There are many fans of soy out there who will be happy to hear about this cool little spread that may be the substitute for nut butters that you’ve been looking for! That spread is none other than soy nut butter, an interesting product to say the least!
We’ll be taking a much closer look at it in this article, as well as comparing it to Nutella, one of the most popular spreads on the market – and why wouldn’t it be with its sweet and chocolatey taste that’s absolutely delicious!
Now, there are many factors in determining whether a spread is better than another spread, including taste, nutritional profiles, culinary versatility, and much more! We’ll dive into all of those things so that you can ultimately see: is soy nut butter or Nutella the better spread?
Let’s jump in!
Comparing soy nut butter vs Nutella
These two spreads are quite different in ways that we’ll explore later, but both soy nut butter and Nutella share a creaminess to their textures. They also both have soy as an allergen, with Nutella also listing tree nuts and milk as allergens.
Neither are good for paleo and keto diets, but soy nut butter can be used in vegan diets – unlike Nutella. Soy nut butter’s glycemic index is unknown, but it’s likely low so it shouldn’t cause any blood sugar level spikes. Nutella’s glycemic index is also unknown, but it’s likely high due to the massive amount of sugar added – speak to your physician if you have concerns with either of these!
| Soy nut butter | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) | |
| Taste | Somewhat stale, slightly sweet | Sweet, chocolatey |
| Texture | Thick, creamy | Smooth, creamy |
| Allergens | Soy | Tree nuts, milk, soy |
| Vegan? | Yes | No |
| Paleo? | No | No |
| Keto? | No | No |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Unknown; likely low | Unknown (likely high due to added sugar content) |
What is soy nut butter?
Soy nut butter, despite the name, has no nuts in it at all!
It’s actually made by grinding either roasted or unroasted soybeans and soybean oil into a thick and creamy spread! I usually prefer roasted ingredients, as that enhances the flavor, but unroasted soybeans are fine as well. Some brands will use different oils such as palm oil along with sugar to further enhance the taste – quite similar to Nutella!
What is Nutella?
Nutella is a flavored hazelnut butter, but with many added ingredients like sugar and palm oil (similar to soy nut butter, except with A LOT more sugar). It also has cocoa in it to give that chocolatey taste, and is packaged in a beautiful smooth and creamy texture.
Now, as delicious as Nutella is, the unhealthy ingredients are a bit off-putting, which is where you can make Nutella at home without a lot of those ingredients! You can also make a keto Nutella that uses stevia-sweetened chocolate chips, which will be much better for your low-carb diet!
Differences between soy nut butter and Nutella
The biggest differences between soy nut butter and Nutella are their flavor, with some differences in texture as well.
Soy nut butter boasts a stale and slightly sweet flavor while Nutella comes out swinging with a chocolatey and very sweet taste. You don’t really taste the hazelnuts in Nutella at all due to the other ingredients (like refined sugar) that are added in.
Texture-wise, these two share a creamy consistency, but soy nut butter is thicker while Nutella is very smooth and can be drizzled over things.
How to use soy nut butter vs Nutella
Even with the differing flavor profiles, soy nut butter and Nutella have a lot of similarities in terms of how you can use them.
Try using either as a spread on bread, muffins, waffles, pancakes, etc., or add them as ingredients in bakes, or dip things like fruits and vegetables into them, or use them in the classic way of adding them to your smoothies and oatmeal!
You can get really creative with these, but just remember that you’ll get really different flavor profiles if you use these interchangeably.
Nutrition: Soy nut butter vs Nutella
Soy nut butter is a good source of protein, boasting 7 grams per serving. It also has some healthy fats in it, along with 2 grams of fiber per serving. It does have some sugar added, but that’s nothing compared to Nutella…
Nutella has 19 grams of added sugar per serving, totaling up to a massive 21 grams of sugar per just 2 tablespoons! It also has a ton of carbs, with 22 grams of net carbs per serving – which isn’t necessarily bad unless you’re trying to limit carbs.
Both spreads are high in calories, so keep that in mind!
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Soy nut butter | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) |
| Calories | 200 | 200 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 15 g (3 g) | 12 g (4 g) |
| Total carbs | 8 g | 23 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 6 g (2 g) | 22 g (1 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 4 (2) g | 21 g (19 g) |
| Protein | 7 g | 2 g |
How to store soy nut butter and Nutella
Soy nut butter should be stored in the fridge to help prevent it from going rancid too soon. It’ll also help with oil separation – give it a stir before storing it!
Nutella is completely fine stored at room temperature, and can be stored for up to 12 months after opening according to Ferrero, the company that makes Nutella. So feel free to throw it into your pantry!
Storage instructions can change depending on the brand for soy nut butter, so make sure to check the label for any specific instructions and best-before dates!
Soy nut butter vs Nutella: Which is better?
Both spreads offer some unique characteristics that could swing your decision one way or another…
Soy nut butter, for example, is a solid substitute for nut butters if you’re dealing with a nut allergy, as it has a thick texture that’s quite similar!
Nutella, on the other hand, has a delicious taste and texture that’s hard to put down!
Neither spread has any real redeeming qualities nutritionally, with added sugars and palm oils, although soy nut butter has a solid protein content.
Now this is a tricky one, but I recommend soy nut butter if you need a nut-free spread and don’t like Nutella’s massive sugar content, otherwise I recommend Nutella between these two for its amazing flavor profile and texture that goes amazing in desserts!
FAQs
Soy nut butter is a plant-based butter that has some healthy fats and some vitamins, so it could be a mildly healthy choice, although it still has added sugar, palm oil, high calories, and some unsaturated fats.
Almond butter is said to be the healthiest nut butter due to its great blend of vitamins, healthy fats, and minerals.
You can use these spreads interchangeably, but just remember that they have really different flavor profiles!
Nutella is not healthy because it has a lot of sugar along with some other unhealthy ingredients. It does have some healthy fats from the hazelnuts, but I recommend enjoying it in moderation!
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