Most powders are made from a combination of peanuts, salt and a hint of added sugar. Popular peanut butter brands include PB2, Just Great Stuff and Dowd & Rogers.

A large portion of the natural oils in the peanuts are removed, yielding a powdered product that is 80 to 90 percent lower in fat and calories than regular peanut butter. A 2 tablespoon portion contains 45 calories, 1.5 grams of fat and 5 grams of protein (that's about one-third the protein content of regular peanut butter).

Instead of being spread, the powder needs to be sprinkled dry or mixed with water to create a paste. It definitely tastes like peanuts, with a lighter and less exciting flavor. The paste lacks peanut butter's distinctive creaminess, but that's to be expected from something so much lower in fat.

As for the price, hold on to your wallet. Powdered varieties sell for about $8.00 to $9.00 per jar, or about $1.25 per ounce. Regular peanut butter sells for a fraction of the cost, at $0.15 to $0.20 per ounce.

Add peanut butter powder to smoothies, oatmeal, pancakes and cookies; blend with cocoa powder for a chocolaty spin. For more savory ideas, whisk into dips, dressings, soups and coatings for meat and fish. A combo of peanut butter powder, soy sauce, lime juice and water makes a tasty sauce for noodles, especially when tossed with steamed veggies, chopped peanuts and grilled shrimp.

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition. See Dana's full bio »