Plant-based kinds of butter, also called vegan butter, are becoming popular for their health benefits. Two such kinds of butter that look similar are sunflower and peanut butter. Both are excellent for health and taste. But are they the same?
In this article, we will find out the difference between sunflower butter vs. peanut butter. The most obvious difference between them lies in their source. But there’s more to them.
Sunflower butter and peanut butter are delicious ways to enjoy breakfast. They don’t just make mornings yummy but also pack in a lot of health benefits.
In the sections below, you will find out how different these two kinds of butter are, their uses, and some delectable ways to use them.
We all know that sunflower and peanut butter are great for health. But both kinds of butter have a unique characteristic that sets them apart. Let’s explore what qualities make both kinds of butter popular and different from each other.
Sunflower Butter Vs. Peanut Butter | Difference Table
| Basis Of Difference | Sunflower Butter | Peanut Butter |
| Key Ingredients | Sunflower seeds, oil, honey, salt | Peanuts, salt |
| Common Additives | Chemical preservatives are rarely added, but it’s still possible | Most products contain loads of chemical add-ins like preservatives, stabilizers, flavor enhancers, and colorants |
| Dietary Restrictions | Vegan and vegetarian, nut-free | Vegan and vegetarian (although always check the packaging to make sure), not suitable for nut allergies. |
| Nutrients | Lower in calories (but still contains a lot); contains a high amount of fat, protein, and sugar; nutrient-dense butter | High in calories; contains a high amount of fat, protein, sodium, and sugar; doesn’t contain enough nutrients to benefit from |
| Consistency | Thick, creamy, smooth | Various consistencies and textures (smooth, creamy, thick, crunchy) |
| Flavor | Raw sunflower seeds | Salted peanuts |
What Is Sunflower Butter?
Sunflower butter, also famously known as sun butter, is a seed-based spread with a similar texture and appearance to peanut butter.
The seeds of sunflowers are roasted and mashed to make this delicious butter, which is also a nut-free alternative.
Sunflower butter was first commercially developed in the 1980s. Since then, it went under refinement to become a marketable product.
Just like peanut butter, sunflower butter is packed with health benefits. It is used in both sweet and savory dishes.
Read on to learn more about the characteristics of sunflower butter and its uses.
What Is Peanut Butter?
The world-famous peanut butter is made from ground, dry-roasted peanuts. It is a smooth, crunchy, and delicious spread used to make sandwiches, shakes, desserts, and more.
Peanut butter is a popular spread that is a good source of protein. It also contains healthy fats and is rich in vitamins and minerals.
Peanut butter is the oldest invented butter. It was invented in 1884; ever since it has been making every consumer happy with its delectable taste.
Sunflower Butter Vs. Peanut Butter | What’s The Difference?
Plant-based kinds of butter, also called vegan butter, are becoming popular for their health benefits. Two such kinds of butter that look similar are sunflower and peanut butter. Both are excellent for health and taste.
1. Key Ingredient
Peanut butter and sunflower butter are both plant-based kinds of butter. While they have a similar-looking appearance, they come from different edible items.
Peanut butter is made from peanuts, whereas sunflower butter is made from sunflower seeds.
Thus, despite being healthy, peanut butter is not suitable for people with nut allergies.
2. Method Of Preparation
The difference between peanut butter and sunflower butter lies in their preparation method. Peanut butter is typically made by a grinding method followed by two steps. Firstly, peanuts are reduced to a medium grind. The second grinding gives them a fine and smooth texture.
Sunflower butter, on the other hand, is made by roasting the sunflower seeds and grinding them at a low speed to make a smooth spread.
3. Texture
If you compare the texture of peanut butter and sunflower butter, you will find them to be different.
Peanut butter has a thick consistency but comes in various textures depending on how finely it is processed. You can buy ultra creamy and smooth peanut butter or choose chunky and gritty peanut butter, having the nut bites.
Comparatively, sunflower butter comes in one variety, having a smooth and creamy consistency and a thick texture.
4. Flavor
The taste of both kinds of butter is the most important criterion to consider before buying them.
Peanut butter comes in two varieties, natural peanut and processed peanut butter.
