If you’re working on putting on some muscle, you’ve likely stumbled across – or even used – high-protein nut butter. It’s basically a nut butter with extra protein, as the name suggests, and comes in a ton of different flavors – which might not be the best health-wise, but we’ll get into that later…
Now, you might’ve heard about cashew butter, which is a deliciously thick and creamy spread that is perfect for spreading over countless things – its mild, nutty, and sweet flavor profile is mouth-watering!
You may be trying to decide between these two, wanting to know which one’s best. Lucky for you, we’ve laid down all the details that you need to know here, from culinary uses to textures to allergens – we’ll compare everything between the two, and then you’ll know exactly which spread is best!
Let’s jump in!
Comparing high-protein nut butter vs cashew butter
High-protein nut butter comes in a lot of different versions, as it’s made from different types of nuts. This can change the way it tastes, as well as its textures – you’ll also find different flavors of whey protein added, which heavily changes the flavor profile. Cashew butter is a bit simpler, and just has tree nuts as an allergen versus high-protein nut butter’s allergens of tree nuts, milk, and peanuts (the spread we’re referencing here is from 1st Phorm, which contains peanuts)!
High-protein nut butter’s glycemic index is unknown, but cashew butter has a low one, which is perfect if you’re trying to prevent your blood sugar levels from spiking – talk to your physician if you have any concerns! You can also use cashew butter in vegan and paleo diets, assuming that it’s unsweetened, but high-protein nut butter isn’t suitable for any special diets.
| High-protein nut butter (1st Phorm brand) | Cashew butter | |
| Taste | Various flavors available | Mild, nutty, sweet |
| Texture | Smooth & creamy, or chunky with various mix-ins | Thick, creamy |
| Allergens | Milk, peanuts, tree nuts | Tree nuts |
| Vegan? | No | Yes |
| Paleo? | No | Yes (if unsweetened) |
| Keto? | No | No |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Unknown | 1 oz cashews= 25 |
What is high-protein nut butter?
High-protein nut butter is essentially any nut butter, or a mixture of several, with whey protein added. This gives it milk as an allergen, but also a bunch more protein! However, you’ll find that many flavors have extra sugar to enhance the taste, so it’s really important to check the labels so you know what you’re getting!
Almonds and peanuts are the most common nuts in these spreads, and flavors range from chocolate to vanilla to different candies!
What is cashew butter?
Cashew butter is a creamy spread made by grinding roasted or raw cashew nuts into a smooth paste. The only other potential ingredients are oil or salt, which just enhance the flavors and textures. This means it’s easy to make cashew butter at home!
You can usually use cashew butter in a paleo diet, but some brands add extra sugar which makes it unusable in this case. Making it at home might be a good choice for this, otherwise check the labels at the store before buying!
Differences between high-protein nut butter and cashew butter
The biggest differences between high-protein nut butter and cashew butter are their flavors and textures.
High-protein nut butter has a taste that really depends on what nut it’s made from and what flavor of whey protein is added. Plus, it often has added sugar, similar to cashew butter. However, cashew butter has a mild, nutty, and sweet taste to it.
Texture-wise, certain types of high-protein nut butters are smooth and creamy, while others are chunky like peanut butter! Cashew butter is thick and creamy, which is a perfect texture for a nut butter if you ask me!
Check to see if there are any other allergens in high-protein nut butter, as that can change depending on what ingredients are used from brand-to-brand.
How to use high-protein nut butter vs cashew butter
Both these spreads can be used in basically all the same ways!
Use either as a spread on your toast, pancakes, waffles, etc., or add them to your smoothies – high-protein nut butter is especially great for adding extra protein in a post-workout smoothie! You can also mix them into your oatmeal, or dip fruits and vegetables into them for a snack!
Just keep an eye on high-protein nut butter, as the differing flavors and textures from different brands will change the dishes you pair it with, while cashew butter’s milder flavor profile mixes really well with nearly everything!
Nutrition: High-protein nut butter vs cashew butter
High-protein nut butter is obviously really high in protein, boasting 10 grams per serving! It also has some healthy fats, along with 3 grams of fiber per serving. But, again, keep an eye on the sugar content, as it tends to be pretty high!
Cashew butter is full of healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, and boasts 4 grams of protein per serving. It’s also quite high in carbs, with 9 net grams per serving! Some brands also add extra sugar to enhance the taste, so make sure to check the label if you want to avoid that!
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | High-protein nut butter (1st Phorm brand) | Cashew butter |
| Calories | 200 | 190 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 14 g (2.5 g) | 16 g (3 g) |
| Total carbs | 8 g | 10 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 5 g (3 g) | 9 g (1 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 5 g (4 g) | 3 g (4 g) |
| Protein | 10 g | 4 g |
How to store high-protein nut butter and cashew butter
High-protein nut butter often has added oils and preservatives, in which case you can store it in your pantry since it’s more shelf-stable. However, there are natural varieties, which you should store in the fridge!
Cashew butter should be stored in the fridge, especially if you get the natural types – they don’t have added preservatives, so putting them in the fridge will prevent it from going rancid too soon and slow down oil separation.
Check the labels for best-before dates and specific storage instructions that’ll help you store both of these correctly, but most nut butters last 2-3 months after opening.
High-protein nut butter vs cashew butter: The ultimate verdict
And here we are, the final decision.
High-protein nut butter gives you an awesome boost in protein, with a delicious assortment of flavors. However, those flavors unfortunately usually mean extra sugar…
Cashew butter is a great nut butter, with a delicious taste and an amazing texture. It also has added sugar in some cases, although it’s much easier to find sugar free ones than it is with high-protein nut butters.
With everything considered, I’d recommend high-protein nut butter if you really need the extra protein, but overall recommend cashew butter because it tends to have less preservatives, sugar, and artificial flavorings!
FAQs
Almond butter is usually said to be the healthiest spread because it has a lot of great vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats! I also recommend checking out walnut butter.
High-protein nut butter obviously has a lot more protein than cashew butter, so it will likely meet your needs better in this regard.
No, cashew butter has a lot of carbs, making it unusable for keto diets.
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