Pine nut butter and Nutella are two very different nut butters – each sports pros and cons, and is aiming to be the one you pick out at the store!
But, the best choice is an educated choice, and laying down the facts between these two will help you make just that – after all, your nut butter experience depends on it!
We’ll dissect these two to see how they truly differ from one another, and see any common characteristics. In the end, you’ll have an understanding of how these two spreads compare nutritionally, culinarily, in texture, in taste, and more.
And then, you’ll be able to make the best choice for YOU, because you’ll know: is pine nut butter or Nutella better?
Let’s jump in!
Comparing pine nut butter vs nutella
Pine nut butter and Nutella are both made from tree nuts, giving them a common allergen – Nutella also has soy and milk as allergens. Both spreads are smooth and creamy (unless you get a crunchy version of pine nut butter).
You can go for pine nut butter if you’re following a vegan and paleo diet, but unfortunately can’t use Nutella for vegan, paleo, or keto diets (although I’ll show you a solution for keto later on). Pine nut butter has a low glycemic index score, whereas you should watch out for your blood sugar levels spiking with Nutella – it has a lot of sugar, which suggests a higher glycemic index. Make sure to speak with your physician if you have any concerns!
| Pine nut butter | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) | |
| Taste | Rich, buttery, slightly sweet | Sweet, chocolatey |
| Texture | Smooth & creamy (or crunchy) | Smooth, creamy |
| Allergens | Tree nuts | Tree nuts, milk, soy |
| Vegan? | Yes | No |
| Paleo? | Yes | No |
| Keto? | No | No |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Pine nuts=15 | Unknown (likely high due to added sugar content) |
What is pine nut butter?
Pine nut butter is made from pine nuts, which are the small and edible seeds from the cones of specific pine tree species. These seeds are classified as tree nuts, and are roasted before being ground into a creamy and tasty spread (roasting them enhances the flavor).
There are quite a few types of pine nut butter, and they’re generally similar in texture to sunbutter – but also similar to peanut butter, coming in different crunch levels to meet your preferences!
What is nutella?
Nutella is admittedly one of my early guilty pleasures, being a chocolatey hazelnut spread that nearly everyone around the world recognizes.
Its taste and texture are very sweet and delicious, which is unfortunately due to a lot of added sugar and palm oil – it’s not the healthiest of spreads!
That being said, you can make your own version of Nutella at home that skips a lot of the negative ingredients, giving you a healthier option that still satisfies your chocolate cravings! And, if you follow a keto diet, you can make this keto Nutella that’s made with stevia-sweetened chocolate chips!
Differences between pine nut butter and nutella
The biggest difference between pine nut butter and Nutella are their flavors.
Pine nut butter definitely has a unique taste: rich, nutty, and slightly sweet that is undoubtedly its own. Nutella also has a distinct taste that nearly everyone knows: chocolatey and very sweet.
The spreads are both smooth and creamy, although, as mentioned, pine nut butter can come in a variety of crunch levels depending on your preferences!
Neither nut butter is suitable for keto diets (except for that keto Nutella recipe I mentioned), but pine nut butter is at least good for vegan and paleo diets, unlike Nutella.
Nutritionally, these two are quite different – but we’ll get into that a little later!
How to use pine nut butter vs nutella
Pine nut butter is very versatile.
You can use it as a spread on your toast, pancakes, waffles, and bakes, or use it as an ingredient in your delicious creations like cookies and muffins. You can even use it as a base for sauces and dips, and give your pasta a nutty twist by mixing pine nut butter into it! Putting it into your smoothie is also a great way to add some extra flavor.
Nutella is also versatile, but does best as a spread, swirled into ice cream, added to brownie batters and added to cakes, used as dip, drizzled over desserts, or combined with fruits! And, just like pine nut butter, you can throw Nutella into your smoothie, giving it a chocolatey flavor profile.
If you try to use these interchangeably, just remember that their different flavor profiles will greatly impact the outcome of your dish!
Nutrition: Pine nut butter vs nutella
Pine nut butter has one of the lowest carb contents of all nut and seed butters, whereas Nutella has one of the highest carb contents. Pine nut butter also boasts a lot of iron, giving you 10% of your daily value per serving! It also has a great amount of healthy unsaturated fats, and an alright protein content.
Just be aware that it’s high in oxalate, which is a contributor to kidney stones in some people.
Nutella isn’t the greatest nutritionally. It has more unhealthy saturated fats, with a TON of added sugar – 19 grams are added per serving, giving it a grand total of 21 grams of sugar per serving.
It’s also got a low amount of protein, and is just a touch higher in calories than pine nut butter.
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Pine nut butter | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) |
| Calories | 190 | 200 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 19 g (1.5 g) | 12 g (4 g) |
| Total carbs | 4 g | 23 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 4 g (<1 g) | 22 g (1 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | <1 g (0 g) | 21 g (19 g) |
| Protein | 4 g | 2 g |
How to store pine nut butter and nutella
Both pine nut butter and Nutella are generally fine at room temperature, but should preferably be stored in a cool, dark place. Putting them in the fridge won’t hurt, but it’ll definitely thicken up their textures a bit.
Most nut butters like pine nut butter last around 2-3 months after opening, but Nutella is said to last up to 12 months after opening – always check their labels for the best-before date and any specific storage instructions!
Pine nut butter vs Nutella: Which is better?
Pine nut butter and Nutella both offer unique flavor profiles in a smooth and creamy package, although pine nut butter has crunch level options.
Nutella is a little less versatile than pine nut butter, but what it can do it does really well! It packs quite the punch in sweet desserts such as ice cream and cakes, and is a tasty spread to boot.
But, it’s hard to look past the massive amount of added sugar…
Looking at all the facts we laid down in this article, I would say pine nut butter is better due to its superior nutritional profile, versatility in both recipes and different diets, and options for crunchiness levels.
FAQs
Almond butter is considered one of the healthiest nut butters out there, having a strong blend of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats that are all great for overall health.
That depends on your preferences, but pine nut butter is better for vegan and paleo diets and does sport the better nutritional profile between the two.
Nutella has a huge amount of added sugar in it, which an overconsumption of can lead to negative health issues and unwanted weight gain.
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