Compound Butter

Explore my simple how-to guide for making Compound Butter, including some of my favorite easy recipes to get you started. Use these versatile flavor variations as a jumping-off point to inspire your own signature flavored butter combinations.

Jump to:

• What is Compound Butter?
• Ingredients Needed to Make Compound Butter
• How to Make Compound Butter
• Flavorful Variations for Compound Butter
• A Thoughtful and Easy Hostess Gift
• How to Serve Compound Butter
• How Long Does Compound Butter Last?
• Essential Tools for Making Flavored Butters
• How To Make Compound Butter + My Favorite Compound Butter Recipes

What is Compound Butter?

There are few things more delicious than rich, creamy Compound Butter. It elevates the flavor of everything from mashed potatoes to steak, is a much-loved morning staple on top of a hot stack of pancakes, and a healthy smear of flavored butter on warm bread straight from the oven is its own kind of bliss. You can think of compound butter as butter's fancier, more sophisticated friend, but it’s surprisingly versatile and easy to make!

Compound butter is simply butter mixed with various sweet or savory ingredients to make a flavored butter. Mix-ins can include fresh or dried herbs, spices, fruit, and veggies as well as syrups, honey, wine, and spirits.

Generally, Compound Butter is rolled into log shapes, refrigerated until firm, and then sliced into medallions to serve. However, it is also common to see Compound Butter formed into fancy shapes with the use of silicone molds such as these. You can also serve it at room temperature so the flavored butter is creamy and spreadable if you prefer.

Ingredients Needed to Make Compound Butter

To create your own unique flavored compound butter, consider the following mix-ins and ingredients:

• Herbs: Fresh or dried herbs like chives, dill, parsley, thyme, basil, or rosemary can infuse butter with delightful flavors. Blends such as Herbs de Provence are a good choice also.
• Spices: Experiment with spices such as garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, ground cumin, or spice blends such as za'atar, furikake, and lemon pepper for added depth.
• Citrus Zest: Lemon, lime, or orange zest can bring a vibrant zing to your compound butter.
• Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, or coconut sugar are great options for flavored butter that you plan to use on baked goods or hot cereals.
• Spirits & Oils: Small amounts of wine, spirits, or flavored oils add an additional layer of complexity. Note that liquids can be more challenging to blend thoroughly into the butter, so it's advisable to use them sparingly.
• Fruits and Vegetables: Fresh ingredients like roasted garlic, caramelized onions, sundried tomatoes, roasted peppers, olives, or minced shallots can offer a big punch of flavor.
• Specialty Ingredients: Consider using truffle pate, pesto, or other specialty condiments to create more complex flavors.

How to Make Compound Butter

Crafting homemade compound butter is a simple process that leaves lots of room for versatility. Follow these straightforward steps to create your personalized flavored butter:

1. Soften the Butter: Bring the butter to room temperature until it's soft enough to create a deep dent when pressed with a fingertip, but not melted.
2. Mix the Butter: In a mixing bowl, mix the softened butter using a fork until it becomes smooth and malleable.
3. Incorporate Mix-Ins: Add your preferred mix-ins to the butter and blend thoroughly until well-dispersed.
4. Shape and Store: Transfer the seasoned butter onto a square of parchment paper. Shape it into a log by rolling it or with a spatula, then fold the parchment paper over the log, forming a tube. Seal the ends with kitchen twine, a rubber band, or tape. Alternatively, spoon the butter mixture into silicone molds for individual shapes.
5. Chill Until Firm: Refrigerate the shaped butter until it becomes firm, which can take between 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the size and shape.

Flavorful Variations for Compound Butter

Crafting compound butter at home offers a delectable way to elevate the flavors of everyday meals. Start crafting your own versatile flavored compound butter by blending a base of 4 oz (1 stick) of softened unsalted butter with the flavorful mix-ins below. Feel free to use these as a jumping-off point to create your own flavored butter combinations!:

Beurre Maître D'Hôtel (Master of the House)

• 2 tablespoon fresh parsley
• 2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• Cracked black pepper to taste

Any Herb Butter

• 2 tablespoon fresh herbs (chives, parsley, basil, oregano, or tarragon)
• 2 teaspoon lemon juice or 2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• Cracked black pepper, to taste

Beurre à la Bourguignonne (Garlic Butter)

• 3-4 roasted garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoon fresh parsley (optional)
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Truffle Butter

