Mixed Nut Butter vs Almond Butter: Which is Better?

Have you ever found yourself stuck choosing between just one nut butter and wished you could have all of them? They’re all delicious, and each have benefits that you’d love to take advantage of!

Enter mixed nut butter, the potential answer to your problem! It’s like a medley of nuts blended into one delicious spread – but how does it stack up to one of the top dogs in the nut butter world: almond butter?

These two spreads will soar into the sky for a dogfight, staking their pros and cons against each other until only one contender is left flying: the better between the two.

Let’s check them out! 

Comparing mixed nut butter vs almond butter

Mixed nut butter often contains almonds, giving it an almondy and nutty taste similar to almond butter. It also tends to be slightly grainy, although creamier than almond butter. Both of these spreads have tree nuts as an allergen, and are great for vegan, paleo, and keto diets!

It can be a bit tricky knowing what mixed nut butter’s glycemic index is due to the variety of ingredients, but it’s likely low – talk to your physician if you’re worried about your blood sugar spiking from mixed nut butter. 

	Mixed nut butter	Almond butter
Taste	Nutty, rich, almondy	Nutty, rich, slightly sweet
Texture	Creamy, slightly grainy	Slightly grainy and runny (or crunchy)
Allergens	Tree nuts	Tree nuts
Vegan?	Yes	Yes
Paleo?	Yes	Yes
Keto?	Yes	Yes
Glycemic index (GI)	Unknown due to a mix of different nuts/seeds; likely low	0

What is mixed nut butter?

Mixed nut butter is made from a blend of different nuts, which can vary from brand-to-brand or between recipes. 

You’ll commonly find almonds, cashews, walnuts, and hazelnuts in the spread – the brand we’re referencing in this article is Kirkland Signature’s mixed nut butter (which also throws seeds into the mix).

Because there is so much variability of what nuts are in this spread, you can get creative with it and even make mixed nut butter at home!

What is almond butter?

Almond butter is made from just one type of nut – almonds! It’s done by grinding the almonds into a delicious spread that’s said to be one of the healthiest nut butters. Almond butter has become a popular alternative to peanut butter – and for good reason! It has a rich and nutty taste with a runny and grainy texture perfect for drizzling, but can also come in smooth to crunchy textures depending on your preferences!

Differences between mixed nut butter and almond butter

The biggest difference between mixed nut butter and almond butter is the texture.

They both sport a grainier texture, but mixed nut butter is creamier while almond butter tends to be runny and sticky. 

Other than that, the flavors are fairly similar – the Kirkland mixed nut butter we’re referencing here has almonds as their first ingredient, making it taste almondy – very similar to almond butter! However, you’ll definitely notice the chia seeds in it, which adds a bit of coarseness to the overall creamy texture. Plus, the multitude of nuts gives it an even richer taste than almond butter. 

How to use mixed nut butter vs almond butter 

Almond butter is used for nearly everything from spreading on toast to putting in smoothies to baking with it to making sauces with it to dipping fruits and vegetables in. 

Mixed nut butter has a similar versatility, going amazing as a spread on toast (preferably with some honey drizzled over), a creamy addition to your smoothie, or as an ingredient in your cookies – you can let your creativity fly with it!

Almond butter is a bit better suited for things like almond body butter, but either spread can be used interchangeably for things like almond butter freezer bars – just remember, the difference in taste and texture will be noticeable, and you might have to compensate with other ingredients because of that!

Nutrition: Mixed nut butter vs almond butter 

Almond butter has made a name for itself for being one of the healthiest nut butters, with an awesome blend of healthy fats, fiber, protein, and vitamin E, promoting overall health in the body. 

Mixed nut butter has a very similar nutritional profile, with the added benefit of having several types of nuts in it.

For example, it carries the benefits of almond butter that we just mentioned, but adds the zinc and copper of cashews, the omega-3 fatty acids of walnuts, and the folate of hazelnuts. This blend of nuts and nutrients creates a diverse powerhouse of a nutritional profile! 

Serving size: 2 tbsp	Mixed nut butter	Almond butter
Calories	200	190
Total fat (saturated)	16 g (4 g)	17 g (2 g)
Total carbs	8 g	7 g
Net carbs (fiber)	4 g (4 g)	3 g (4 g)
Total sugars (incl. added)	1 g (0 g)	1 g (0 g)
Protein	7 g	7 g

How to store mixed nut butter and almond butter

Mixed nut butter and almond butter usually don’t contain added oils or preservatives, meaning that they both should be stored in the fridge. That’ll also thicken them up a bit, making them easier to handle and slow oil separation. 

Check the label for the best-before date and any specific storage instructions – they can change from brand-to-brand. 

Mixed nut butter vs almond butter: Which is better

Almond butter is one of the most popular nut butters for a reason – it has a great nutritional profile, delicious flavor, awesome versatility, and can be found readily in stores.

However, mixed nut butter brings its own special benefits into play. It has a great taste as well, is super versatile, has a wonderful nutritional profile, and brings the benefit of creating diversity in its nutrients through the variety of nuts in it. 

So, while almond butter remains a top choice, I recommend mixed nut butter for its rich taste and diverse nutritional qualities. 

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