Toss together all your favorite nuts, blend them together, and voila, you have mixed nut butter! It’s quite the unique spread, being a nut butter essentially made by mixing a bunch of nut butters together! The end effect is a delicious and tasty spread, which we’ll check out in much more detail!
We’re also going to take a look at cashew butter, which is a thick and creamy spread that has one of the best textures out of all nut butters out there!
Both these spreads obviously have some unique characteristics, but which one is better? We’ll check these out side-by-side, looking at everything from culinary uses to nutritional profiles. And then, you’ll be able to ultimately see which one of these spreads is better!
Let’s jump in!
Comparing mixed nut butter vs cashew butter
Mixed nut butter and cashew butter both share nutty flavors, although cashew butter is milder. They both share creamy qualities in their textures, and both have tree nuts as allergens. You can use either spreads for vegan and paleo diets (as long as the cashew butter is unsweetened), with mixed nut butter being suitable for keto diets as well!
Cashew butter’s glycemic index is low, making it a great choice if you’re worried about your blood sugar levels spiking – talk to a physician if you have any concerns with these! Mixed nut butter often has different nuts and seeds in it, which makes it difficult to calculate its glycemic index. Talk to your physician about this one as well if you have any concerns.
| Mixed nut butter | Cashew butter | |
| Taste | Nutty, rich, almondy | Mild, nutty, sweet |
| Texture | Creamy, slightly grainy | Thick, creamy |
| Allergens | Tree nuts | Tree nuts |
| Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
| Paleo? | Yes | Yes (if unsweetened) |
| Keto? | Yes | No |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Unknown due to a mix of different nuts/seeds; likely low | 1 oz cashews= 25 |
What is mixed nut butter?
Mixed nut butter is a delicious spread made by blending multiple types of nuts together. These can change from brand-to-brand, with different types and different amounts. However, you’ll often find they contain almonds, cashews, walnuts, and hazelnuts!
We’re referencing Kirkland Signature’s mixed nut butter, which has almonds listed as its first ingredient. That gives it a taste resembling almonds, but this spread also has chia seeds in it, which gives it the slightly grainy texture.
You can get creative and make mixed nut butter at home, giving you more control about which nuts and seeds go into your spread!
What is cashew butter?
Cashew butter is simply made by grinding cashews down into a thick and creamy spread that boasts a mild, nutty, and sweet taste. Most brands will roast the cashews before grinding them down, which enhances their flavor. However, many brands also add sugar, so be sure to check the label!
You can also make cashew butter at home!
Differences between mixed nut butter and cashew butter
The biggest differences between mixed nut butter and cashew butter are the flavors and textures.
Mixed nut butter boasts a nutty and rich taste, with this specific one having an almond flavor. You’ll find that whichever brand you get, their first ingredient listed is often the flavor profile it most closely resembles. Cashew butter, on the other hand, has a mild, nutty, and sweet taste.
Texture wise, mixed nut butter has a creamy and slightly grainy texture that comes from the chia seeds in Kirkland’s mixed nut butter, while cashew butter has a thick and creamy texture that’s perfect for spreading!
How to use mixed nut butter vs cashew butter
Both spreads can be used in basically all the same ways!
Use them to add a delicious twist in your bakes, or dip fruits and vegetables into them. You can also mix them into your smoothies and oatmeal, adding texture and a nutty twist! If you want to get real creative, mix them into your pasta and salads!
Of course, you can use them in the classic way of spreading them on your toast or waffles – consider drizzling some honey over afterwards! Cashew butter is especially good if you’re working with the flavor profiles of different ingredients, such as in bakes, because cashew butter has a milder flavor that won’t be overpowering.
Nutrition: Mixed nut butter vs cashew butter
Mixed nut butter has a great protein content of 7 grams per serving, along with a good source of healthy fats. It also boasts 4 grams of fiber, but its strength lies in having multiple nuts in it.
You get all the health benefits of all the nuts that are in it – for example, you get zinc and copper from cashews, folate from hazelnuts, vitamin E and healthy fats from almonds, and omega-3 fatty acids from walnuts! This gives it a distinct advantage over many other “single” nut butters.
Cashew butter is also a great source of healthy fats. It has 4 grams of protein per serving, and has 9 grams of net carbs per serving – which gives it one of the highest carb contents out of all nut and seed butters. A lot of brands will add sugar, so be sure to check the labels!
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Mixed nut butter | Cashew butter |
| Calories | 200 | 190 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 16 g (4 g) | 16 g (3 g) |
| Total carbs | 8 g | 10 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 4 g (4 g) | 9 g (1 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 1 g (0 g) | 3 g (4 g) |
| Protein | 7 g | 4 g |
How to store mixed nut butter and cashew butter
You should store mixed nut butter and cashew butter in the fridge because both usually don’t have any added oils or preservatives in them, which makes them go rancid quicker at room temperature.
The fridge will also slow oil separation in them, but you can give them a stir before storing to help out further!
Most nut butters last about 2-3 months after opening – but always check the labels for any specific storage instructions and best-before dates!
Mixed nut butter vs cashew butter: The ultimate verdict
Well, we’ve had an interesting showdown here!
Mixed nut butter has some unique nutritional qualities, along with different tastes depending on the recipes.
Cashew butter boasts that delicious thick and creamy texture, which is absolutely wonderful to spread!
But, there can only be one winner…
Looking at all factors, mixed nut butter takes the win due to having a superior nutritional profile, more dietary versatility, and customizability when making it at home!
FAQs
Almond butter is considered the healthiest due to its awesome blend of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. I suggest also checking out walnut butter!
Mixed nut butter can be made with a variety of nuts, with the amount and ratios differing between brands and recipes.
Cashew butter is high in carbs, while mixed nut butter is very low. So, mixed nut butter is better for keto diets.
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