Natural peanut butter has no artificial flavors added and is less sweet in taste. At the same time, commercially processed peanut butter by top brands lies on the sweeter side of the spectrum.
Thus, broadly speaking, peanut butter tastes sweet, nutty, earthy, and mildly salty.
Sunflower butter, on the other hand, has an earthy and roasted flavor, which is more intense than peanut butter.
5. Health Benefits
Apart from their delicious flavors, one factor that sets sunflower and peanut butter apart are their health benefits. While both kinds of butter contain important vitamins and minerals, sunflower butter provides more health benefits than peanut butter.
Sunflower butter and peanut butter are concentrated sources of nutrition. While peanut butter promotes heart health, has anti-cancer properties, and manages blood sugar levels.
Sunflower butter is packed with protein, decreases cholesterol, supports bone health, and promotes skin and hair health.
Sunflower Butter Vs. Peanut Butter | Which One Is Healthier?
Regarding the nutritional values of sunflower butter vs. peanut butter, both are rich sources of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, vitamin E, and folate. However, sunflower butter is healthier than peanut butter.
If you study the nutrition table closely, you will find that sunflower butter contains triple the amount of zinc and has more Vitamin B6 than found in peanut butter. Zinc and Vitamin B6 help to boost the immune system.
Moreover, sunflower butter also contains almost four times as much vitamin E as peanut butter and twice as much iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc.
Sunflower Butter Vs. Peanut Butter | Which One Is Tastier?
When discussing food, taste matters the most above everything else. So, in the competition between sunflower butter and peanut butter, the taste profiles differ, yet they rank on the delicious scale.
To state a clear winner would be a tough choice. Therefore, to pick one between them, I would say sunflower butter would please those who prefer spreads with milder sweetness. For those who love sweeter spreads, peanut butter with its nutty notes is the best choice.
Top Recipes To Make With Sunflower Butter
1. Vegetable Nori Wraps with Sunflower Butter Dipping Sauce
If you are looking for a nutrient-dense and delicious recipe for a meal, you must try the vegetable nori wraps served with sunflower butter dipping sauce. Thinly sliced veggies are wrapped in a fresh and flavorful seaweed casing. They only get better when dipped in creamy, sweet, and zippy sunflower butter dip.
Check out the full recipe here to learn how to make this showstopping dish for your next meal.
2. Nut-Free Sunflower Butter Oatmeal Raisin Energy Balls
While running errands, it’s always great to have something easy to carry, nutritious, and yummy. Say hello to nut-free sunflower butter oatmeal raisin energy balls to energize you throughout the day.
These energy balls are super easy to make. All you need is some old-fashioned oats, flaxseed meal, sunflower butter, chia seeds, honey, raisins, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips. Click here to find the full recipe.
3. Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Sumac, Mint, and Toasted Sunflower Dressing
Make the best use of sunflower butter by making a creamy, sweet dressing for roasted carrots. The dish features roasted carrots seasoned with sumac and mint and finished with a drizzle of sunflower dressing. Find the full recipe here.
4. Gluten-Free Monster Cookies
Can’t end the day without cookies? Make the best-tasting cookies ever with this gluten-free monster cookies recipe.
Soft and chewy, these cookies are made with sunflower butter, coconut oil, honey, oats, brown rice cereal, and colorful M&M’s. They taste divine! Find the full recipe here.
5. Gluten-Free Sunflower Butter Banana Bread
What if I tell you that you can make a heavenly treat with just three ingredients? Say hi to sunflower butter banana bread! This flourless recipe is a great treat to make the most of sunflower butter.
All you need is a jar of sunflower butter, eggs, and bananas. Check out the full recipe for gluten-free sunflower butter banana bread here.
Top Recipes To Make With Peanut Butter
1. Peanut Butter Silk Pie
Craving peanut butter and pie? Make a creamy peanut butter silk pie following this easy recipe with peanut butter, cream cheese, whipped topping, sugar, and a graham cracker crust.
2. Peanut Butter Milkshake
Make your breakfast ultra delicious by making this peanut butter milkshake with milk, peanut butter, and vanilla ice cream.
