Coconut Butter vs Almond Butter: Which is Better?

Almond butter is quickly becoming one of the most popular of all the nut butters around with its high versatility and rich nutrient content – but how does coconut butter compare, and which one should you use?

In this article, we’ll dive into the different characteristics of each, comparing almond butter and coconut butter to find the best one for you!

Comparing coconut butter vs almond butter

	Coconut butter	Almond butter
Taste	Coconut, rich, slightly nutty	Nutty, rich, slightly sweet
Texture	Thick, pasty, slightly gritty	Slightly grainy and runny (or crunchy)
Allergens	Coconuts*	Tree nuts
Vegan?	Yes	Yes
Paleo?	Yes	Yes
Keto?	Yes	Yes
Glycemic index (GI)	Low**	0

*The USDA considers coconuts as tree nuts, but many people with tree nut allergies can safely consume coconut products.

**Coconut butter is made from the flesh of coconuts, which have a glycemic index of 45, classifying it as a low GI food. Although there isn’t clear data on the GI of coconut butter, we would assume it’s the same, or very similar, to coconuts. 

What is coconut butter?

Coconut butter is made by grinding dried coconut meat into a paste giving it a thick, pasty consistency. 

The pieces of coconut flesh in it give it a bit of a gritty texture, and it’s spreadable when solid. However, it becomes thin and runny when warmed up.

What is almond butter?

Almond butter is simply made by blending raw and/or roasted almonds until they turn into a smooth, creamy spread that has a slightly grainy texture to it.

It’s become quite popular as a substitute for peanut butter due to often having no preservatives, sugars, or oils added – that being said, always make sure to check the label at the store to confirm that you’re getting the real thing!

Differences between coconut butter and almond butter

Coconut butter tends to have a slightly gritty texture to it due to the bits of coconut flesh in it, while almond butter has a bit of grainy texture from the blended almonds. 

Almond butter is generally sticky depending on the brand, and it’s fairly runny unless it’s put in the fridge. Coconut butter is grittier when solid, but warming it up makes it thin and runny as well. The nice thing about almond butter is that you can get it both crunchy or smooth depending on your preference!

You can find either in stores, but you can make coconut butter easily at home by yourself! 

How to use coconut butter vs almond butter

Both coconut butter and almond butter are great to use as spreads on toast, bakes, and more, with coconut butter being a great substitute to almond butter for anyone with nut allergies. 

They’re also both great in smoothies and oatmeal, depending on the taste you’re going for – you might even want to mix almond and coconut together! Coconut butter is also very versatile and has many different uses, including skincare – speaking of skincare, check out how to make your own almond body butter to fight that dry skin!

And if you love ice cream, take a look at this delicious recipe for almond butter banana ice cream – and you don’t even need an ice cream maker for it!

Nutrition: Coconut butter vs almond butter

Coconut butter is super high in saturated fat, whereas almond butter has a much lower saturated fat content. Almond butter also has a fair amount more protein, which makes it a great addition to your smoothie or protein shake!

If you’re going for a low-carb or keto diet, both butters do well here, but coconut butter has slightly less carbs than almond butter does. 

Coconut butter has a nice amount of fiber, while almond butter has a nice blend of vitamin E and magnesium – both butters have their pros and cons, but almond butter comes out just ahead in terms of nutrition!

Serving size: 2 tbsp	Coconut butter	Almond butter
Calories	210	190
Total fat (saturated)	22 g (18 g)	17 g (2 g)
Total carbs	8 g	7 g
Net carbs (fiber)	2 g (6 g)	3 g (4 g)
Total sugars (incl. added)	2 g (0 g)	1 g (0 g)
Protein	2 g	7 g

How to store coconut butter and almond butter

Coconut butter is stable at room temperature, so you should be good to toss it into your cupboard after opening it. The best-before date varies from brand-to-brand, but they generally last for 6-12 months before going rancid.

Almond butter usually lasts between 2-3 months after opening it up. Natural almond butter should be put into the fridge because it doesn’t have any added oils or preservatives – plus, the fridge will thicken it up a bit if you don’t like it too runny!

Coconut butter vs almond butter: Which is better

Now, the final verdict – which butter takes the crown?

Personally, I think almond butter is the better choice here. It has a strong nutritional profile, is extremely versatile, and has a great taste to it. That being said, coconut butter has a longer shelf-life and can generally be safely eaten by people with nut allergies, unlike almond butter.

Taste is another big factor to consider – these two butters have wildly different flavors, with coconut butter tasting like coconuts and almond butter tasting nuttier, like almonds (obviously). That could sway your choice a lot, especially considering what your goal is with these. 

I’d say that both deserve a spot in your culinary tool-belt given their unique tastes – but that depends on your preferences! 

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