Macadamia nut butter is highly-sought after – and for more than just having a cool name! This special nut butter has a creaminess and butteriness that is hard to beat, and boasts the high price tag to match its luxurious characteristics!
But, it has to compete with one of the most popular spreads of all time in this article. You’ll know this spread by its chocolate and sweet taste, held in a smooth and creamy package…
Yup, it’s Nutella! The spread is sold all around the world, basically being a household name these days! It’s one of the main breakfast spreads I grew up with, and was a staple in my apartment all through university!
We’ll pit these two awesome spreads against one another, judging them based on culinary versatility, flavors, nutritional profiles, textures, and more! And so, you’ll be able to decide which one is ultimately better!
Let’s jump in!
Comparing macadamia nut butter vs Nutella
Both macadamia nut butter and Nutella are made from nuts, meaning they both contain tree nuts as an allergen (although Nutella also lists milk and soy as allergens.) Their tastes are quite different as well – we’ll jump into that later on – but they share a smooth and creamy texture.
You’ll find that macadamia nut butter is well suited for vegan, paleo, and keto diets, while Nutella doesn’t fit any of those. Macadamia nut butter also has a very low glycemic index, which is ideal if you want to keep your blood sugar levels from spiking. We don’t have an exact number for Nutella’s glycemic index, but it’s likely high due to the added sugar content in the spread. Talk to a physician if you have any concerns with that before eating these!
Macadamia nut butter | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) | |
Taste | Rich, nutty, buttery | Sweet, chocolatey |
Texture | Runny, smooth & creamy | Smooth, creamy |
Allergens | Tree nuts | Tree nuts, milk, soy |
Vegan? | Yes | No |
Paleo? | Yes | No |
Keto? | Yes | No |
Glycemic index (GI) | Macadamia nuts=10 | Unknown (likely high due to added sugar content) |
What is macadamia nut butter?
Macadamia nut butter is made from macadamia nuts. These nuts are ground down into a smooth and creamy spread that’s slightly runny, but will be sure to impress you!
The high fat content in it really adds to the rich and buttery flavor, which is one of the big reasons it’s so sought after. Now, I mentioned that macadamia nut butter is pricey, and that’s because macadamia nuts are so expensive. However, you can make it at home to save some money – plus, you get more control of the ingredients that are added in!
What is Nutella?
Nutella, as I mentioned, is a sweet and chocolatey spread made from hazelnut butter. It’s extremely popular, and is unquestionably one of the tastiest spreads out there.
However, a lot of the delicious taste comes from the unhealthy ingredients that are added, including refined sugar and palm oil. However, you can easily make Nutella at home, which leaves a lot of those ingredients out – you can feel good about eating this stuff! You can also make a keto Nutella that’ll fit your low-carb diet.
Now, as unhealthy as it is, I’m not trying to say you should completely stop eating Nutella – I absolutely love the stuff, but I think there’s wisdom in enjoying it in moderation and limiting your intake.
Differences between macadamia nut butter and Nutella
The biggest difference between macadamia nut butter and Nutella is their flavor.
Macadamia nut butter boasts a rich, nutty, and buttery flavor that feels luxurious to eat. On the other hand, Nutella has that uber-popular chocolate and very sweet flavor profile that is so distinct – it’s hard to mistake it against other chocolate hazelnut spreads!
Now, the textures are similar in that they’re both smooth and creamy, but macadamia nut butter tends to be a bit runnier due to having some added fats and emulsifiers in it. This makes it a bit easier to drizzle, although you can do that to both spreads.
Also, macadamia nut butter is a bit more expensive than Nutella, although I think it’s definitely worth it!
How to use macadamia nut butter vs Nutella
These two spreads are super versatile, and can be used in basically all the same ways!
They’re really nice as a spread, as their textures are perfect to put on toast, waffles, and pancakes (Nutella and pancakes are a must-try combo!). You can also add them into your bakes for some flavor twists, or mix them into your smoothies and oatmeal!
You should try dipping fruits and vegetables into either of these – especially strawberries into Nutella! It makes for a nice snack, and gives a nutty or chocolatey twist to your fruits and vegetables that’s actually really delicious!
Macadamia nut butter can also be mixed into pasta and salads for a nutty and buttery twist!
Nutrition: Macadamia nut butter vs Nutella
Macadamia nut butter, as I mentioned, has a lot of fat in it. But, most of that is healthy monounsaturated fat! It also has next to no sugar, boasting 1 gram per serving with none added. It’s also low in carbs, along with having a decent fiber content of 3 grams per serving. So, it’s definitely a good choice for something like keto recipes!
Now, Nutella is a bit of a different story. Although it has less calories, it’s plagued with a very high carb and sugar content. You’ll find 22 grams of net carbs per serving, and 19 grams of ADDED sugar for a whopping total of 21 grams of sugar per 2 tablespoons…that’s definitely something to keep in mind and consider limiting.
Serving size: 2 tbsp | Macadamia nut butter | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) |
Calories | 230 | 200 |
Total fat (saturated) | 24 g (4 g) | 12 g (4 g) |
Total carbs | 5 g | 23 g |
Net carbs (fiber) | 2 g (3 g) | 22 g (1 g) |
Total sugars (incl. added) | 1 g (0 g) | 21 g (19 g) |
Protein | 3 g | 2 g |
How to store macadamia nut butter and Nutella
Macadamia nut butter usually has no added preservatives, so storing it in the fridge would be the best move. This will thicken it up a little, which you may prefer, but it’ll also prevent it from going rancid too early. Be sure to check the label for any specific storage instructions and best-before dates!
You can store Nutella at room temperature, so feel free to throw it in your pantry. It should last you 12 months after opening, according to Ferrero (the company that makes Nutella).
Macadamia nut vs Nutella: The ultimate verdict
So, which spread is victorious here?
For one, macadamia nut butter has a rich, nutty, and buttery flavor contained in a beautifully smooth and creamy texture, making it a mouth-watering option that explains why it’s so sought-after!
Nutella, on the other hand, has a chocolate and sweet taste that can’t be mimicked. It’s mega-popular for a reason, and really does taste delicious. However, the ingredients and added sugar are hard to look past…
Unless you specifically need Nutella for its flavor in a dish, macadamia nut butter takes the win here due to its culinary versatility in multiple diets, better nutritional profile, and great taste that’s more versatile – even with the price tag, I would say this nut butter is worth it!
FAQs
Nutella is actually a flavored hazelnut butter, with cocoa, sugar, and other ingredients used to get that sweet and chocolatey taste.
Yes, macadamia nut butter is a bit expensive – even just the nuts are very pricey.
Macadamia nut butter has a lot of nutrients and a ton of healthy fats. However, the high calories is something to keep an eye on.
Almond butter would be the choice. It has an awesome blend of vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, and healthy fats that are great for your health!
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