Not to be confused with your run-of-the-mill peanut butter, Il Colle del Gusto’s Arachidella Peanut Spread is decadently sweet—elevating the beloved taste of the childhood favorite with the molasses-y depth of caramelized brown sugar. Petite flecks of candied peanut add a toffee-like crunch to every spoonful, while a silken base of extra-virgin olive oil yields a luscious, caramel-like texture. And as we learned from the ever-popular “Nutella,” the Italian suffix “ella” is tacked onto a word to show affection, so there’s no question why it’s used in the name of this divine spread.
We test everything we sell. Here’s how we’d use this.
Drizzle atop ice cream or a rich chocolate brownie, or use along with or in addition to frosting between layers of cake for decadent desserts. Scoop onto your morning oatmeal, pancakes or waffles for a flavor boost, or simply smear on bread and top with fruit for an elevated PB&J-inspired tartine.
Given its silken texture, we wouldn’t suggest using this spread as a true substitute for peanut butter, but it can be used in many other applications that don’t require a structurally-sturdy spread.
The marriage of peanuts and sweet brown sugar came about via a different union, between Antonio Della Corte and Annamaria Conti. He worked in gelato and pastry shops creating sweet mixes; she ran a farm and bed-and-breakfast and was passionate about crafting her own olive oil. The rest is history. They started their company, Il Colle Del Gusto, and sold a line of spreads at farmers markets around Rome.