If you haven’t tried out cashew butter, you’re missing out! Ask any nut butter connoisseur (is that a thing?) for a nutty spread recommendation and they’ll likely have cashew butter on their list of suggestions – it’s delicious!
Nutella, on the other hand, is pretty much a household name – I’d be impressed if you find someone that’s never heard of it! The chocolatey and sweet variation of hazelnut butter is something that goes well with pretty much everything you pair it with – I’m even guilty of eating it straight out of the jar…
But, only one of these spreads can be declared champion today – we’ll have them face off in a duel for the ages, watching them spar in a chess-match fight that’ll determine: is cashew butter or Nutella the better spread?
Let’s dive in!
Comparing cashew butter vs Nutella
Both spreads are made from nuts, and so have tree nuts as an allergen – although Nutella also has milk and soy. Cashew butter can be used for vegan and paleo (if unsweetened) diets, while Nutella isn’t suitable for either of those – neither spread is good for keto diets.
Cashew butter has a low glycemic index of 25, while Nutella likely has a high glycemic index – we don’t have a specific number, but the high sugar content in Nutella strongly suggests that it’ll spike your blood sugar levels. Please talk to your physician if that’s something you’re concerned about.
| Cashew butter | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) | |
| Taste | Mild, nutty, sweet | Sweet, chocolatey |
| Texture | Thick, creamy | Smooth, creamy |
| Allergens | Tree nuts | Tree nuts, milk, soy |
| Vegan? | Yes | No |
| Paleo? | Yes (if unsweetened) | No |
| Keto? | No | No |
| Glycemic index (GI) | 1 oz cashews= 25 | Unknown (likely high due to added sugar content) |
What is cashew butter?
Cashew butter is made by grinding roasted or raw cashew nuts into a delicious, creamy, and smooth spread. Roasting the cashews before grinding them enhances the flavor a bit, but you can use raw ones as well – making cashew butter at home lets you customize it how you want!
Some brands will add extra sugar to enhance the taste a bit, but make sure you check the label if you’re trying to avoid that – especially if you were wanting to use it in a paleo diet.
What is Nutella?
Nutella is a version of hazelnut butter that’s much more chocolatey and sweet.
Unfortunately, a lot of its flavor comes from added sugar, palm oil, and other ingredients that aren’t the most catering towards a healthy diet…
The good news is, you can make your own Nutella at home that excludes a lot of those ingredients you may not want, or you can make a keto Nutella if you’re interested in a low-carb version! Keep in mind, those homemade recipes do have a bit of a different taste (since we’re cutting out a lot of the bad ingredients) but they’ll still satisfy your sweet tooth in a delicious (and healthier) way!
Differences between cashew butter and Nutella
The biggest difference between cashew butter and Nutella is their flavor.
Cashew butter boasts a mild, nutty, and slightly sweet taste while Nutella is much more bold with a chocolatey and very sweet flavor.
Nutella is also not as thick as cashew butter is, and is a bit more oily. And remember, they have different ingredients (for example, cashews and hazelnuts) that change the types of allergies they may contain – like soy and milk for Nutella!
Now, they’re both delicious. Nutella gives you a consistent taste, but cashew butter can slightly change from brand-to-brand because some companies will add sugar to enhance the taste – just something to keep in mind!
How to use cashew butter vs Nutella
They may have differing flavor profiles, but both cashew butter and Nutella are super versatile!
You can enjoy both as a spread on your toast, waffles, pancakes (Nutella excels here in my opinion), as an ingredient in your smoothies, mixed into your oatmeal and yogurt, or as a dip for sliced fruits and vegetables!
Cashew butter is even used as a base for sauces and salad dressing for a nutty twist!
Personally, I really like Nutella as a way of adding a chocolate profile to different desserts – for example, drizzle it over a plate of strawberries and bananas, or add it into your brownie batter for a unique twist on a classic!
Nutrition: Cashew butter vs Nutella
Cashew butter is a solid source of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, but is a bit high in carbs as compared to other nut butters – although it doesn’t compare to Nutella in that regard…
Cashew butter also has added sugar in some cases, but otherwise has a fairly low content.
Nutella, as I mentioned, has a ton of carbs – 22 net grams per serving! It also has WAY more added sugar than any cashew butter, coming in at 19 grams added for a total of 21 grams per serving…
Neither spread is particularly great in protein, with cashew butter having 4 grams per serving and Nutella having 2 grams.
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Cashew butter | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) |
| Calories | 190 | 200 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 16 g (3 g) | 12 g (4 g) |
| Total carbs | 10 g | 23 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 9 g (1 g) | 22 g (1 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 3 g (4 g) | 21 g (19 g) |
| Protein | 4 g | 2 g |
How to store cashew butter and Nutella
Cashew butter should be stored in the fridge, especially if you got the natural type with minimal added ingredients. Otherwise, you may notice oil separation and that it goes rancid quicker.
Nutella is fine at room temperature in a pantry, and should last you up to 12 months according to Ferrero, the company that makes Nutella.
Cashew butter vs Nutella: The ultimate verdict
Cashew butter is a wonderful spread that’s thick, creamy, and nutty. It has a solid nutritional profile, and does everything it needs to perfectly.
Nutella is a delicious spread that adds a wonderful chocolatey aspect to whatever you pair it with, but it does have shortcomings when it comes to ingredients and nutrition with its high sugar content.
Now, it’s been a good match, but it’s time to declare a winner…
All things considered, Nutella does a wonderful job adding chocolate flavors and sweetness, but I recommend cashew butter for its better versatility in paleo and vegan diets, ease of making it at home, and better nutritional profile.
FAQs
Cashew butter has some great nutritional benefits like vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, but it’s not considered the healthiest nut butter due to its high carb content, low fiber, and potentially added sugar.
Almond butter is often crowned the healthiest nut butter with its awesome healthy fat, mineral, and vitamin content! Walnut butter is another great healthy nut butter to check out.
Nutella can be OK in moderation, but shouldn’t be thought of as healthy or good for you – it has a poor nutritional profile with a lot of added ingredients that are negative, such as refined sugar.
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