Butter, a staple in kitchens worldwide, has been tantalizing taste buds for millennia. This creamy dairy product, made by churning cream or milk, dates back to ancient times, with evidence of its use found in 4,500-year-old limestone tablets.1 Today, butter remains a beloved ingredient in cooking and baking, prized for its rich flavor and ability to enhance dishes.
Whether you’re looking to add a touch of sweetness to your morning toast or infuse your steak with savory goodness, these compound butters will transform your meals from ordinary to extraordinary. The best part? They’re incredibly easy to make.
For each recipe, combine all the ingredients until well-mixed. Get ready to churn up some deliciousness with these 15 easy-to-make flavored butters that will have your taste buds dancing.
1. Honey Cinnamon Butter
Transport yourself to a cozy breakfast nook with this heavenly honey cinnamon butter. The warm, comforting aroma of cinnamon blends perfectly with the natural sweetness of honey, creating a spread that’s both indulgent and nostalgic.
This butter is perfect for slathering on warm biscuits and pancakes or as a unique topping for roasted sweet potatoes.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2. Garlic Herb Butter
This classic compound butter is a must-have for any kitchen. The pungent garlic melds beautifully with the fresh herbs, creating a versatile spread that can elevate almost any dish.
Use it to amp up garlic bread, melt over grilled meats, or toss with freshly cooked pasta for an instant sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives
- 1 tablespoon chopped thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
3. Strawberry Butter
Bring a taste of summer to your table with this fruity delight. The natural sweetness and slight tartness of fresh strawberries infuse the butter with a vibrant flavor and a beautiful pink hue.
It’s perfect for spreading on scones, melting over waffles, or even as a unique addition to a cheese board.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
4. Chipotle Lime Butter
Spice up your life with this zesty butter that combines the smoky heat of chipotle peppers with the bright, citrusy notes of lime. This compound butter is ideal for corn on the cob, grilled fish, or as a finishing touch for tacos.
It adds a Mexican-inspired kick to any dish.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
5. Maple Pecan Butter
This nutty, sweet butter is autumn in a spread. The rich, caramel-like flavor of maple syrup pairs beautifully with the toasty crunch of pecans, creating a butter that’s both indulgent and comforting.
Try it on warm banana bread, sweet potatoes, or even as a topping for your morning oatmeal.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/4 cup finely chopped toasted pecans
6. Roasted Garlic Butter
Take garlic butter to the next level with this rich, mellow spread. Roasting the garlic transforms its sharp bite into a sweet, nutty flavor that infuses the butter with incredible depth.
It’s perfect for steak or roasted vegetables or spread on a crusty baguette for the ultimate garlic bread experience.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1/4 cup roasted garlic cloves (mashed)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
7. Lemon Dill Butter
Brighten up your seafood dishes with this fresh, herby butter. The zesty lemon and aromatic dill create a classic flavor combination reminiscent of Mediterranean cuisine.
It’s great on boiled new potatoes, grilled salmon, or stirred into a bowl of steamed vegetables for an instant flavor boost.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
8. Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Butter
Bring a taste of Italy to your table with this Mediterranean-inspired butter. The intense, sweet-tart flavor of sun-dried tomatoes pairs perfectly with the aromatic basil, creating a spread that’s bursting with flavor.
It’s delicious on crusty bread, stirred into pasta, or spread on a grilled chicken sandwich.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1/4 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
9. Brown Sugar Cinnamon Butter
This sweet butter is like a cinnamon roll in spread form. The warm spice of cinnamon combined with the rich molasses notes of brown sugar creates a butter that’s both comforting and indulgent.
Use it on toast, muffins, or even as a topping for baked sweet potatoes for a dessert-like treat.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10. Blue Cheese Butter
Elevate your steak night with this pungent, creamy butter. Blue cheese’s bold, tangy flavor adds a gourmet touch to any dish. This butter melts beautifully over hot meat, creating an instant sauce that’s rich and complex.
It’s also great to spread on crackers or melt over roasted vegetables.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
11. Pumpkin Spice Butter
Embrace fall flavors year-round with this aromatic butter. The warm spices and subtle pumpkin flavor create a spread that’s cozy and comforting.
It’s perfect for spreading on warm, toasted bread, stirring into your morning coffee for a homemade pumpkin spice latte, or melting over roasted butternut squash.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
12. Sriracha Butter
Kick up the heat with this spicy butter that combines the complex flavor of Sriracha sauce with a touch of sweetness from honey.
It’s great for adding a fiery touch to grilled corn, roasted chicken or even spread on a burger for an extra kick. This butter is perfect for those who like their food with a spicy edge.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey
13. Truffle Butter
Indulge in luxury with this aromatic butter that turns simple dishes into gourmet experiences. The earthy, intense flavor of truffles infuses the butter, creating a spread that’s both sophisticated and indulgent.
Try it on pasta, mashed potatoes, or even spread on a grilled cheese sandwich for an elevated comfort food experience.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1 tablespoon truffle oil
- 1/4 teaspoon truffle salt
14. Cranberry Orange Butter
Bring holiday flavors to your table any time of year with this tangy-sweet butter. The bright citrus notes of orange complement the tart cranberries perfectly, creating a spread that’s both refreshing and comforting.
It’s perfect for dinner rolls, pancakes, or even as a unique glaze for roasted poultry.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1/4 cup finely chopped dried cranberries
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon honey
15. Bacon Chive Butter
Everything’s better with bacon, including butter! This savory spread combines the smoky, salty flavor of bacon with the mild onion notes of fresh chives.
It’s delicious on baked potatoes, melted over grilled steak, or spread on a BLT sandwich for an extra bacon boost. This butter is sure to become a favorite for meat lovers.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1/4 cup finely crumbled cooked bacon
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
With these 15 flavored butter recipes in your culinary arsenal, you’ll never look at a stick of butter the same way again. From sweet to savory, there’s a compound butter here to suit every taste and dish.
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.