Plain almond butter is gluten-free — it’s just ground almonds, and Justin’s and Barney Butter confirm it.
Yes. Plain almond butter is ground almonds, sometimes with a little oil and salt — almonds are a tree nut, not a gluten-containing grain, so it’s naturally gluten-free. Justin’s almond butters are GFCO-certified (all Justin’s products except the Pretzel Snack Packs), and Barney Butter is free of gluten ingredients and made in a dedicated facility that doesn’t process gluten. The only watch-outs are flavored “cookie/granola/dessert” jars that add wheat, and the shared-knife double-dip at home.
Plain almond butter is gluten-free, and it holds across the brands. Almonds are a tree nut, not a grain, so a jar of plain ground almonds — with maybe a little oil and salt — has nothing for gluten to come from. It follows the exact same logic as peanut butter: the spread is safe; the only risks are deliberately added wheat in flavored versions and cross-contamination at home.
The bonus with almond butter is that two of the biggest brands go further than “no gluten ingredients” — one is third-party certified and the other runs a dedicated gluten-free facility. This guide lays out where each brand stands.
Why Almond Butter Is Gluten-Free
Almond butter is made by grinding roasted (or raw) almonds into a paste; many jars add a touch of oil and salt, some a little sugar. Per FDA labeling rules, the gluten-containing grains are wheat, barley, and rye — almonds are a tree nut and none of the standard ingredients is on that list. Plain almond butter is naturally gluten-free.
The major brands confirm and reinforce this. Justin’s states that all its products are certified gluten-free by GFCO, with the single exception of its Nut Butter + Pretzel Snack Packs — so Classic, Honey, Maple, and Vanilla Almond Butter are GFCO-certified. Barney Butter says all its almond butter is free of gluten-containing ingredients and is produced in a facility that does not process gluten; it even runs a dedicated almond-butter facility separate from its peanut-butter line. MaraNatha, Trader Joe’s, 365, and Kirkland plain almond butters list only almonds (and maybe oil/salt) — gluten-free by ingredient, though not all carry a certification.
The only way gluten gets into almond butter is a deliberately added wheat ingredient: cookie pieces, pretzel bits, or a “granola” inclusion in a flavored or limited-edition jar. The plain product is never the problem. (Note: a tree-nut allergy is a separate concern from gluten — this page addresses gluten only.)
Brand-by-Brand: Which Almond Butter Is Gluten-Free?
Plain almond butter is gluten-free everywhere; the strongest assurances come from the certified and dedicated-facility brands. The only “no” entries are wheat-added flavored jars.
| Brand / Product | Made with | Gluten-Free? |
|---|---|---|
| Justin’s (Classic, Honey, Maple, Vanilla Almond Butter) | Almonds (+ oil/honey) | ✓ Certified GF (GFCO) |
| Barney Butter (Smooth, Crunchy, Bare) | Almonds, dedicated GF facility | ✓ Yes — GF facility |
| MaraNatha almond butter | Almonds (+ oil/salt) | ✓ Yes (check label/GF claim) |
| Trader Joe’s / 365 / Kirkland almond butter | Almonds (+ oil/salt) | ✓ Yes (plain; confirm label) |
| Powdered almond butter (plain) | Defatted almonds | ✓ Yes (verify flavored powders) |
| Justin’s Nut Butter + Pretzel Snack Packs | Almond butter + wheat pretzel | ✗ Not gluten-free (pretzel) |
| Cookie / granola / “dessert” flavored almond butter | Almonds + wheat inclusions | ✗ Verify — added wheat pieces |
Cross-Contamination Risk
Manufacturing
Low
- Ground almonds and oil — not a gluten grain.
- Justin’s is GFCO-certified.
- Barney Butter uses a dedicated gluten-free facility.
Flavored / Inclusion
Medium
- Cookie/granola-style jars add wheat inclusions.
- Justin’s Pretzel Snack Pack contains wheat pretzel.
- Read the label on anything not plain.
Home
Medium
- Bread-crumbed knife double-dip contaminates a shared jar.
- Use a clean utensil or a dedicated GF jar.
- Label a household “GF only” jar in a shared kitchen.
Almond Butter — GF Status
- Justin’s almond butter (GFCO-certified) — gluten-free
- Barney Butter (dedicated GF facility) — gluten-free
- MaraNatha / Trader Joe’s / 365 / Kirkland (plain) — gluten-free; confirm label
- Plain powdered almond butter — gluten-free (verify flavored powders)
- Justin’s Nut Butter + Pretzel Snack Packs — NOT gluten-free (wheat pretzel)
- Cookie/granola/dessert flavored almond butter — verify; may contain wheat
What to Look For — Or Avoid
- Ingredients: almonds (and maybe oil, salt, sugar)
- GFCO certification (Justin’s) or a dedicated GF facility (Barney Butter)
- A clean utensil or dedicated GF jar in a shared kitchen
- Justin’s Nut Butter + Pretzel Snack Packs (wheat)
- Cookie/granola/dessert-flavored varieties without a label check
- Double-dipping a bread-crumbed knife into a shared jar
Frequently Asked Questions
Almond butter is gluten-equivalent to peanut butter, so the questions are mostly about which brands certify it and which flavored versions to avoid. Here are clear answers.
Is almond butter gluten-free?
Yes. Plain almond butter is ground almonds (a tree nut), sometimes with oil and salt — none of which is a gluten-containing grain. It is naturally gluten-free, and major brands like Justin’s and Barney Butter confirm it.
Is Justin’s almond butter gluten-free?
Yes. All Justin’s products are certified gluten-free by GFCO, with the exception of the Nut Butter + Pretzel Snack Packs. Classic, Honey, Maple, and Vanilla Almond Butter are GFCO-certified.
Is Barney Butter gluten-free?
Yes. Barney Butter almond butter is free of gluten-containing ingredients and is produced in a facility that does not process gluten — Barney Butter runs a dedicated almond-butter facility, which makes it a strong choice for celiac disease.
Which almond butter is not gluten-free?
Only products that deliberately add wheat: Justin’s Nut Butter + Pretzel Snack Packs, and cookie/granola/dessert-style flavored jars. The plain almond butter itself is always gluten-free; the added pieces are the gluten.
Is almond flour the same as almond butter for gluten?
Both are gluten-free. Almond flour is dry ground almonds and almond butter is the ground paste — neither is a gluten-containing grain. Only confuse them with products that add wheat-based ingredients.
Can shared almond butter get contaminated?
Yes. The main home risk is double-dipping a knife that touched gluten bread back into a shared jar. Use a clean utensil each time or keep a dedicated gluten-free jar in a shared kitchen.
Can people with celiac disease eat almond butter?
Yes. Plain almond butter is naturally gluten-free and celiac-safe; Justin’s is GFCO-certified and Barney Butter uses a dedicated gluten-free facility. Avoid wheat-containing flavored varieties and prevent shared-jar cross-contact.