Hazelnut Oil vs Butter: Which Is Better?

Deciding between hazelnut oil and butter can be difficult. After grinding, roasting, pressing, and filtering hazelnuts, we get the rich and nutty hazelnut oil, which can compete with butter’s velvety and creamy texture in many recipes. It can be a tough choice depending on what you’re making, but we’re about to help you out with this dilemma in our comparison article!

Comparing hazelnut oil vs butter

	Hazelnut oil	Butter
Solid or Liquid?	Liquid	Solid
Smoke Point (Fahrenheit)	430 degrees	300 – 350 degrees
Primary Fat	Monounsaturated	Saturated
Taste	Nutty	Buttery
Good for Cooking…	Raw, low heat, medium heat, high heat	Raw, low heat
Common allergens	Tree nut, hazelnut, hazel tree pollen	Lactose, casein
Gluten-free?	Yes	Yes
Keto?	Yes	Yes
Paleo?	Yes	No
Vegan?	Yes	No

Differences between hazelnut oil and butter

Hazelnut oil comes from the nuts of the hazelnut tree, making it a plant-based oil. Meanwhile, butter is made from churned milk or cream. Their composition already means there are quite a few differences in store!

Our oil competitor is actually quite the star when it comes to its smoke point. At 430 degrees, its high smoke point means you can use it for virtually any cooking method. It can withstand high temperatures, all while maintaining its delicate flavor. In contrast, butter has a lower smoke point that makes it better for low heat or raw cooking, such as gentle melting.

Because of its plant-based nature, hazelnut oil is perfect for vegan diets or those with lactose intolerance or dairy allergies. However, it isn’t suitable for people with tree nut or hazel tree pollen allergies. Butter, on the other hand, contains milk proteins that make it unsuitable for dairy allergies. It does have the benefit of being gluten-free and keto-friendly, just like hazelnut oil, but only hazelnut oil is paleo-friendly.

Baking and cooking with hazelnut oil vs butter

Although I consider myself a religious butter user when it comes to most baking, hazelnut oil definitely breaks that trend in some instances. In fact, it’s often used in pastries and desserts because of its sweet flavor – its distinct hazelnut essence is perfect for chocolate-hazelnut brownies or nutty muffins. When used in cooking, it can add a great toasty, nutty note to roasted vegetables, salad dressings, marinades, and, particularly, fish. The aroma and added depth it brings to the table is super special!

But butter is like the kitchen workhorse. It’s a tried and true cooking and baking fat that comes salted or unsalted – either adding a subtle boost or just a creamy, natural texture and flavor to pastries and baked goods or an amazing pan sauce. Keep in mind that depending on the source of the butter, It will also have different flavor profiles. 

Can hazelnut oil and butter be substituted for each other?

In some instances, hazelnut oil and butter can be great substitutes for each other, especially in recipes that would benefit from a nutty flavor profile. Alternatively, for dishes that might want a boost in texture or richness, butter could be a great sub.

The best substitute for hazelnut oil is macadamia oil, thanks to its high smoke point and delicate and nutty taste. If you want a more budget-friendly or neutral-flavor option, peanut oil is a suitable sub. In the case of butter, ghee is the best all-around substitute and is additionally paleo-friendly, while avocado oil is an ideal swap for high-heat cooking.

Nutrition: Hazelnut oil vs butter

Right off the bat, hazelnut oil catches the eye with its extremely high monounsaturated fat content. At 10.6g per tablespoon, it has one of the highest monounsaturated fat content out of all cooking oils.  Some studies have suggested it might reduce non-alcoholic fatty liver disease progression! 

Hazelnuts, in general, are actually considered good for health – it’s high in a lot of things that are healthy for you and low in those that aren’t (for example, 0 cholesterol and trans fats, and only 1g of saturated fat per tablespoon). Interestingly, hazelnut oil is also commonly used in hair and skincare products due to its high vitamin E content.

Butter has the advantage of being lower in calories (102 vs 120) but is mainly made up of saturated fats (7.3g), which has links to poor health outcomes if over-consumed. It also has 30.5mg of cholesterol per tablespoon, so you’ll want to limit your intake. However, butter also has some great essential fat-soluble vitamins like A, E, and K2.

Regardless of which cooking oil or fat you’re using, be sure to use it sparingly.

Per tablespoon (15mL)	Hazelnut oil	Butter
Calories	120	102
Polyunsaturated	1.4 g	0.4 g
Monounsaturated	10.6 g	3.0 g
Saturated	1.0 g	7.3 g
Trans	0 g	0.5 g
Total Fat	13.6 g	14.2 g
Cholesterol	0	30.5 mg

The primary fat source is bolded.

How to store hazelnut oil and butter

Hazelnut oil has a decent shelf life. Unopened, it can last for up to a year, while an opened bottle should be used within six months. It should be stored in a cool, dark place away from sunlight and direct heat sources. Butter should be stored in the fridge, transferred from its packaging and put into an airtight container for best results. Avoid storing butter near strong-smelling foods, as it absorbs odors quite easily.

Hazelnut oil vs butter: Which is better?

I personally embrace both butter and hazelnut oil in my home kitchen. One of my all-time favorites is using hazelnut oil when baking anything with hazelnuts – brownies, muffins, cookies – to give it that extra nutty punch. I also love using it to dress simple side salads and roasted vegetables to give the ingredients a little more oomph. But let’s just say I can’t resist butter’s melt-in-your-mouth quality in traditional bakes and anything that could benefit from a creamy touch. 

If you’re looking to elevate your baking or cooking, stepping out of your comfort zone and checking out other cooking oils and fats is a great place to start!

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