The thing about nut butters is that there are so many different types, each with unique traits that make them good or bad.
Two of these nut butters are pecan butter and Nutella, which are so very different from one another…
On the one hand you have pecan butter, a rich spread that encompasses the true meaning of “nut butter,” while on the other hand you have Nutella, a highly sweetened and extremely popular spread that may be much tastier than it’s healthy.
However, we won’t know which one is truly best until we take a deep dive into each of their characteristics, lining them up side-by-side to see both their shortcomings and victories over one another!
Let’s jump in and see whether pecan butter or Nutella comes out on top in this nut butter showdown!
Comparing pecan butter vs nutella
Pecan butter, as mentioned, embodies what nut butter really is – nuts ground down into a spread that doesn’t have any additional preservatives. Nutella is quite different in this regard – it has lots of sweeteners and preservatives added, making it more appealing taste-wise but much less appealing health-wise.
Both spreads have a smooth and creamy texture to them, with tree nuts as the main allergens. Nutella also includes milk and soy as allergens, and isn’t vegan or paleo friendly like pecan butter is. It also likely has a high glycemic index due to the added sugar content, while pecan butter sits at the low end of the index, making it ideal for anyone watching their blood sugar levels!
| Pecan butter | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) | |
| Taste | Rich, buttery, slightly sweet | Sweet, chocolatey |
| Texture | Smooth, creamy | Smooth, creamy |
| Allergens | Tree nuts | Tree nuts, milk, soy |
| Vegan? | Yes | No |
| Paleo? | Yes | No |
| Keto? | No | No |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Pecans=10 | Unknown (likely high due to added sugar content) |
What is nutella?
Nutella is that chocolatey hazelnut spread that’s known around the globe as one of the most popular nut butters in the entire world!
That’s likely because it tastes so good – unfortunately, that sweet taste is due to a lot of added sugar. The good news is that you can make your own version of Nutella at home that’s healthier without the added refined sugar! Or, you can even make a keto version made with stevia-sweetened chocolate chips that’ll fit into your low carb diet!
Regular store-bought Nutella contains palm oil, hazelnuts, lecithin, and vanillin, which add the soy and milk into the spread.
What is pecan butter?
Pecan butter is simplicity itself – just blend roasted or toast pecans into a creamy spread and voilà, you have yourself a tasty nut butter.
Roasting or toasting the pecans before blending them brings out more flavor than when using raw pecans, but you can use either when making pecan butter at home! One of my favorite things about this spread is that most of them have no added preservatives or ingredients, making it a more health-conscious choice.
Differences between pecan butter and nutella
The biggest difference between pecan butter and Nutella is their taste.
Pecan butter has a buttery flavor that’s rich and slightly sweet, while Nutella is very sweet and chocolatey.
We already talked a little about the ingredients in each of these spreads, but they’re so different from each other that it’s worth mentioning again: pecan butter is only made from blended pecans (sea salt, coconut oil, honey, etc. are optional ingredients), while Nutella includes things like lecithin (soya), vanillin, and a heap of added sugar.
That’s a major difference you should keep in mind when making your choice between these two!
How to use pecan butter vs nutella
I know it sounds like I’ve been bashing Nutella for not being the healthiest choice, but it can be used in amazingly delicious ways (in moderation, of course)!
You can use Nutella simply spread on toast or pancakes, mixed into your smoothies, added to cakes, stuffed into cookies or pastries, swirled into ice cream, or even used as a dip for something like strawberries! Wherever you add it, it’ll add a sweetness and chocolate taste that’ll make your mouth water!
Pecan butter has that rich and buttery flavor that goes so well on waffles, toast, and pancakes, but also pairs amazingly as an ingredient in your bakes! This will give them a nutty and smooth flavor, which I find especially great in cookies and other sweeter bakes!
If you want to get really creative, add pecan butter into your pasta or use it as a base for salad dressings!
Nutrition: Pecan butter vs nutella
Pecan butter has a solid amount of healthy unsaturated fats, which are good for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels! It’s also got 0 grams of sugar per serving, and is fairly low in carbs – especially compared to Nutella…
Nutella has more unhealthy saturated fats, and has a ton of carbs – 22 net grams per serving! The craziest part, however, is the 19 grams of ADDED sugar per serving – that adds up to 21 grams of sugar in just 2 tablespoons!
Both are quite low in protein, with 2 grams per serving, but each gives you 200 calories for every 2 tablespoons you eat.
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Pecan butter | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) |
| Calories | 200 | 200 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 18 g (2 g) | 12 g (4 g) |
| Total carbs | 6 g | 23 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 4 g (~2 g) | 22 g (1 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 0 g | 21 g (19 g) |
| Protein | 2 g | 2 g |
How to store pecan butter and nutella
Pecan butter is pretty sensitive to light and heat, especially if it’s the natural stuff. Store it in the fridge, which will help it from going rancid too soon! Most nut butters last 2-3 months, but make sure to check the label for any specific storage instructions and best before dates!
Nutella, on the other hand, does well in a cool, dark place – like a pantry! You could toss it into the fridge if you want to make the texture a bit firmer, but Nutella generally lasts up to 12 months after opening it.
Pecan butter vs nutella: The ultimate verdict
I’ll be honest, I used to love Nutella. I basically ate the stuff everyday, but that was before I knew how unhealthy it was…
It’s got a ton of added refined sugar, palm oil, milk, and soy that doesn’t make it a very health-conscious choice. You can counteract that stuff by making your own Nutella at home, which changes the overall spread slightly but still keeps that chocolatey goodness.
Pecan butter, on the other hand, has a buttery, rich, and slightly sweet taste with a smooth and creamy texture that’s also delicious. Plus, it has a much better nutritional profile than Nutella without any added preservatives, no sugar, and more healthy fats!
Everything considered, I recommend pecan butter as the winner here, as it’s much better for you and can be used in all the same ways that Nutella can be used as!
FAQs
Well, Nutella generally isn’t considered a healthy choice at all due its high added sugar content, while pecan butter is purely made from pecans with no additives. This makes pecan butter the overall healthier choice.
Pecan butter has a blend of vitamins, minerals, and good monounsaturated fats which all contribute to a healthy lifestyle! Just keep the high calories in mind.
Nutella has a ton of added sugar, which can lead to an overconsumption of refined sugar causing health issues, weight gain, and other negative effects.
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