We got a fun comparison in today’s matchup: hazelnut butter vs coconut butter!
Hazelnut butter is definitely one of my favorites, as the dense, smooth, and rich spread embodies some of the best things about nut butters – it’s hard to find something better!
However, coconut butter is anything but a weak opponent for hazelnut butter – it has a delicious and unique taste that you really can’t get from any other spread, and it has a texture versatility like no other (we’ll talk more about that in a bit).
It’s obvious that this is going to be a showdown for the ages, with two absolutely great spreads going head-to-head to ultimately see: which one is better?
Let’s jump right in!
Comparing hazelnut butter vs coconut butter
Hazelnut butter is made from hazelnuts, giving it tree nuts as an allergen while coconut butter is made from coconuts, giving it coconut as an allergen. The awesome thing about both of these is that you can choose either for your vegan, paleo, or keto diets and recipes! That makes using them interchangeably a breeze!
They also both have low glycemic indexes, with hazelnut butter being at a 0 while coconut butter doesn’t have a clear number – since it’s made from coconuts, which has a glycemic index of 45, we would assume it would be the same or extremely similar in coconut butter. Talk to your physician if you have any concerns about your blood sugar levels spiking with these!
| Hazelnut butter | Coconut butter | |
| Taste | Rich, nutty, slightly sweet | Coconut, rich, slightly nutty |
| Texture | Dense, smooth | Thick, pasty, slightly gritty |
| Allergens | Tree nuts | Coconuts* |
| Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
| Paleo? | Yes | Yes |
| Keto? | Yes | Yes |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Hazelnuts=0 | Low** |
*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 hazelnut butter?
Hazelnut butter is a delicious creamy spread with a dense texture. It’s simply made by grinding roasted hazelnuts into a tasty and nutty paste – roasting the hazelnuts first enhances the flavor, and the natural oils in the hazelnuts create that velvety texture!
Nutella is a popular variation of hazelnut butter, but there are quite a few different types of this tasty spread! You can even make hazelnut butter at home!
What is coconut butter?
Coconut butter is a tropical spread made by grinding down coconut flesh into a thick, pasty, and slightly gritty spread. However, you can warm it up to make it thin and runny – perfect for drizzling!
The grittiness comes from the bits of coconut flesh that are in it, giving the spread a fun texture with little pieces of rich tasting coconuts! You can also make coconut butter at home if you prefer that over buying it from the store!
Differences between hazelnut butter and coconut butter
The biggest differences between hazelnut butter and coconut butter are their flavors and textures.
Hazelnut butter boasts a rich, nutty, and slightly sweet flavor that you can expect from hazelnuts, while coconut butter has a rich and coconuty taste with slightly nutty undertones.
Their textures are different too in that hazelnut butter has a dense and smooth consistency that just melts off your knife when you spread it, while coconut butter is thick, pasty, and slightly gritty when cold or at room temperature and thin/runny when it’s warmed up!
They have some differences in their nutritional profiles as well, which we’ll cover in just a bit!
How to use hazelnut butter vs coconut butter
Both spreads can be used interchangeably despite their different flavor profiles and textures!
Try hazelnut butter or coconut butter spread on your toast, pancakes, bakes, and more, giving your dish a twist on its flavor! Or, add it into your smoothies and oatmeal, or even use them as ingredients in your bakes! Hazelnut butter will add that nutty taste to whatever you pair it with, while coconut butter adds a tropical coconut flavor to the many dishes you could add it to!
If you’re feeling really creative and have both spreads on hand, try experimenting with them by mixing them together, combining nutty and coconut flavors in one!
Nutrition: Hazelnut butter vs coconut butter
Hazelnut butter has 5 grams of protein per serving, and has 3 net grams of carbs per serving – that’s great for keto diets! It doesn’t have any added sugar, but contains 2 grams of sugar per serving, which is the same in coconut butter. Hazelnut butter is also chock-full of healthy fats and iron, giving you about 8% of your daily iron value!
Coconut butter has an awesome 6 grams of fiber, but is plagued by a high saturated fats content with 18 grams per serving. We recommend trying to limit that type of fat, so enjoy coconut butter in moderation! It’s also low in carbs, with 2 grams of net carbs per serving, making it great for keto as well!
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Hazelnut butter | Coconut butter |
| Calories | 210 | 210 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 20 g (2 g) | 22 g (18 g) |
| Total carbs | 6 g | 8 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 3 g (3 g) | 2 g (6 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 2 g (0 g) | 2 g (0 g) |
| Protein | 5 g | 2 g |
How to store hazelnut butter and coconut butter
Hazelnut butter has to be stored in the fridge to prevent it from going rancid early – it doesn’t usually have any added oils or preservatives. Also, give a stir before storing to help avoid oil separation!
Coconut butter is completely fine at room temperature, so you can feel free to store it in your pantry! The fridge will thicken it up a little, and remember that it becomes thin and runny when warmed up.
It generally lasts 6-12 months before going rancid, but that can differ from brand-to-brand, so make sure to check the label before you buy!
Hazelnut butter vs coconut butter: Which is better?
Hazelnut butter is a delicious and wonderful nut butter that really does have all the great characteristics you need in a spread. However, coconut butter has an amazing and unique taste that can really add something special to many different dishes.
Both spreads are obviously great, but there can only be one winner here…
With all things considered, I recommend hazelnut butter due to its better nutritional profile, more versatile flavor, ease of creating delicious variations, and amazing texture.
FAQs
Nutella is basically a flavored hazelnut butter with added sweeteners and flavorings, so it’s not quite the same although both are made with hazelnuts.
Kind of… the USDA classifies coconuts as tree nuts technically speaking, but a ton of people with tree nut allergies can eat coconut butter safely. I recommend talking to your physician first!
Both spreads offer a delicious twist to your smoothies, but hazelnut butter has a better protein content with iron and healthy fats, making it the overall better choice.
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