Well, who would have thought that watermelon seed butter is actually a thing! On top of that, it’s a great alternative to nut butters, barely having any calories to mimic the fruit it comes from! And no, it’s not made from the watermelon’s flesh, but from the white seeds you may spit out when you enjoy that delicious summer snack!
Now, we’re going to compare that unique spread to the more well-known coconut butter, which will take your taste buds to the beautiful beaches of Hawaii without any delayed flights and uncomfortable airplane seating…
We’ll take a look at their unique characteristics, dissecting everything about them right next to one another to ultimately see which one is better.
Let’s dive in!
Comparing watermelon seed butter vs coconut butter
These two spreads don’t really have a lot in common, but we’ll jump into their differences in taste and texture a bit later! They do share similar versatility in that you can use either in vegan, paleo, and keto diets! However, watermelon seed butter has no allergens, while coconut butter boasts coconuts as an allergen.
Their glycemic indexes are both low, making them ideal choices for anyone watching their blood sugar levels – these spreads won’t spike them! I do recommend talking to a physician if you have concerns about that, however, especially since we don’t have a clear number on either of these.
| Watermelon seed butter | Coconut butter | |
| Taste | Mild, earthy (similar to tahini) | Coconut, rich, slightly nutty |
| Texture | Thin, smooth & creamy | Thick, pasty, slightly gritty |
| Allergens | None | Coconuts* |
| Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
| Paleo? | Yes | Yes |
| Keto? | Yes | Yes |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Unknown; likely low | 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 watermelon seed butter?
Instead of spitting out those soft, white, edible seeds when eating watermelons, you can use them to create watermelon seed butter!
Watermelon seed butter is a smooth and creamy spread that’s perfect for drizzling, and can be a great nut-free alternative to spreads like peanut butter. You can always throw it into the fridge for a while to thicken it up for easier handling!
What is coconut butter?
Coconut butter is made by grinding down coconut meat into a thick, pasty, and slightly gritty spread. That grittiness in it comes from bits of coconut flesh, which give the spread a fun texture with an extra rich coconut flavor!
However, warming it up makes coconut butter thin and runny, which is perfect for drizzling over different dishes. You can also make coconut butter at home if you prefer that over buying it from the store!
Differences between watermelon seed butter and coconut butter
The biggest differences between watermelon seed butter and coconut butter are their tastes and textures.
Watermelon seed butter has a mildly nutty taste similar to tahini (sesame seed butter), with an earthy vibe to it. Coconut butter has a, well, rich coconut taste, with nutty undertones.
Texture-wise, watermelon seed butter is thin, creamy, and smooth, making it great for drizzling onto different dishes! Coconut butter is a thick, pasty, and slightly gritty spread, but can be warmed up if you prefer a thin and runny texture!
The two spreads also have nutritional differences, but we’ll get into that in just a bit…
How to use watermelon seed butter vs coconut butter
Watermelon seed butter has that mild flavor that makes it great in both sweet and savory dishes because it won’t overpower other ingredients. I recommend that sort of flavor profile if you’re playing around with bringing out different flavors from other ingredients!
Coconut butter definitely has a more pronounced taste, but that can be a wonderful addition to many different types of dishes!
Either way, you can use them as spreads for toast, ingredients for bakes, additions to your smoothies and oatmeal, or even mixed into things like salad and pasta!
Let yourself get creative with these, but just remember that they’ll impact your dish very differently when using them interchangeably!
Nutrition: Watermelon seed butter vs coconut butter
I already mentioned that watermelon seed butter is the lowest-calorie seed butter, with just 156 calories per serving! It also has very few carbs, with an astounding 8 grams of protein per serving! That’s quite impressive considering that it holds up with the best of nut butters!
Coconut butter is a bit higher in calories, with 210 per serving. It also has less protein, with only 2 grams per serving. However, it has an awesome 6 grams of fiber per serving! But be aware of the high saturated fats content, as that’s something we generally recommend to limit!
Both spreads are great for keto recipes, boasting low carb contents!
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Watermelon seed butter | Coconut butter |
| Calories | 156 | 210 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 13 g (3 g) | 22 g (18 g) |
| Total carbs | 4 g | 8 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 4 g (0 g) | 2 g (6 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 0 g | 2 g (0 g) |
| Protein | 8 g | 2 g |
How to store watermelon seed butter and coconut butter
Watermelon seed butter should be stored in a cool and dry place to prolong shelf-life – putting it in the fridge is probably your best bet! Plus, it’ll thicken up a little, making it easier to handle.
Coconut butter can be stored in the pantry at room temperature with no problems, but you can store it in the fridge if you want to thicken it up! This can be great especially after warming it up to bring it back to a spreadable consistency.
Coconut butter usually lasts 6-12 months before going rancid, but that really depends from brand-to-brand, so make sure to check the label!
Watermelon seed butter vs coconut butter: Which is better?
Both spreads obviously offer some awesome benefits…
On the one hand, watermelon seed butter has a great nutritional profile that boasts some awesome protein content with no sugar, along with a flavor profile that mixes well with others.
On the other hand, coconut butter has a more powerful flavor that adds something special when used in the right ways, and it has great texture versatility.
However, there can only be one champion here…
I recommend coconut butter when you need that flavor specifically, but overall watermelon seed butter wins due to its great blend of low calories, high protein, healthy fats, and low sugar along with a flavor profile that’s really easy to mix without being overpowering!
FAQs
Yes! Watermelon seed butter has no nuts in it, being made from watermelon seeds, which makes it a great substitute to nut butters!
Almond butter is considered one of the healthiest nut butters due to its high vitamin E, mineral, and monounsaturated fat content, which are all great for overall health.
Watermelon seed butter can be considered a healthy choice because it has a high protein content along with low calorie and sugar contents.
Depends on what you’re looking for! Seed butters are better for people who have nut allergies, while nut butters have a creaminess and flavor that is hard to beat.
USDA classifies coconuts as tree nuts, technically, but a lot of people with tree nut allergies can eat coconut butter safely. I recommend talking to your physician first!
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