If you’ve ever had macadamia nut butter, you know just why people want it so badly – its deliciously rich and buttery flavor paired with the smooth, creamy, and runny texture is a golden combination! But, it’s also one of the more expensive nut butters, as macadamia nuts know their worth!
Then we have coconut butter, which is a perfect way of adding a delicious and tropical vibe to your dishes – it’s like Hawaii in a spread! Plus, it has a unique and versatile texture, and is much more affordable than the luxurious macadamia nut butter.
But, which one of these spreads is truly better? We have to look at more than just the taste and texture, including things like culinary uses, dietary versatility, nutritional qualities, and more when deciding which one is best.
And that’s exactly what we’ll do! Then, you’ll know which one you should choose!
Let’s jump in!
Comparing macadamia nut butter vs coconut butter
Macadamia nut butter is made from macadamia nuts, which gives it tree nuts as an allergen. Coconut butter has coconuts as an allergen, which is technically considered a tree nut – many people with tree nut allergies can safely eat coconut products, so talk to your physician!
They’re both really versatile, being suitable for vegan, paleo, and keto diets! Plus, their glycemic indexes are low, so they shouldn’t spike your blood sugar levels – talk to your physician if you have any concerns with that.
| Macadamia nut butter | Coconut butter | |
| Taste | Rich, nutty, buttery | Coconut, rich, slightly nutty |
| Texture | Runny, smooth & creamy | Thick, pasty, slightly gritty |
| Allergens | Tree nuts | Coconuts* |
| Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
| Paleo? | Yes | Yes |
| Keto? | Yes | Yes |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Macadamia nuts=10 | 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 macadamia nut butter?
Macadamia nut butter is that special spread made by grinding down macadamia nuts into a smooth, creamy, and delicious paste. The texture is a bit runny, and it boasts a rich, nutty, and buttery flavor!
This flavor and texture comes from the high fat content that’s in macadamia nuts, which are unfortunately quite expensive. You can make macadamia nut butter at home to save a bit of cash, but the spread is definitely worth its price!
What is coconut butter?
Coconut butter is a thick, pasty, and slightly gritty spread made by grinding down coconut meat. It has a rich coconut taste with nutty undertones, offering a tropical vibe to whatever you pair it with!
You’ll find little bits of coconut flesh in it, which gives the spread its grittiness. And, warming coconut butter up makes it thin and runny, which makes it really versatile if you want to drizzle it! Also, it’s easy to make coconut butter at home, so definitely give it a try!
Differences between macadamia nut butter and coconut butter
The biggest differences between macadamia nut butter and coconut butter are their flavor and texture.
Macadamia nut butter boasts a rich, nutty, and buttery flavor that is hard to beat, while coconut butter has that tropical taste of rich coconut with nutty undertones!
Texture-wise, macadamia nut butter is smooth, creamy, and slightly runny due to the added fats and emulsifiers. Coconut butter is thick, pasty, and slightly gritty, but becomes thin and runny when you warm it up.
It’s worth mentioning that macadamia nut butter is quite expensive, and coconut butter is the more budget-friendly option between these two.
How to use macadamia nut butter vs coconut butter
Both spreads can be used in basically all of the same ways!
Use macadamia nut butter and coconut butter as spreads for your morning toast or waffles, or mix them into your smoothies and oatmeal for some fun flavor and texture twists! You can even use them as ingredients in your bakes, lending their delicious flavors to things like muffins and cookies!
Try dipping fruits and vegetables in them for a healthy snack, or eat them straight out of the jar!
Macadamia nut butter has that rich and buttery flavor to offer, while coconut butter has many unique uses for its rich coconut flavor.
Nutrition: Macadamia nut butter vs coconut butter
Macadamia nut butter has a ton of healthy fats, boasting 24 grams of unsaturated fats and 4 grams of saturated fats per serving! It also has 3 grams of protein, and 2 grams of net carbs per serving, making it low in carbs as compared to many other nut butters. It also boasts 3 grams of fiber!
Coconut butter has a lot of unhealthy fats, basically being the other side of the coin to macadamia nut butter. It’s also really low in carbs, and has an amazing 6 grams of fiber per serving! Plus, it’s very low in sugar like macadamia nut butter.
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Macadamia nut butter | Coconut butter |
| Calories | 230 | 210 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 24 g (4 g) | 22 g (18 g) |
| Total carbs | 5 g | 8 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 2 g (3 g) | 2 g (6 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 1 g (0 g) | 2 g (0 g) |
| Protein | 3 g | 2 g |
How to store macadamia nut butter and coconut butter
Macadamia nut butter usually doesn’t have added preservatives in it, so store it in the fridge to prevent it from going rancid too soon! Plus, it will also help prevent oil separation.
Coconut butter is fine at room temperature, but I recommend keeping it in a cool and dark place – the fridge is a good place for it!
Most nut butters last 2-3 months after opening, and coconut butter should last you around 6-12 months before going rancid – but that can vary from brand-to-brand! So, check the labels for both here to see best-before dates and any storage instructions!
Macadamia nut vs coconut butter: The ultimate verdict
So, which delicious spread wins here?
Macadamia nut butter boasts a rich, nutty, and buttery flavor that will make your mouth water, and has a texture that’s a joy to spread! The high price tag matches how sought-after it is, but that makes it less affordable than coconut butter.
Coconut butter is also delicious with a tropical flavor profile, and it adds something really special to the many dishes you can pair it with! Its texture is also unique, having many different uses!
Both spreads are great and you can’t go wrong with either, but macadamia nut butter wins here because its delicious taste and amazing texture are hard to beat, and it doesn’t have the high saturated fats content that coconut butter has.
FAQs
Coconut butter and macadamia nut butter are both low in carbs, so pick either one!
You potentially can. The USDA classifies coconuts as tree nuts, but a lot of people with tree nut allergies can eat coconut butter and other coconut products with no problems. I recommend talking to your physician first!
Macadamia nut butter is usually more expensive than other nut butters, but its price tag is well worth it!
Macadamia nut butter has healthy qualities like unsaturated fats, low sugar, some fiber, and some protein! It is high in calories, however.
Almond butter is usually considered the healthiest because it has a great mix of vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, and healthy fats! I recommend checking out walnut butter as well.
Leave a Comment