Compound Butter // 5 Flavored Butter Recipes

 

Have you ever tried compound butter? I love finding incredibly easy things that instantly take a meal or appetizer up a notch and these flavored butters scream class. They also make fabulous gifts with a fresh loaf of bread whether it be this holiday season or as a “just thinking of you” gift throughout the year. 

 

This week was the first time I’d ever attempted compound butter on my own, but its essentially just mixing ingredients into butter to give it a unique flavor. Its perfect for spreading on bread, putting on fish or steaks, or even adding to french toast in the morning. I’m planning on using some of them with bruschetta in the near future as well. 

 

For my butters, I used salted sweet cream butter but you could try it with unsalted too. Its important to note that if you are using fresh ingredients (fresh berries or fresh herbs) your butter will only keep 1 – 2 weeks in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer. If you use dried herbs they will last longer but won’t have the same fresh flavor. My favorite flavor was hands down the Rosemary Goat Cheese but they really are all delicious. 

1 C butter, 4 tbsp goat cheese. 1 tsp dried rosemary (or 1 tbsp fresh rosemary), 3 drops lemon juice. 

 

1 C butter, 2 tbsp canned pumpkin, 1/4 C chopped pecans. 

 

1 C butter, 1/3 C raspberries, 1/4 C finely chopped walnuts. 

 

1 C butter, 1 dash of garlic powder (you could use fresh roasted garlic too), 1 tbsp finely chopped walnuts, 1/4 c chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp dried basil. 

 

I used the recipe from here for Texas Roadhouse Honey Butter (to die for). 

 

Let the butter thaw to room temperature and using a stand mixer, whip until fluffy (just ten seconds or so). Add ingredients and whip until combined. You can do this by hand, the mixer just makes it easier. Once combined, either spoon into little glass dishes and store in fridge, or prepare for wrapping: Place whipped butter on saran wrap and cool in fridge. When the butter has cooled a little, form it into cylinders by rolling it with your hands. Harden in fridge.

 

To package, wrap the saran wrap covered butters in parchment paper and tie the ends of with twine. Feel free to add little gift tags (I got mine for $1 at Target) or write the flavors directly on the parchment papers. Tie up a loaf of french bread in paper and twine as well and you have the perfect gift (more edible gift ideas here) .