Granola butter is basically turning your favorite granola bar into a spread – and yes, it’s as delicious as it sounds! It also means that you can have so many choices of what type of granola butter you get!
Then there’s cashew butter, one of my favorite nut butters for its thick and creamy texture with a mild and nutty taste that just goes so well with so many different things!
We’re going to watch these two spreads put on the gloves and enter the boxing ring in this article, cheering them on as they compete in things like culinary uses, flavor profiles, dietary versatility, and much more!
Then, when the final bell rings, we’ll know exactly which spread is the winner here: granola butter or cashew butter.
Let’s jump in!
Comparing granola butter vs cashew butter
Granola butter and cashew butter both contain nuts, although the ones in granola butter depend on the recipe or the brand their from. This gives both spreads tree nuts as allergens – granola butter also often contains coconut, which is considered a tree nut by the USDA.
The spreads share creamy characteristics in their textures, and are both great for vegan diets. Cashew butter is also suitable for paleo diets if it’s unsweetened, and it has a low glycemic index, making it a great choice if you don’t want your blood sugar levels to spike. The glycemic index for granola butter is unknown, although it’s likely medium due to the added sugar – talk to your physician if you have any concerns!
| Granola butter | Cashew butter | |
| Taste | Toasty, roasted (like granola or a graham cracker) | Mild, nutty, sweet |
| Texture | Creamy, slightly grainy | Thick, creamy |
| Allergens | Tree nuts (coconut) | Tree nuts |
| Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
| Paleo? | No | Yes (if unsweetened) |
| Keto? | No | No |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Unknown; likely medium due to added sugar | 1 oz cashews= 25 |
What is granola butter?
Granola butter is a creamy and slightly grainy spread made by combining oats, nuts, seeds, honey, coconut oil, and much more – basically, it’s your favorite granola turned into a delicious spread.
The different ingredients makes it very customizable, and you can make granola butter at home in any way you want!
What is cashew butter?
Cashew butter is a thick, smooth, and creamy spread made by grinding roasted or raw cashew nuts down. It has a mild, nutty, and sweet flavor that is wonderful – using roasted cashews will enhance the flavor, but you can use that or raw ones if you make cashew butter at home!
One thing to keep in mind is that some brands add sugar to enhance the taste, so keep an eye on the label before buying if you want to avoid that!
Differences between granola butter and cashew butter
The biggest differences between granola butter and cashew butter are their flavors and textures.
Granola butter comes in many different flavors since there are a wide variety of ingredients that can be used, but it generally has a nutty, toasty, roasted, and slightly sweet flavor, with hints of whatever spices were used in it – like cinnamon! Cashew butter has a mild, nutty, and sweet flavor profile.
Texture-wise, granola butter is creamy and slightly grainy due to the oats, while cashew butter is thick, creamy, and smooth.
How to use granola butter vs cashew butter
You can use both granola butter and cashew butter in many ways…
For example, use either as a spread for your toast, pancakes, waffles, etc., or mix them into your smoothies and oatmeal. You can even dip fruits and vegetables into them, or add them as ingredients in your bakes for some awesome flavor twists!
Granola butter’s roasted flavor pairs really nicely in something like muffins, while cashew butter’s mild and nutty flavor does great in both sweet and savory dishes – try it out in cookies!
Nutrition: Granola butter vs cashew butter
Granola butter varies a bit in terms of nutrition since there are different recipes for it, and different brands may use different ingredients and measurements. However, it’s usually pretty low in calories, but tends to have added sugar in it. It’s also high in carbs like cashew butter, and has around 3 grams of protein per serving.
Cashew butter, like I mentioned, has a lot of carbs, boasting 9 grams of net carbs per serving. It has 4 grams of protein per serving, and has a lot of healthy fats. Cashew butter also has vitamins and minerals, but only has 1 gram of fiber per serving. Again, keep an eye on the added sugar!
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Granola butter | Cashew butter |
| Calories | 170 | 190 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 12 g (4 g) | 16 g (3 g) |
| Total carbs | 14 g | 10 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 13 g (1 g) | 9 g (1 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 4 g (4 g) | 3 g (4 g) |
| Protein | 3 g | 4 g |
How to store granola butter and cashew butter
Granola butter and cashew butter should both be stored in the fridge to help prevent them from going rancid too quickly. Both are prone to oil separation, which the fridge will help prevent, and cashew butter doesn’t have added preservatives, so the fridge is the best place for it.
Homemade granola butter usually lasts in the fridge for up to 1 month if it’s covered, and cashew butter lasts around 2-3 months like most nut butters after opening – but always check the labels for best-before dates and specific storage instructions if you buy them from the store!
Granola butter vs cashew butter: The ultimate verdict
Obviously these are two great spreads, but which one wins this showdown?
Granola butter has some unique flavors and textures depending on the kind you get, plus it’s a lot of fun to customize your own ingredients when you make it at home.
Cashew butter offers a delicious texture with an awesome flavor profile, and is a bit more dietary versatile.
So, with all that said, I think both spreads are great, but cashew butter takes the win for having an amazing texture, being more dietary versatile, and being more consistent in terms of nutritional profiles, which makes it easier to track your calories and macros!
FAQs
Granola butter is usually creamy, but the oats in it makes it slightly grainy.
No, it’s not. Granola butter is high in carbs – and has a lot of sugar in it as well.
It depends on what you mean by “best.” Cashew butter is solid, with a delicious texture and taste, along with some good nutritional properties.
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