Nut Butter vs Nut Cream: Your Guide to the GIMA Range
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Open the pantry at a good gelateria and you’ll find two kinds of jar. One holds pure nut paste: nothing but roasted nuts, ground until smooth. The other holds a sweet, silky nut cream made for spreading and filling. GIMA makes both, in Melbourne, and we stock the full range.
This guide explains the difference, which jar suits which job, and where to start.
Who is GIMA?
GIMA is a family-owned Australian maker of gelato and dessert ingredients, founded by Sicilian-born gelato maker Giovanni Di Francesca. The nut butters in this range are the same pure pastes professional gelato makers use, packed in 250g jars for home kitchens.
Nut butter or nut cream: what’s the difference?
Nut butter: 100% nuts
GIMA nut butters are 100% roasted nuts with nothing added. No sugar, no salt, no extra oil. They’re vegan, gluten free and unsweetened, so you control the sweetness and the flavour is as intense as it gets.
Use nut butter for: gelato and ice cream, baking, buttercream, sauces, dressings, smoothies, porridge, and anyone avoiding added sugar.
Nut cream: 50% nuts, sweet and ready to spread
GIMA nut creams are sweet spreads made with 50% roasted nuts. That’s far more nut than most supermarket spreads. Think of them as the nut-forward cousin of chocolate hazelnut spread: silky, sweet and ready to use straight from the jar.
Use nut cream for: toast, croissants and pancakes, filling cakes, cannoli and doughnuts, drizzling over ice cream, stirring into coffee, and Dubai-style chocolate.
The GIMA range at a glance
| Nut | Butter (100% nut) | Cream (50% nut, sweet) |
|---|---|---|
| Pistachio | GIMA Pistachio Butter | GIMA Pistachio Cream |
| Hazelnut | GIMA Hazelnut Butter | GIMA Hazelnut Cream |
| Macadamia | GIMA Macadamia Butter | GIMA Macadamia Cream |
| Almond | GIMA Almond Butter | GIMA Almond Cream |
Which nut, which job?
Pistachio: the showstopper
Deep green, intensely nutty and slightly savoury. Pistachio butter makes the best homemade pistachio gelato you’ll ever taste. Pistachio cream is the filling behind the viral Dubai chocolate bar. If you only buy one pair, make it this one. See all pistachio recipes.
Hazelnut: the classic
Toasty and familiar. Hazelnut butter gives you proper bacio-style gelato and pairs brilliantly with dark chocolate. Hazelnut cream is the grown-up chocolate-free alternative to supermarket hazelnut spread, perfect on crepes. See all hazelnut recipes.
Macadamia: the Australian one
Mild, buttery and naturally creamy. Macadamia butter is wonderful in gelato with honey or white chocolate, and makes a silky savoury drizzle. Macadamia cream is made for white chocolate desserts and crumpets. See all macadamia recipes.
Almond: the all-rounder
Gentle, sweet-nutty and endlessly useful. Almond butter is the go-to peanut-free swap in satay and dressings and a smoothie staple. Almond cream is the shortcut to bakery-style almond croissants. See all almond recipes.
Tips for using nut butters
- Oil on top is normal. With no added oils or stabilisers, the natural nut oil rises. Stir it back in before using.
- Warm the jar for easy stirring. Stand it in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes if it’s stiff.
- Season it. Unsweetened nut butters love a pinch of salt and a touch of honey or maple when used as a spread.
Recipes using the GIMA range
- How to Make Pistachio Gelato at Home (With or Without a Machine)
- Hazelnut, Macadamia and Almond Gelato: One Base, Three Flavours
- How to Make a Dubai Chocolate Bar at Home
- Bakery-Style Twice-Baked Almond Croissants
- Beyond Toast: 10 Savoury Ways to Use Nut Butter
FAQs
Are GIMA nut butters vegan?
Yes. The pistachio, hazelnut, macadamia and almond butters are 100% nuts, vegan and gluten free with no added sugar. The nut creams are a different product: check each jar’s label, as some contain milk and soy (GIMA Pistachio Cream, for example, contains whey powder and soy lecithin).
Are GIMA products halal?
The pistachio, hazelnut and macadamia creams are halal certified. Check the jar label for current certification on other products.
Can I use nut cream instead of nut butter in a recipe?
Sometimes. Nut creams are sweetened and contain other ingredients, so they’re great swirled into desserts but will make a recipe sweeter. If a recipe calls for nut butter, reduce the sugar when using nut cream, and taste as you go.
Do you sell GIMA wholesale?
Yes. Cafés, gelaterias and retailers can open a Petits Trésors trade account, with no minimum order and special pricing on your regular products.
All GIMA products contain tree nuts. Always check the jar label for full ingredients and allergen information.
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Shop the full GIMA nut butter and cream range →
We ship Australia-wide, with local delivery across the Mornington Peninsula from our shop in Rye. Café, gelateria or bakery? Open a trade account for wholesale pricing, with no minimum order.