Cashew Butter vs Tahini: Which is Better?

Cashew butter is one of those nut butters that I think doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. 

It has that thick and creamy texture that’s so highly sought-after, it has a mild, nutty, and sweet taste that’s the perfect partner to your toast or many other dishes, and it really embodies some of the great things about nut butters.

However, as great as it is, we’re going to see if there’s something better…

We’ll compare cashew butter to tahini, which is that popular ingredient in hummus! However, it’s become quite the great spread, providing a unique taste and texture to be used in ways that you may not have tried!

We’ll check these two in close detail, declaring a winner by comparing their dietary versatility, culinary uses, flavor profiles, and more!

So, without further ado, let’s jump in!

Comparing cashew butter vs tahini

Cashew butter is made from cashews, giving it tree nuts as an allergen. Tahini, on the other hand, has sesame as an allergen. They both share creamy qualities to their textures, and have mildly nutty tastes in their flavor profiles. 

Both spreads work for vegan and paleo diets (as long as the cashew butter is unsweetened), and tahini also fits into any keto diets. They both have low glycemic indexes, which makes either a great choice if you’re watching your blood sugar levels – however, talk to a physician if you have concerns about your blood sugar levels spiking when eating these!

	Cashew butter	Tahini (sesame seed butter)
Taste	Mild, nutty, sweet	Mildly nutty, toasty, slightly bitter
Texture	Thick, creamy	Thin, creamy
Allergens	Tree nuts	Sesame
Vegan?	Yes	Yes
Paleo?	Yes (if unsweetened)	Yes
Keto?	No	Yes
Glycemic index (GI)	1 oz cashews= 25	40

What is cashew butter?

Cashew butter is made by grinding roasted or raw cashew nuts into a thick, creamy, and smooth spread that boasts a mild, nutty, and sweet flavor. 

If you’re making cashew butter at home, you can use roasted or raw cashews. However, I recommend using roasted ones as that enhances their flavor!

Keep an eye on the sugar content, as lots of brands will add extra sugar for the taste!

What is tahini? 

Tahini is a thin, creamy, and smooth spread that comes from the Middle East. It boasts a unique nutty and slightly bitter flavor, which works great as a spread or as an ingredient in hummus. 

It’s made from toasted sesame seeds, which are ground down into the drizz-able paste – in fact, it’s easy to make tahini at home, so don’t worry if you don’t like any store options!

Differences between cashew butter and tahini

The biggest differences between cashew butter and tahini are their flavors and textures.

Cashew butter boasts a mild, nutty, and slightly sweet taste, and tahini has a mildly nutty, slightly bitter, and toasty flavor profile. 

Looking at their textures, cashew butter has a thick and creamy consistency to it, while tahini has a thin and runny texture – which is perfect for drizzling over different foods!

We’ll check out their nutritional profiles in just a bit!

How to use cashew butter vs tahini

Let your creativity flow with these two!

You can use cashew butter or tahini as a spread on your toast, waffles, and pancakes – or, dip fruits and vegetables into them for a fun and tasty snack! You can also mix them into your smoothies and oatmeal, or use them as ingredients in your bakes to lend their unique flavor profiles to your baked creations!

Tahini is especially great drizzled over things – like over your salads, pasta, and bakes!

Nutrition: Cashew butter vs tahini

Cashew butter has a great healthy fats content, and is a good source of vitamins and minerals! It’s a bit higher in carbs, with 9 grams of net carbs per serving along with 1 gram of fiber. You’ll find 4 grams of protein per serving, and occasionally some added sugar – make sure to check the labels before buying!

Tahini has a lot of healthy fats as well, and boasts 3 grams of fiber per serving. It has 5 grams of protein per serving, with 3 grams of net carbs – this makes it great for keto recipes!. It’s slightly lower in calories than cashew butter, with 176 calories per serving versus cashew butter’s 190. 

Serving size: 2 tbsp	Cashew butter	Tahini (sesame seed butter)
Calories	190	176
Total fat (saturated)	16 g (3 g)	16 g (2 g)
Total carbs	10 g	6 g
Net carbs (fiber)	9 g (1 g)	3 g (3 g)
Total sugars (incl. added)	3 g (4 g)	0 g
Protein	4 g	5 g

How to store cashew butter and tahini

Store cashew butter in the fridge, because it doesn’t usually have added oils or preservatives – especially if you get the natural kinds! It’ll also slow down oil separation on top of preventing it from going rancid too fast!

Tahini can also be stored in the fridge – it’ll thicken up a bit, making it easier to handle! However, if you want, you could also store tahini in a cool and dry place outside the fridge.

Check the labels for best-before dates and any specific storage instructions for both of these, as those can change from brand-to-brand!

Cashew butter vs tahini: Which is better?

So, which spread takes the crown?

Cashew butter is an awesome spread with a delicious taste and a thick and creamy texture. It also has some solid nutritional properties, and does really well in many culinary settings!

Tahini is a unique spread that really excels as a topping since it can be drizzled so easily. It also has some great nutritional properties, and has a unique taste that will add something special to your dishes!

So, with all things considered, I declare cashew butter as the victor due to its delicious texture and taste – it’s hard to beat! Plus, it works a bit better as a spread than tahini.

FAQs

Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same