Today we’re diving in the world of nut butters, checking out two of their unique residents: pine nut butter and cashew butter!
Where I’m from, there’s a ton of pine trees around, meaning that pine cones litter the ground during certain parts of the year. Now, I never thought that inside those cones would be little seeds that can create an absolutely delicious spread with some awesome health benefits (which we’ll check out later).
Then we have cashew butter, a nut butter that has an absolutely mouth watering thick and creamy texture. On top of that, it has a flavor profile that you’ll love to mix with many different dishes!
But, which one of these is better? That’s exactly what we’ll look at in this article, comparing the two in all the ways that are important!
Let’s jump in!
Comparing pine nut butter vs cashew butter
Both pine nut butter and cashew butter are made from nuts, being pine nuts and cashews, respectively. That gives them both tree nuts as allergens. They also share a sweetness, with cashew butter tending to be a bit sweeter. The textures are a bit different, but there is a creaminess that each spread has to it.
You’ll also find that both pine nut butter and cashew butter are good for vegan and paleo diets (as long as the cashew butter is unsweetened), but neither are suitable for keto diets. Each spread has a low glycemic index, which is great if you don’t want your blood sugar levels spiking – talk to your physician if you have concerns with that!
Pine nut butter | Cashew butter | |
Taste | Rich, buttery, slightly sweet | Mild, nutty, sweet |
Texture | Smooth & creamy (or crunchy) | Thick, creamy |
Allergens | Tree nuts | Tree nuts |
Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
Paleo? | Yes | Yes (if unsweetened) |
Keto? | No | No |
Glycemic index (GI) | Pine nuts=15 | 1 oz cashews= 25 |
What is pine nut butter?
Pine nut butter is a spread made from the small and edible seeds called pine nuts, which come from the cones of specific pine tree species.
Now, these seeds are classified as tree nuts, and are responsible for the many types of pine nut butter out there! You’ll usually find that brands will roast the seeds before grinding them down, which enhances their flavor! You can also get pine nut butter in different crunch levels similar to peanut butter.
What is cashew butter?
Cashew butter is a thick and creamy spread made by grinding down cashews. The cashews are also usually roasted first to enhance the flavor, but you can also find spreads made with raw cashews.
It’s also quite easy to make cashew butter at home, which gives you more control about what kind of ingredients are added, as some brands will add sugar to enhance the taste.
Differences between pine nut butter and cashew butter
The biggest differences between pine nut butter and cashew butter are their flavors and textures.
Pine nut butter has a unique rich, nutty, and slightly sweet taste that represents pine nuts well. Cashew butter, on the other hand, has a mildly nutty taste with more sweetness to it (especially if sugar is added like in many cases).
Texture-wise, they both share that creamy texture, but cashew butter tends to be thicker, while pine nut butter can range from smooth to crunchy depending on your preferences!
These two have differences in terms of nutrition too, which we’ll get into in just a bit!
How to use pine nut butter vs cashew butter
Pine nut butter and cashew butter are both very versatile, with basically all the same uses.
Use either as a spread on your toast, pancakes, bakes, waffles, etc., or add them into your smoothies and oatmeal for nutty twists! Also, instead of spreading them on your bakes, you could use them as ingredients in them!
More creative uses include adding them to pastas or dipping fruits and vegetables into them! This could create some really cool flavor profiles, and take your dish to the next level!
And while you can use these interchangeably, just remember that they have differing flavor profiles, so they’ll affect whatever you combine them with differently.
Nutrition: Pine nut butter vs cashew butter
Pine nut butter is an awesome source of iron, giving you 10% of your daily value per serving! That’s quite impressive, and is a great stat along with its great healthy fats content. It also boasts 4 grams of protein per serving, but has very little fiber! However, just be aware that it’s high in oxalate, which is a contributor to kidney stones in some people…
Cashew butter is also a good source of healthy unsaturated fats, although it has a touch more saturated fats than pine nut butter. It also has a high carb content, with 9 grams of net carbs per serving. It matches pine nut butter with 4 grams of protein per serving, but has more sugar – remember, a lot of brands add sugar to it, so be sure to check the label!
Serving size: 2 tbsp | Pine nut butter | Cashew butter |
Calories | 190 | 190 |
Total fat (saturated) | 19 g (1.5 g) | 16 g (3 g) |
Total carbs | 4 g | 10 g |
Net carbs (fiber) | 4 g (<1 g) | 9 g (1 g) |
Total sugars (incl. added) | <1 g (0 g) | 3 g (4 g) |
Protein | 4 g | 4 g |
How to store pine nut butter and cashew butter
Pine nut butter does fine at room temperature, but I recommend storing it in a cool, dark place to ensure it doesn’t go rancid early. Plus, it’ll thicken up in the fridge a bit!
Cashew nut butter should be stored in the fridge, as it’s sensitive to light with no added oils or preservatives in it. The fridge will also help prevent oil separation!
Both nut butters usually last around 2-3 months after opening, but I recommend checking their labels for the best-before dates and any specific storage instructions as those can change between brands!
Pine nut butter vs cashew butter: Which is better?
Both spreads offer some cool characteristics.
Pine nut butter has a unique flavor profile, and some options when it comes to how smooth or crunchy you want it. It’s very versatile in culinary uses, and has an awesome iron source! However, it does have oxalate, which doesn’t sit well with some people…
Cashew butter has that delicious thick and creamy texture that spreads amazingly. Plus, its milder flavor profile mixes well with other ingredients – although, it does tend to have added sugar for many brands…
Both spreads are great, and I don’t think you can go wrong with either of them, but pine nut butter squeaks by with the win here due to its great iron source, unique taste, less sugar content, and versatility in texture.
FAQs
Almond butter is said to be one of the healthiest nut butters, containing a great blend of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats that are all awesome for overall health!
That depends on a lot of things, but pine nut butter has less sugar, a more unique flavor, and a greater variety in texture. However, a lot of this comes down to your own preferences.
That’s hard to say because “best” can mean a lot of different things, and it mainly comes down to your preferences. Cashew butter has a great texture and delicious taste, so it’s definitely not a bad choice!
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