3. Baked Salmon with Spicy Peanut Butter Glaze
Make unexpected use of peanut butter sitting in your pantry by making baked salmon with a spicy peanut butter glaze. This dish features baked salmon topped with a peanut butter glaze made with peanut butter, chili garlic sauce, and orange juice. Follow the recipe here.
4. One-Pan Ginger Chicken Meatballs with Peanut Sauce
You can also make a flavorful dinner with peanut butter by making a one-pan meal featuring chicken meatballs in peanut sauce. This recipe combines peanut butter in coconut milk, soy sauce, and sriracha to make a delicious base for the chicken meatballs. Find out how to make one-pan ginger chicken meatballs with the full recipe here.
5. Crunchy Thai Salad with Peanut Dressing
Peanut butter may not come to mind while making a salad dressing, but wait till you taste this delicious dressing. Colorful and crunchy veggies come together with a flavorful salad dressing made with peanut butter, maple syrup, lime juice, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, and sriracha. Check out the full recipe here.
Sunflower Butter Vs. Peanut Butter | Which One Is More Versatile?
It’s always great to stock up your pantry with versatile ingredients to work around different recipes. Thus, you can opt for sunflower butter when buying a butter jar. This nutrient-dense spread is a wonderful ingredient to add to smoothies, milkshakes, sauces, baked goods, and even as a dipping sauce.
One more quality of using sunflower butter is that you don’t have to worry about nut allergies. Moreover, you know you are stocking your pantry with a healthy option.
Can We Substitute Sunflower Butter With Peanut Butter?
If you’re not dealing with a nut allergy, peanut butter is easily one of the best substitutes for sunflower butter and vice versa. Both kinds of butter have a similar texture and appearance.
One major difference between both kinds of butter is their sweetness level. Therefore, if you prefer lesser sweetness in your recipes, you can opt for organic or natural peanut butter that doesn’t have added sugar.
On the other hand, if you like a sweeter spread and happen to have sunflower butter at hand, you can add some powdered sugar to achieve the desired taste.
Sunflower Butter Vs. Peanut Butter | Which One Is Better?
Now that we have reached the end of this article, it’s time to declare a winner. Considering all the factors mentioned above that tell us the unique qualities of sunflower and peanut butter, sunflower butter is a better choice between the two.
The reason is that sunflower butter has much more health benefits than peanut butter. It also has a smooth and creamy consistency, which will not make you miss peanut butter. Moreover, sunflower butter is vegan and nut-free, which solves the problem for people suffering from nut allergies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does sunflower butter taste like?
Sunflower butter has an earthy, roasted flavor that is more intense than peanut butter.
Is sunflower butter healthier than peanut butter?
Compared to peanut butter, sunflower butter contains many more vitamins and minerals. They include vitamin E, niacin, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus.
What is the difference between sunflower butter and peanut butter?
Sunflower butter contains almost four times as much vitamin E as peanut butter and twice as much iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc.
Do you have to refrigerate sunflower butter?
SunButter does not need to be refrigerated.
How do you eat sunflower butter?
Sunflower butter can be used as a spread on a sandwich or toast; you can drizzle it on pancakes or waffles, add a spoonful to oatmeal or a smoothie, or pair it with fresh fruits and add it to bakery goods.
Is sunflower butter good for the skin?
Sunflower Seed Butter is rich in Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that keeps our skin and organ membranes healthy and strong. Two tablespoons of sunflower seed butter provide 40% daily value of Vitamin E required by an average adult.
Is peanut butter healthy or junk food?
Peanut butter is a healthy food to eat. It is rich in nutrients and is a good source of protein. Peanut butter is also loaded with fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Is peanut butter good to eat every day?
It is good to eat peanut butter every day but in moderation.
What does peanut butter taste like?
Peanut butter has a sweet, nutty, earthy, and salty taste.
Is sunflower butter more expensive than peanut butter?
Sunflower butter is slightly more expensive than peanut butter but is a healthier option.
Conclusion
We have reached the end of this article. I hope you enjoyed learning about the difference between sunflower butter and peanut butter. If you have any questions about this article, feel free to ask me in the comments below. Also, don’t miss out on checking interesting food facts and delectable recipes on our website.
