Not a lot of people have heard of Brazil nut butter, which is a real shame – it’s an amazing nut butter that’s becoming more and more popular for people doing keto diets, but it also provides a delicious taste for people who are looking for a creamy and buttery spread.
Now, we’re going to compare that against one of the most popular spreads in the entire world: Nutella! If you don’t know what that is, it’s basically a flavored hazelnut butter that is a staple in many households.
But, which of these spreads is better? Let’s check that out by diving into their individual characteristics and checking out how they compare in flavors, textures, culinary uses, and much more!
Let’s jump in!
Comparing Brazil nut butter vs Nutella
Brazil nut butter and Nutella are both made from nuts – the first is made from Brazil nuts, while the latter is made from hazelnuts. That gives both of these tree nuts as an allergen, but Nutella also lists milk and soy.
They both have smooth and creamy textures, but Brazil nut butter is the only one that’s good for vegan, paleo, and keto diets. It also has a low glycemic index, while Nutella’s sugar content suggests it would be much higher – talk to a physician if you’re concerned about spiking blood sugar levels.
| Brazil nut butter | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) | |
| Taste | Mild, buttery | Sweet, chocolatey |
| Texture | Creamy, smooth | Smooth, creamy |
| Allergens | Tree nuts | Tree nuts, milk, soy |
| Vegan? | Yes | No |
| Paleo? | Yes | No |
| Keto? | Yes | No |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Brazil nuts=10 | Unknown (likely high due to added sugar content) |
What is Brazil nut butter?
Brazil nut butter is made from Brazil nuts, which are often roasted to enhance their flavor before being ground down into a smooth and creamy spread. It only needs a little salt, which means that it’s super easy to make Brazil nut butter at home!
A really great health benefit about Brazil nut butter is that it’s full of selenium, which is an important mineral in maintaining a healthy immune system along with providing several other health benefits – just don’t eat a ton of it, as excess amounts can cause health problems. As the saying goes: “too much of a good thing is bad.”
What is Nutella?
Nutella is a deliciously flavored hazelnut butter, having cocoa powder as the main “chocolate” taste provider.
It also has so much sugar added (we’ll talk more about that later), and contains palm oil along with several other ingredients that aren’t the greatest and add soy and milk as allergens.
However, we have a homemade Nutella recipe and a keto Nutella recipe that take out a lot of those bad ingredients (like a ton of refined sugar) and provide a slightly different yet still delicious chocolate spread that you can feel good about eating!
Differences between Brazil nut butter and Nutella
The biggest difference between Brazil nut butter and Nutella is the taste.
Brazil nut butter boasts a light, mild, and buttery flavor that’s not overpowering at all. Nutella has a chocolatey and very sweet taste to it, which is quite distinct and different from most other chocolate hazelnut spreads!
Both spreads share similar textures that are perfect for spreading – smooth and creamy all the way through!
We’ll check out some of the big nutritional differences soon!
How to use Brazil nut butter vs Nutella
The great thing about these two is how versatile they are…
Sure, you can use them as spreads and slather them on your toast, waffles, pancakes (Nutella is amazing here), etc., or you could add them to your smoothies and oatmeal for a delicious twist!
You can even use them for baking, adding special flavors either as toppings or as ingredients – Nutella, for example, is awesome in brownie batter!
Or, if you want a beverage, try making Brazil nut milk at home!
Nutrition: Brazil nut butter vs Nutella
Brazil nut butter has a bunch of healthy fats in it, along with very few carbs! It also doesn’t have any sugar in it (which is very unlike Nutella).
The protein content isn’t bad either, coming in at 4 grams per serving. Brazil nut butter is also a little lower in calories than Nutella – although not significantly.
Nutella, on the other hand, has a ton of added sugar – 19 grams per serving, to be exact. That means it’s got a total of 21 grams per two tablespoons!
The chocolatey spread is also high in carbs, with 22 grams of net carbs per serving. The protein is nothing to write home about – only 2 grams per serving.
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Brazil nut butter | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) |
| Calories | 190 | 200 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 19 g (4.5 g) | 12 g (4 g) |
| Total carbs | 4 g | 23 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 2 g (2 g) | 22 g (1 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 0 g | 21 g (19 g) |
| Protein | 4 g | 2 g |
How to store Brazil nut butter and Nutella
Brazil nut butter doesn’t have added oils and preservatives – which we love – but that makes it more prone to going rancid. Store it in the fridge to lengthen its shelf life and prevent oil separation!
Nutella does great at room temperature, and should be good for 12 months after opening – yes, it’s awesome that it holds for that long, but it also makes us wonder about what kind of preservatives and additives they have in there…
Brazil nut butter vs Nutella: The ultimate verdict
Brazil nut butter is a tasty low-carb nut butter that provides some unique health benefits with its selenium content. Plus, it’s smooth and creamy, which is a great characteristic for spreading.
Nutella is also smooth and creamy, with a sweet chocolate taste. It’s quite delicious, but there are definitely concerns about the ingredients used to make that delicious taste.
So, with all that said, I recommend Brazil nut butter here for being more versatile and healthier, all while being a delicious spread that checks a lot of the “natural” and “healthy” boxes we look for!
FAQs
Brazil nut butter is perfect for keto diets with its low carb content, decent protein, and high healthy fats content!
No, Brazil nut butter has a milder and more buttery taste, while peanut butter tends to be saltier and more “peanut-like.”
Both these spreads can be used interchangeably, but they differ greatly in taste and nutrition – keep that in mind if you’re switching these out for one another!
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