If you love nutty spreads, you’re in for a treat! Hazelnut butter and almond butter are two delicious nut butters that are very deserving of your attention.
Now, that makes things a little difficult for deciding on just one – how are you going to do that if both of these are so delicious?
Well, we’re simply going to throw both these spreads into the Octagon and watch them compete while we judge them on taste, texture, culinary uses, versatility, and more! So, sit back, relax, and get ready to see the champion nut butter emerge!
Comparing hazelnut butter vs almond butter
Hazelnut butter and almond butter both boast a rich and nutty flavor, with slightly sweet tones to them. This doesn’t mean they taste exactly the same – they each have their own unique flavors, but those are the main qualities (and they’re pretty darn good qualities to have)!
Since both of them are made from nuts, they each have tree nuts listed as an allergen. However, you can feel comfortable using either of them in vegan, paleo, and keto diets. You’ll also love to hear that both hazelnut butter’s and almond butter’s glycemic index scores are 0 – that means your blood sugar levels shouldn’t spike from these!
Check out the chart below for a closer look at how these two compare (we’ll dive into the differences in just a bit).
| Hazelnut butter | Almond butter | |
| Taste | Rich, nutty, slightly sweet | Nutty, rich, slightly sweet |
| Texture | Dense, smooth | Slightly grainy and runny (or crunchy) |
| Allergens | Tree nuts | Tree nuts |
| Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
| Paleo? | Yes | Yes |
| Keto? | Yes | Yes |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Hazelnuts=0 | 0 |
What is hazelnut butter?
Hazelnut butter is made by grinding roasted hazelnuts into a dense and creamy spread. You could technically use raw hazelnuts, but roasting them really brings out the flavor out of the nuts!
Like you’ll find with almond butter, there are no additional ingredients in hazelnut butter. The hazelnuts themselves have natural oils that create the velvety and creamy texture of the spread – although, you can buy different types of hazelnut butter that have different ingredients and sweeteners added, changing the taste and potentially the texture. Nutella, for example, is made from hazelnut butter with a couple of other ingredients (like chocolate) added.
What is almond butter?
Almond butter is one of the top nut butters out there, being made by grinding almonds into a delicious and nutritious paste.
It comes in different textures, ranging from smooth to crunchy (similar to peanut butter). Almond butter is also really easy to make at home, so you don’t have to worry about any added oils and preservatives!
Differences between hazelnut butter and almond butter
The biggest difference between hazelnut butter and almond butter is their textures.
Hazelnut butter has that thick and creamy texture that is hard to put down – it even looks delicious! Almond butter, on the other hand, has a runny and sticky texture that can come in smooth or crunchy consistencies, although it’ll always be a bit grainy.
This difference in texture is the key thing setting these apart, as their tastes both boast rich and nutty flavors (although they do taste like their respective nuts).
The other more obvious difference is their ingredients. Hazelnut butter is made from hazelnuts, while almond butter is made from almonds – pretty simple to figure that out!
How to use hazelnut butter vs almond butter
Hazelnut butter and almond butter share a similar versatility, having the ability to be used interchangeably in most ways.
You can use them as a simple spread (add some banana slices and honey for a delicious twist!), an addition to your smoothies, oatmeal, or yogurt, as an ingredient in your bakes, or as a base for sauces and dips!
A use you probably didn’t see coming is almond body butter, a way to treat your dry skin in a natural and vegan way!
Just remember that their different textures will influence your dish!
Nutrition: Hazelnut butter vs almond butter
Hazelnut butter and almond butter are both solid options for keto diets, as they have low net carbs (3 grams each). They also share good fiber and healthy unsaturated fats contents, and a good amount of protein (5 grams per serving for hazelnut butter and 7 grams for almond butter).
Hazelnut butter has a great iron content too, providing about 8% of your daily value! Almond butter is filled with vitamin E and some minerals, making it awesome for overall health!
Just make sure you’re choosing brands that don’t add sugars or preservatives – always check the labels!
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Hazelnut butter | Almond butter |
| Calories | 210 | 190 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 20 g (2 g) | 17 g (2 g) |
| Total carbs | 6 g | 7 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 3 g (3 g) | 3 g (4 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 2 g (0 g) | 1 g (0 g) |
| Protein | 5 g | 7 g |
How to store hazelnut butter and almond butter
Natural hazelnut butter and almond butter don’t usually have added oils or preservatives, so be sure to store them in the fridge. This will not only help prevent them from going rancid too early, but also to slow down oil separation.
Like I mentioned, hazelnut butter has a bunch of different versions, like Nutella, some of which are shelf-stable and can be stored in a cool, dark place outside of the fridge – double-check the labels for best-before dates and specific instructions!
Hazelnut butter vs almond butter: The ultimate verdict
The bell has rung in the Octagon, bringing the fight to a stop. Which one will get the judges’ decision…?
Hazelnut butter has a creaminess to it that is just so delicious, and the rich, nutty flavor is to die for! Almond butter also boasts a delicious flavor, and has a unique runny and slightly grainy texture that adds something special to your dish!
When you look at all things, it’s really hard to make a decision, and they’re close to being tied. However, I would say that the superior nutritional profile of almond butter edges out hazelnut butter in this split decision, giving almond butter the win!
FAQs
Almond butter is thought of as the healthiest nut butter. It has a strong blend of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and protein, making it a great healthy choice. Look at walnut butter for another great option!
Nutella is made from hazelnut butter with chocolate, sweeteners, and some other things added into it.
That mainly depends on your preferences, but they both boast delicious flavors with different textures, although almond butter has the better nutritional profile. You can’t really go wrong with either!
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