Stemming out of the Middle East and Central Asia is the delicious little pistachio nut, and from that comes the delicious spread of pistachio butter.
Then there’s almond butter, one of the most popular nut butters that barely needs an introduction. The spread known all around the world, coming from nuts originating in Iran, and being around since the early 1900s, almond butter is a powerhouse in the world of nut and seed butters.
While these two spreads share similar stomping grounds, they have some distinct differences that could sway you from one to the other. We’ve put pistachio butter and almond butter side-by-side, and compared their pros and cons to ultimately determine which one is better!
Let’s check them out!
Comparing pistachio butter vs almond butter
Pistachio butter and almond buttery share a nutty and slightly sweet flavor, although their tastes change past that. Pistachio butter boasts a more earthy flavor profile, while almond butter has a richer taste.
They’re also both made from nuts, giving them tree nuts as an allergen. Almond butter can be used for vegan, paleo, and keto diets, while pistachio butter works for just vegan and paleo diets due to its higher carb content. Both their glycemic index scores are low, so there’s no worries about spiking your blood sugar levels with these – check with your physician first if you have concerns!
| Pistachio butter | Almond butter | |
| Taste | Nutty, earthy, slightly sweet | Nutty, rich, slightly sweet |
| Texture | Smooth, creamy | Slightly grainy and runny (or crunchy) |
| Allergens | Tree nuts | Tree nuts |
| Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
| Paleo? | Yes | Yes |
| Keto? | No | Yes |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Pistachio nuts=15 | 0 |
What is pistachio butter?
Pistachio butter is made by blending roasted pistachios into a delicious and velvety spread.
It has an earthy taste with a slightly sweet and nutty flavor, creating a smooth spread that’ll have you experimenting with it in new dishes! You can also make pistachio butter at home with a couple pistachios and some sea salt – add some nut-based oils to try out some new flavors!
What is almond butter?
Almond butter is the delicious spread you get by grinding raw and/or roasted almonds down into a paste. Roasting the almonds before grinding them tends to enhance their flavor, which is why a lot of brands opt for that!
It’s become quite a popular alternative to the ever-great peanut butter, even coming in the same smooth to crunchy texture options. Better yet, you can make almond butter at home to your own liking!
Differences between pistachio butter and almond butter
The biggest difference between pistachio butter and almond butter is their textures.
Pistachio butter has a smooth and creamy texture that’s a bit thinner than a lot of other nut butters, which makes it great for drizzling over foods. Almond butter, on the other hand, tends to be runny as well, but has a grainy and slightly sticky texture to it. It can also be crunchy depending on what kind you bought/made.
Their tastes resemble the nuts they’re made from, but both boast rich and nutty flavors with a tinge of sweetness, with pistachio butter tasting more earthy than almond butter.
Almond butter also has less carbs than pistachio butter, making it more suitable for low-carb and keto diets. We’ll dive more into their nutritional profiles in just a bit.
How to use pistachio butter vs almond butter
Pistachio butter’s thin texture is awesome for drizzling over your oatmeal and desserts! You can also mix it into your smoothies or dip vegetables into it for a healthy snack, but don’t be afraid to add it in your bakes!
Almond butter can be used in the exact same ways, but you have to try these almond butter freezer bars and almond butter banana ice cream – you don’t even need an ice cream maker!
Of course, you can simply spread either of these on your toast or pancakes. But whichever nut butter you use for any dish, just remember that their different tastes and textures will influence the overall dish in different ways, so you might have to play around with the amount you use or the other ingredients to create a flavor and consistency that you’re happy with.
Nutrition: Pistachio butter vs almond butter
Pistachio butter has a little less healthy fats than almond butter, and it also has more carbs, making it unsuitable for any keto recipes. It has a good protein content and contains some fiber, which will promote proper digestion!
Almond butter is great in healthy fats and protein, and is an awesome source of vitamin E. It also has a solid fiber content, and can be used for vegan, paleo, and keto diets.
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Pistachio butter | Almond butter |
| Calories | 180 | 190 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 14 g (2 g) | 17 g (2 g) |
| Total carbs | 8 g | 7 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 5 g (3 g) | 3 g (4 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 2 (0) g | 1 g (0 g) |
| Protein | 6 g | 7 g |
How to store pistachio butter and almond butter
Throw pistachio butter into the fridge to help prevent oil separation and to thicken it up a bit – it can be quite runny otherwise, so thickening it up will help you handle it better!
Almond butter should also be stored in the fridge, as it can go rancid quickly since it has no added preservatives. Both of these spreads can struggle with oil separation, so give them a quick stir before storing them to help out with that!
If you buy these from the store, check the label for any best-before dates and specific storage instructions.
Pistachio butter vs almond butter: The ultimate verdict
Now, which of these tasty spreads has come out on top?
Pistachio butter offers a runny, smooth, and creamy nut butter that works great for drizzling over desserts – its earthy taste goes great with sweets! And almond butter has that nutty taste with the grainy texture that mixes well with many dishes…
They each have their pros and cons, but when looking at everything together, almond butter is the winner for its nutritional profile, versatility in different diets, ease of making at home, and amount of recipes made specifically for it.
FAQs
This can depend on what you consider “healthy,” but almond butter is considered one of the healthiest options, with high vitamin E and monounsaturated fat content. Walnut butter is also a healthy option with high omega-3 fatty acids.
Pistachio butter contains healthy monounsaturated fats, a decent amount of fiber, and some protein, which makes it an overall healthy choice.
No, almond butter has its own unique taste, and so does peanut butter. You’ll easily be able to decipher the two – plus, they have very different textures as well!
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