• 2 teaspoon black truffle pate or shaved black truffle
• 1 teaspoon truffle oil
• 1 teaspoon sea salt or truffle salt

Furikake Butter

• 1 tablespoon furikake seasoning mix
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Herbs de Provence & Citrus

• 1 ½ teaspoon Herbs de Provence
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Horseradish Dill

• 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh horseradish paste
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper

Cranberry Poblano

• 16 g (2 tbsp) sauteed chopped cranberries
• 20 g (2 tbsp) sauteed chopped poblano pepper
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon orange zest
• pinch ground cinnamon

Cinnamon Vanilla

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Whisky Orange

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 2 teaspoon whisky
• 1 ½ teaspoon orange zest
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Honey Orange

• 2 tablespoon honey
• 2 tablespoon fresh orange zest
• 1 teaspoon fresh orange juice
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Honey Lavender

• 2 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon dried culinary lavender
• ⅛ teaspoon sea salt

A Thoughtful and Easy Hostess Gift

Compound butter's remarkable flavors and adaptability also make it an exceptional host or hostess gift! For dinner parties or holiday gatherings, I love to gift the host with an assortment of compound butter varieties, perfect for complementing the meal or savoring later. Simply shape the compound butter into parchment-wrapped logs, securing each end with kitchen twine or festive ribbons, for a delightful and effortless hostess gift.

How to Serve Compound Butter

Explore the versatile uses of Compound Butter. Add a burst of flavor to main courses, side dishes, sauces, and brunch dishes. Some of my favorite uses for flavored butter:

• Seafood & Meats
  Enhance the flavors of roasted fish, sauteed shrimp, grilled steak, chicken, or pork by topping them with herb-infused compound butter. Elevate each bite with rich, aromatic flavors.
• Vegetables & Potatoes
  Add a finishing touch to roasted vegetables, potatoes, or corn-on-the-cob with a dollop of compound butter. Infused with herbs or spices, it transforms these sides into savory delights.
• Mashed Delights
  Whip compound butter into mashed potatoes or cauliflower for a creamy, herb-infused taste that adds depth to these comforting classics.
• Sauces & Gravies
  Start pasta sauces or gravies with a flavorful base of compound butter. Infuse it with herbs or garlic for added depth and richness to your savory sauces.
• Breakfast & Brunch Favorites
  Transform breakfast favorites like pancakes, waffles, or hot cereals by topping them with flavored compound butter. Indulge in the buttery richness melting over each bite. Try it on top of these Sourdough Discard Buttermilk Pancakes, Oatmeal with Roasted Pears, Steel-Cut Oats, or Scottish Porridge.
• Baked Treats
  Elevate baked goods such as biscuits, scones, muffins, rolls, or cornbread by spreading them with compound butter. Experiment with different flavors for a delightful twist. Try it on top of these Buttermilk Bran Muffins, Sourdough Discard Spiced Pear Muffins, or this Brown Butter Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread.
• Fancy Brunch Toast Creations
  Create fancy brunch toast by layering compound butter with sweet or savory toppings like smoked salmon and avocado or fresh berries and bananas.

How Long Does Compound Butter Last?

The shelf life of compound butter varies based on its ingredients and how it's stored:

In the Refrigerator

• Pure Maple Syrup or Honey: Compound butter with pure maple syrup or honey can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to several weeks.
• Dried Herbs & Spices: Varieties containing dried herbs and spices should keep in the refrigerator for about 8-10 days.
• Fresh Herbs, Fruit, or Vegetables: Compound butter containing fresh herbs, fruit, and vegetables can remain good for about 4-5 days in the refrigerator.
• Fresh Roasted Garlic: Butter with fresh roasted garlic should be used within a maximum of 2 days when refrigerated.

In the Freezer

When properly wrapped and sealed in an airtight container, most compound butters can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Essential Tools for Making Flavored Butters

• A mixing bowl (or multiple if you don't want to wash it between flavors)
• A fork (or whisk for larger batches)
• A spatula
• Parchment paper or silicone molds
• Kitchen twine, rubber bands, or tape to secure (if using parchment paper)

You may also need these tools, depending on what mix-ins you choose to use:

• A cutting board
• A chef's knife
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons
• A small saucepan

Are you looking to upgrade your cooking tools or replenish your pantry?

Check out my kitchen tools shop page and pantry staples shop page to find my must-have kitchen tools, pantry items, and other Whip & Wander favorites.

Print