Have you ever looked at almond butter and wished it had just a bit more protein in it? Enter high-protein nut butter, the best bang-for-your-buck when it comes to protein in nut butters.
But, as we learn more and more about our bodies, nutrition, and food, we understand that protein is not the be-all-end-all thing we need to look at – there are a lot of other qualities needed to make something healthy!
And so, speaking of health, almond butter has held the crown as one of the healthiest nut butters for a long time…so, let’s see which one truly is better: the protein-packed high-protein nut butter or all-round heavy-hitter almond butter!
Comparing high-protein nut butter vs almond butter
High-protein nut butter is an interesting one because it comes in so many different varieties. For example, depending on the nuts that are used and protein flavors that are added, you can have many different types of flavors and textures! Almond butter, on the other hand, is tried-and-true when it comes to a nutty and rich flavor with a runny and grainy texture.
We’re referencing the high-protein nut butter from 1st Phorm, and it has milk, peanuts, and tree nuts as allergens because it has whey protein (from milk) added, and often a mix of peanuts and other nuts. Almond butter just has almonds, and is good for vegan, paleo and keto diets, while high-protein butter is not suited for any of those.
| High-protein nut butter (1st Phorm brand) | Almond butter | |
| Taste | Various flavors available | Nutty, rich, slightly sweet |
| Texture | Smooth & creamy, or chunky with various mix-ins | Slightly grainy and runny (or crunchy) |
| Allergens | Milk, peanuts, tree nuts | Tree nuts |
| Vegan? | No | Yes |
| Paleo? | No | Yes |
| Keto? | No | Yes |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Unknown | 0 |
What is high-protein nut butter?
We already mentioned that high-protein nut butter is like regular nut butter, but with whey protein added. This gives it an extra kick in protein (of course), but also makes it a little tricky for people allergic to milk or following a vegan diet.
Different brands may use different nuts and may offer different options, with almonds and peanuts being the most common types. You can also get different types of flavors similar to protein powder, so make sure to keep an eye on the sugar content – special flavors usually mean added sugar!
What is almond butter?
Almond butter almost doesn’t even need an introduction, with its massive popularity as a nut butter. It’s made from ground up almonds, and is super easy to make at home. The natural versions don’t have any sweeteners added, but some brands will add extra sugar – and some home recipes will give you the option as well.
It comes in a variety of different textures, ranging from smooth to crunchy, but even the smooth stuff is a bit grainy due to the ground up almonds!
Differences between high-protein nut butter and almond butter
The biggest difference between high-protein nut butter and almond butter are their textures and flavors.
Now, the obvious big difference is the protein content…it’s right there in the name. But outside of that, high-protein nut butter comes in many different textures, but is often a creamy consistency. Almond butter is runny, sticky, and grainy.
Looking at taste, high-protein nut butter comes in many delicious flavors, usually sweetened through the use of sugar or other sweeteners. Almond butter is good ol’ nutty and rich, with sweeteners rarely added since it already has a slightly sweet taste to it!
Now, the variety in high-protein nut butter makes it a bit difficult to properly compare to almond butter, but taking a look at the label will usually tell you what flavor and what kind of texture it is!
How to use high-protein nut butter vs almond butter
The best part about these two spreads is that you can use them in many different ways!
Spread them on your toast, mix them into your oatmeal, eat them straight out of the jar, mix them into your pasta, dip vegetables into them, and more!
Now, my personal favorite way to use nut butters is to put them into my smoothie, and high-protein nut butter is especially good for a post-workout smoothie due to its high protein content. Either way, both spreads can add a nice flavor to them!
You can also make protein balls and other bakes with them, adding nutritional qualities and tasty twists to your creations! Almond butter can even be used to hydrate your dry skin in a natural and vegan way through almond body butter!
Just keep an eye on the flavors and textures, as they could greatly influence your dish if you’re using these two spreads interchangeably.
Nutrition: High-protein nut butter vs almond butter
As the name suggests, high-protein nut butter is high in protein – it has 10 grams per serving! It also has a decent fiber content and some healthy fats. But remember, it often has a lot of sugar in it, so keep an eye out!
Almond butter is higher in the healthy unsaturated fats, and has a slightly lower protein content. It puts points up on the board with a slightly better fiber content and a much lower sugar content though! Almond butter is also a great source of vitamin E, which is great for overall health!
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | High-protein nut butter (1st Phorm brand) | Almond butter |
| Calories | 200 | 190 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 14 g (2.5 g) | 17 g (2 g) |
| Total carbs | 8 g | 7 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 5 g (3 g) | 3 g (4 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 5 g (4 g) | 1 g (0 g) |
| Protein | 10 g | 7 g |
How to store high-protein nut butter and almond butter
This depends on whether or not your high-protein nut butter and almond butter have added oils and preservatives in them. If they don’t, which almond butter rarely has, you should definitely put them in the fridge to avoid oil separation and prevent them from going rancid early!
If they’re made with preservatives and are more shelf-stable, you can put them in the pantry or a different dark, cool place.
The labels will usually have best-before dates and specific storage instructions that’ll help you store each of these correctly, but they generally last around 2-3 months after opening.
High-protein nut butter vs almond butter: Which is better?
If you want high protein and a more sweet/sugary nut butter, high-protein nut butter is for you. However, I’d recommend looking towards something more natural like almond butter, because you’ll get more healthy fats, less sugar, and more vitamins – plus, almond butter has a decent protein content as well!
So, I give this matchup to almond butter for its consistently delicious taste, great nutritional profile, and natural-ness.
FAQs
High-protein nut butter is usually the highest since it has whey protein added into it.
High-protein nut butter has a better protein content, while almond butter has a better amount of healthy fats and vitamins with a lower sugar content – keep those in mind to help you make a decision!
Almond butter is definitely one of the healthiest spreads, so you can feel comfortable getting it – but make sure it’s the natural kind!
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