It’s said that people have been snacking on pistachios for over 9000 years, making pistachio butter one of the most “ancestral” out of all the nut butters! So, while we don’t have exact dates on when pistachio butter was first created, it’s safe to assume that humans have been enjoying the spread for thousands of years!
Now, coconuts have been around for even longer, eventually becoming the base for the delicious tropical spread: coconut butter. It’s quite different from pistachio butter, boasting many unique characteristics…
Deciding which one of these two you should invest in can be very difficult because they’re so different – but that makes it all the more worthwhile to take a deep dive into each of these and compare them side by side!
And that’s exactly what we’ll do in this article – by the end of it, you’ll know exactly which one is better: pistachio butter or coconut butter!
Let’s jump in!
Comparing pistachio butter vs coconut butter
Pistachio butter and coconut butter are quite different in taste, but share a nutty profile – pistachio butter being quite nutty and coconut butter only being slightly so. They also share a similar versatility, with pistachio butter being good for vegan and paleo diets, while coconut butter is suited for those AND keto as well.
Their glycemic indexes are also low, which means that you don’t have to worry about your blood sugar levels spiking when eating these – talk to your physician first if you have any concerns!
And that’s where their similarities stop. Pistachio butter has tree nuts as an allergen, while coconut butter has coconuts. They also differ in texture and nutrition, but we’ll get into that later!
| Pistachio butter | Coconut butter | |
| Taste | Nutty, earthy, slightly sweet | Coconut, rich, slightly nutty |
| Texture | Smooth, creamy | Thick, pasty, slightly gritty |
| Allergens | Tree nuts | Coconuts* |
| Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
| Paleo? | Yes | Yes |
| Keto? | No | Yes |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Pistachio nuts=15 | Low** |
*The USDA considers coconuts as tree nuts, but many people with tree nut allergies can safely consume coconut products.
**Coconut butter is made from the flesh of coconuts, which have a glycemic index of 45, classifying it as a low GI food. Although there isn’t clear data on the GI of coconut butter, we would assume it’s the same, or very similar, to coconuts.
What is pistachio butter?
Pistachio butter is quite simply blended pistachios.
The pistachios are usually roasted before being blended, which enhances their flavor. The final result is a smooth, velvety spread that boasts nutty and earthy flavors with slightly sweet undertones. You can even make pistachio butter at home, only needing some sea salt and nut-based oils if you want to play around with adding some new flavors!
What is coconut butter?
Coconut butter is also very simple – it’s made by grinding down dried coconut meat. The resulting spread is thick, pasty, and slightly gritty, with little bits of coconut flesh in it.
Warming coconut butter up completely changes the texture – it becomes thin and runny, which is perfect for drizzling! You can also make coconut butter at home, giving you much more control about the ingredients added!
Differences between pistachio butter and coconut butter
The biggest differences between pistachio butter and coconut butter are their textures and flavors.
Pistachio butter has a smooth and creamy texture, while coconut butter has a thick, pasty, and slightly gritty (from the coconut bits) consistency. However, coconut butter can also become thin and runny if you warm it up!
Taste-wise, pistachio butter really tastes like pistachios, boasting an earthy, nutty, and slightly sweet flavor that’s absolutely delicious. Coconut butter tastes a lot like coconuts, with a rich and slightly nutty flavor profile that gives you a tropical feel!
How to use pistachio butter vs coconut butter
Pistachio butter and coconut butter are both drizz-able – pistachio butter has an already thin-ish texture, but you can warm coconut butter up to make it really runny. This makes both spreads great for drizzling over your bakes and desserts!
You can also use both as a simple spread, or add them into your oatmeal, smoothies, and even salads! Try dipping vegetables into them for a nutty twist, or try using them interchangeably to create some new flavor profiles in your favorite dishes – for example, there are many unique ways that you can use coconut butter that you may have never considered!
Nutrition: Pistachio butter vs coconut butter
Pistachio butter has a solid protein and healthy fats content, with a decent fiber content of 3 grams. However, it has a lot of carbs, with 5 grams of net carbs per serving – that’s not suitable for keto diets.
Coconut butter, on the other hand, has 6 grams of fiber and a total of 2 grams of net carbs per serving, making it suitable for keto. Plus, it has 2 grams of fiber per serving, but a lot of unhealthy saturated fat – something to keep in mind!
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Pistachio butter | Coconut butter |
| Calories | 180 | 210 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 14 g (2 g) | 22 g (18 g) |
| Total carbs | 8 g | 8 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 5 g (3 g) | 2 g (6 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 2 (0) g | 2 g (0 g) |
| Protein | 6 g | 2 g |
How to store pistachio butter and coconut butter
You should store pistachio butter in the fridge to lengthen its shelf-life and prevent oil separation – plus, it’ll thicken up a bit, making it easier to handle.
Coconut butter does completely fine at room temperature, staying solid and spreadable. You can put it in the fridge if you want to thicken it up, especially if you’ve just warmed it up temporarily to drizzle it over something!
The shelf-life of coconut butter varies from brand-to-brand, but it usually lasts 6-12 months before going rancid.
Pistachio butter vs coconut butter: Which is better?
So, which one is better?
Well, on the one hand pistachio butter is a delicious, smooth, creamy, and tasty nut butter that has a lot of redeeming qualities, while on the other hand coconut butter offers a unique spread that adds a new dimension to a lot of the things you could add it to…
Now, while each spread has their own unique pros and cons, coconut butter takes the win here for its extra dietary versatility, unique taste, and versatility in terms of texture.
FAQs
Almond butter is considered the healthiest nut butter due to its great mineral, healthy fats, and vitamin content.
Pistachio butter is a decently healthy choice with healthy fats and some fiber, along with a solid protein content.
No. Although they both have coconut-y tastes, coconut butter tastes more like coconut because it’s made from ground up coconut meat, while coconut oil is made by extracting the oil from this meat.
It might be…the USDA considers coconuts as tree nuts technically, but many people with tree nut allergies can safely eat coconut butter. I recommend talking to your physician first!
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