Big Spoon Roasters

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Simple Holiday Snacks

 “Small cheer and great welcome make a merry feast.” — William Shakespeare

It’s that time of year to dust off the serving ware, entertain, and bring your favorite dishes to holiday potlucks and office parties. Keep it stress-free with these super simple ideas for shareable snacks.

Build-Your-Own Peanut Butter Cracker Platter
Crackers with peanut butter are a classic snack that everyone loves and a quick cure for the holiday hangries. Elevate your offerings with our Hot Mamba Peanut Butter plus interesting toppings like red peppers, celery, herbs, or even a sour pickle. Or go the sweet/spicy route with coconut and banana slices.

Mark’s Peanut Dipping Sauce
Ok, so calling this recipe simple might be a bit of a stretch, BUT it can be made up to three days ahead of time so you don’t have to fuss with it the day of a gathering. Full recipe here via FOOD & WINE.

Sweet & Nutty Dessert Board
We love a beautiful pie as much as anyone, but sometimes after a large holiday meal, there’s nothing nicer than a simple spread of fruits, nuts, chocolate, crackers, and nut butter to build your perfect dessert selection. We recommend our classic Peanut Butter with single-origin chocolate from bean-to-bar makers like Askinosie, plus a berry jam.

November 2019 Featured Jam: The Urban Canning Company Spiced Apple

“Food, in the end, in our own tradition, is something holy. It’s not about nutrients and calories. It’s about sharing. It’s about honesty. It’s about identity.” – Louise Fresco

Illene Sofranko founded The Urban Canning Company out of a combined love for traditional preserving methods, southern foods, and modern flavors. Although born and bred in St. Petersburg, FL, surrounded by diverse cuisine, Illene grew up learning how to can and preserve from her great-uncle Ray, a native of Charmco, WV. Ray passed on the skills their family had developed to survive the harsh winters in the West Virginia mountains. Illene took this knowledge and ran with it as a way to celebrate local agriculture, promote sustainable food, and stay connected to the food she was eating.

As a business that embraces all kinds of preserved and canned foods, The Urban Canning Company offers a variety of creations from Spicy Stout Mustard, to Sriracha Okra and Smoked Tomato Jam. They also seek to continue the cultural tradition of canning by offering classes at their headquarters.

The Urban Canning Co.’s dedication to technique and obsession with flavor comes through in everything they make, including this month’s featured jam, Spiced Apple. Do you know that intoxicating smell of hot spiced apple cider? Well, that’s exactly how this jam tastes. It’ll give you all the warm and fuzzy holiday feelings. Featuring seasonal apples, their custom apple pie spice blend, sugar, lemon juice, a touch of vanilla, and a bit of stout beer, this jam is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. We love it paired with our Maple Cinnamon Peanut & Pecan Butter on top of homemade pumpkin waffles with a touch of extra maple syrup for good measure!

We are so excited to offer The Urban Canning Co.’s Spiced Apple as our November 2019 Featured Jam! It’s available via our web shop while supplies last á la carte and in recommended PB&J and AB&J pairings.

Limited Batch Series: Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Gianduja


“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.” – Linda Grayson

The latest entry to our Limited Batch Series features the sacred combination of chocolate and hazelnut. Gianduja (pronounced sort of like Jon-doo-yah, as in “Jon, do yah self a favor and try this nut butter”) is a Northern Italian confection that consists of chocolate and at least 30% hazelnut paste. It comes in many forms such as bars, truffles, and of course, spreads.

Our take on this beloved tradition features intense dark chocolate and creamy Oregon hazelnuts (we can’t share the exact blend, but we use much more than 30% hazelnuts). Heirloom Mission almonds add body without overwhelming the predominant flavors of chocolate and hazelnut. The result is a luxurious, addictive spread that pays homage to its classic Italian roots while showcasing our signature coarse texture. Unlike most commercial gianduja out there, ours is 100% palm oil free and contains no refined sugars. We love Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Gianduja on thick toast for a luxurious breakfast, sandwiched between butter cookies for an instant dessert, or any other way we can get it into our mouths.

A note on the name Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Gianduja

We chose Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Gianduja as a tribute to renowned pastry chef and restaurateur, Karen Barker, who passed away this year. In addition to being a kind supporter of Big Spoon Roasters since our first farmers’ market days, Karen was a world-renowned, brilliant baker who had a knack for creating menus and using language to illuminate her dishes. She had a cake on the menu at Magnolia Grill, the legendary restaurant she owned here in Durham with her husband, chef Ben Barker, inspired by the Blackout Cake from her neighborhood bakery growing up in Brooklyn. When she introduced it on the restaurant menu as Blackout Cake, it sold very poorly. So, Karen changed the name to Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Blackout Cake, and it became their best seller. The cake, like Karen, was a timeless classic.