Exploring the fire and flavor of Virginia’s favorite crop.
Peanuts are synonymous with Virginia—we’ve been in love with this edible crop ever since the colonists began farming them here in the early 1700s. And the good news is, you don’t need to feel guilty about snacking on them! Peanuts are packed with health benefits, including protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and heart-healthy fats. Virginia makers have come up with many creative ways to enjoy these tasty little nuts, from peanut butter and brittle to peanut pie, so get crackin’!
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VIRGINIA PEANUT PIE (above picture)
Red Truck Rural Bakery, Warrenton
Filled with local jumbo peanuts from Belmont Peanuts, Red Truck Rural Bakery’s Virginia Peanut Pie is sprinkled with chocolate cake crumbs, a little bit of coconut, and a hint of honey. RedTruckBakery.Goldbelly.com
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PEANUT BUTTER CUPS
A stack of peanut butter cups.
Clean Conscience Chocolate, Gordonsville
Accented with sea salt and a hint of unrefined cane sugar, these all-vegan, all-gluten free peanut butter cups are dolloped into 70-percent raw chocolate shells and sealed with more chocolate. Facebook.com/CleanConscienceChocolate
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PEANUT BRITTLE
peanut brittle isolated on white background
Bacon’s Castle, Surry
For its peanut brittle, Bacon’s Castle is using the typical oval-shaped Virginia peanut with reddish-brown skin, known for their pleasing texture and outstanding flavor. The brittle comes in 8-ounce bags. BaconsCastlePeanuts.com
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PEANUT SQUARES
The Good Earth Peanut Company, Skippers
The Vincent family has been growing peanuts—on and off—since the 1830s. Made with lots of Virginia peanuts, their peanut candy is cut in squares and comes in 18-, 22-, and 40-ounce sizes. GoodEarthPeanuts.com
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CLASSIC OLD FASHIONED PEANUT SQUARES
Virginia Diner, Wakefield
The Classic Old Fashioned Peanut Squares by Virginia Diner are a long time favorite. Made fresh from Virginia peanuts, sugar, and real butter, they are then cut into convenient bite-size portions. VADiner.com
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PEANUT BUTTER SPREAD
Herbert’s Wine Jelly, Palmyra
There are three flavors in a pack of peanut butter spread: Marshmall-O-My is peanut butter with marshmallow; Caramel Peanut Delight blends peanut butter, caramel, and chocolate; and Bananganza spread is full of banana flavor and bits of banana. HerbertsWineJelly.com
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CHAI NIRVANA PEANUT BUTTER
OmMade, Reston
The aromatic flavors of India come alive in OmMade’s Chai Nirvana Peanut Butter with cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger. Get a spoon and you’ll experience—wait for it—Nirvana. OmMadePB.com
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BAGGED JUMBO PEANUTS
Gurganus Peanuts, Capron
The 1.5-pound bag of Jumbo Roasted Peanuts comes in four flavors: salted, roasted, cajun, and raw. Expect your snacking to take some time, because the nuts are still in their shells. Gurganus-Peanuts.com
This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue.
