Spoon Roasters, handcrafted nut butters made from scratch in Durham, North Carolina.

 

INDYWEEK

NOW SERVING: BIG SPOON

MARCH 2, 2011

Overbay plans to use only the freshest ingredients in his spreads, including North Carolina honey and peanuts.