We’ve got ourselves a tough match up in today’s article: hazelnut butter vs cashew butter!
These two powerhouse nut butters have some amazing qualities, and they’ll be giving everything they’ve got to emerge victorious in this neck-and-neck showdown!
On one hand we have hazelnut butter, which has an amazing dense and smooth texture with a rich taste that is absolutely mouth-watering – and, it has the added benefit of coming in different variations…you may have heard of its most popular version: Nutella!
Then we’ve got cashew butter, which has that thick and creamy consistency that’s perfect for spreading – you’ll have a hard time putting it down! It also has a wonderfully mild and nutty taste that pairs extremely well with many different things!
So, these two sound pretty great – but which one is the greatest?
That’s exactly what we’ll find out today! So, strap in, relax, and place your bets for which spread will win: hazelnut or cashew butter!

Let’s jump in!
Comparing hazelnut butter vs cashew butter
Hazelnut butter is made from hazelnuts, while cashew butter is made with cashews. This gives both spreads tree nuts as allergens! They share similar features in their textures, and are both great for vegan and paleo diets (if you’re using unsweetened cashew butter). Hazelnut butter is also great for keto diets, unlike cashew butter.
They both have low glycemic indexes, making either spread a great option if you’re worried about your blood sugar levels spiking – talk to your physician if you have any concerns with that!
Hazelnut butter | Cashew butter | |
Taste | Rich, nutty, slightly sweet | Mild, nutty, sweet |
Texture | Dense, smooth | Thick, creamy |
Allergens | Tree nuts | Tree nuts |
Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
Paleo? | Yes | Yes (if unsweetened) |
Keto? | Yes | No |
Glycemic index (GI) | Hazelnuts=0 | 1 oz cashews= 25 |
What is hazelnut butter?
Hazelnut butter is a smooth and dense spread made by grinding roasted hazelnuts into a tasty and nutty paste. This velvety texture comes from the natural oils in hazelnuts!
Most brands use roasted hazelnuts, which enhances the taste. However, you can use those or raw ones when making hazelnut butter at home!
I mentioned that Nutella is a variation of hazelnut butter, but there are many more delicious options!
What is cashew butter?
Cashew butter is made by grinding roasted or raw cashew nuts down into a thick and creamy nut butter. It has a mild, nutty, and sweet flavor – some brands will add extra sugar to enhance the taste and make it even sweeter, so check the label if you want to avoid that!
Like with hazelnut butter, you can use roasted or raw cashews if you want to make cashew butter at home!
Differences between hazelnut butter and cashew butter
The biggest differences between hazelnut butter and cashew butter are their flavors and textures.
Hazelnut butter boasts a rich, nutty, and slightly sweet flavor that is similar to straight hazelnuts, while cashew butter has a milder taste that’s nutty and sweeter.
Looking at their textures, hazelnut butter has a dense and smooth consistency while cashew butter is thick and creamy – they’re fairly similar, but those slight differences are something to consider!
They have nutritional differences as well, which we’ll check out in just a bit!
How to use hazelnut butter vs cashew butter
You can enjoy these spreads in many of the same ways!
Try either as a spread for your waffles, pancakes, and toast, or mix them into your salads and pasta for a more unique use! I recommend mixing them into your smoothies and oatmeal, as their flavor profiles will add a delicious and creamy element!
You can also dip fruits and vegetables into them for a healthy and quick snack, or add them as ingredients in your bakes! However, the textures of these are just perfect for spreading, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself running out of either of these quickly – they’re that good!
Nutrition: Hazelnut butter vs cashew butter
Hazelnut butter has an amazing healthy fats content, with 20 grams per serving! It also has a decent amount of protein with 5 grams, and boasts 3 grams of fiber per serving. Hazelnut butter will give you some awesome iron – about 8% of your daily iron value is in each serving! Plus, it’s great for keto recipes with its low carb content.
Hazelnut butter has no added sugar, unlike cashew butter – not all versions of cashew butter have added sugar, so check the labels! Cashew butter is also solid in terms of healthy fats and protein, having slightly less of both as compared to hazelnut butter. It has a lot of carbs, with 9 net grams per serving, and has a few less calories than hazelnut butter.
Serving size: 2 tbsp | Hazelnut butter | Cashew butter |
Calories | 210 | 190 |
Total fat (saturated) | 20 g (2 g) | 16 g (3 g) |
Total carbs | 6 g | 10 g |
Net carbs (fiber) | 3 g (3 g) | 9 g (1 g) |
Total sugars (incl. added) | 2 g (0 g) | 3 g (4 g) |
Protein | 5 g | 4 g |
How to store hazelnut butter and cashew butter
Hazelnut butter and cashew butter both don’t usually have any added oils or preservatives, so you should store them in the fridge. This will lengthen their shelf-lives, and also help with oil separation!
Most nut butters last 2-3 months after opening, but be sure to check the labels if you’re getting these from the store for specific storage instructions and best-before dates!
Hazelnut butter vs cashew butter: Which is better?
So, which of these great nut butters should you choose?
Hazelnut butter has a delicious taste with an amazing texture, and boasts a great amount of healthy fats and iron!
Cashew butter also has an amazing texture, and boasts a milder taste that’s also great!
I like both spreads a lot, and recommend them. However, hazelnut butter takes the win here for its great iron content, extreme dietary versatility, amazing texture, and the option of coming in different versions!
FAQs
Nutella is basically a flavored hazelnut butter, using several ingredients to create this chocolatey version.
Hazelnut butter has a solid 5 grams of protein per serving, while cashew butter has 4 grams. That’s not a massive difference, but hazelnut butter also boasts more healthy fats, fiber, and iron, which are all good for protein smoothies.
Hazelnut butter is the only one here with a low carb content, making it the pick for keto diets between these two.
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