The Oldest Peanut Butter in the US – Crazy Richards

May 21, 2026 by Chef David

By Chef David

Simplicity can be refreshing, but the change may take some time to get used to. Most popular nut butters contain added salt, sugar, and stabilizers, while natural nut butters, like Crazy Richards, are made with only one ingredient – nuts. Those who grew up on the big brands may find natural nut butters bland and be confused by the runny consistency. While others value the simple purity of a kosher one-ingredient product. Crazy Richards is certified kosher by the OU and can be found in 12,000+ stores across the US.

Why Nut Butters Run

Natural nut butters are more runny than big-brand butters because they only contain nuts. They are made by grinding nuts, a process that produces nut particles and oil. Nut butter starts combined, but over time, gravity causes the nuts and oil to separate. The lighter oil rises to the surface while the heavier nut particles sink. This explains why natural nut butters need to be mixed or stored upside-down.

Commercial brand nut butters remain perfectly smooth and don’t separate because they contain oils that crystallize, forming a microscopic “lattice” that holds the oil in place. Some brands use a binding agent to create a stable mixture that doesn’t break apart over time. These are considered less healthy, as they contain saturated fats.

It’s Just Nuts!

Crazy Richard’s classic nut butters contain only nuts, no fillers, preservatives, sugar, or salt.

• Peanut Butter (blue label for creamy and orange for chunky). A 2-tablespoon serving has 720 peanuts, with 190 calories, and 8 grams of protein. It provides 2% iron and 4% potassium.
• Almond Butter (blue-green label) with 190 calories, 7 grams of protein, 6% calcium and iron, and 4% potassium. And it’s made in a peanut-free facility. We enjoyed the almond butter, using it in a classic nut butter and jelly sandwich and in recipes. Pure nut flavor, without added sweeteners.
• Cinnamon Almond Butter (brown label) 180 calories and 6 grams of protein (Which we did not sample), contains dry roasted almonds, cane sugar, ground cinnamon, and sea salt.

Recently, they introduced a “no-stir” natural peanut butter which uses a small amount of RSPO Certified Sustainable Palm Oil, to keep the butter from separating [they do not use hydrogenated oils or sugar].

Natural No Stir has a bright green label and the same nutritional profile as their peanut butter (190 calories, and 8 grams of protein. It provides 2% iron and 4% potassium.

The Two Richards of Peanut Butter

The Crazy Richards brand represents the combination of two peanut butter brands. In Philadelphia, Richard Noonan began making natural peanut butter in his home kitchen in the 1980s, before natural peanut butter was fashionable, which earned him the name Crazy.

In 1988, Richard Sonksen (a former corporate banker from Ohio) purchased the Krema Nut Company, which was the oldest peanut butter company in the US, founded in 1898. In the 1990s, Sonksen purchased Crazy Richards.

In 2016, Sonksen’s daughter, Kimmi Wernli, took over the company, consolidating the brands under the Crazy Richards name.

Naturally Good

We believe the best things in life don’t need extra ingredients. Natural nut butters are a good source of plant-based protein and dietary fiber. While they may bring back memories of school lunches, we experimented with some adult ways to enjoy them. Whisk peanut butter with soy sauce, lime juice, ginger, and a splash of chili oil to create a dipping sauce. Or create a delicious salad dressing by combining almond butter with apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey. For a sweet, healthy treat, top a Medjool date with nut butter.

Natural nut butters are a delicious source of protein without added sugars or salt. Once you try it, you won’t look back.