Easy Compound Butter Recipe: Ways to Use Compound Butter

Compound butter is a flavored twist on the typical water-in-fat emulsion made from cream. This common cooking fat and flavoring agent consists of a base of softened butter mixed with various sweet and savory additions, including finely chopped herbs, spices, sweeteners, and fruit zests. Compound butter has many applications: Use it as a spread, condiment, baking ingredient, or cooking fat.

Home cooks can make compound butter using savory and sweet ingredient combinations. Popular varieties of compound butter include:

1. 1. Cajun-spiced butter: Mix up a Louisiana-inspired butter flavored with a Cajun or Creole seasoning blend.
2. 2. Chipotle butter: A spicy condiment made with chopped chipotle peppers and adobo sauce, this compound butter makes the perfect addition to any Mexican dish.
3. 3. Cranberry orange butter: This fruity take on flavored butter uses dried or puréed cranberries, orange zest, and sugar to make the perfect scone topping.
4. 4. Everything bagel butter: This deli-inspired take on compound butter adds extra flavor to your breakfast. Make your own everything bagel seasoning using a blend of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and flaky sea salt.
5. 5. Garlic herb butter: Made with finely minced garlic and fresh herbs, this popular variety of compound butter perfectly complements a freshly buttered roll.
6. 6. Sriracha honey butter: This sweet-and-spicy compound butter makes a tasty topping for cheddar biscuits.
7. 7. Horseradish butter: With the key ingredient of horseradish, this spicy butter will bring some heat to your grilled meats.
8. 8. Jalapeño lime butter: This zesty compound butter utilizes diced jalapeño (with or without the seeds, depending on your spice tolerance) and lime zest or lime juice. Throw in some finely chopped cilantro for a well-rounded Mexican butter.
9. 9. Lemon basil butter: This summer-friendly butter combines lemon zest and fresh basil for a tangy, herby condiment. Swap out the basil for chives, dill, or another fresh herb for different flavor combinations.
10. 10. Maple cinnamon butter: A sweet take on compound butter made with cinnamon and maple syrup (or brown sugar), this spread is perfect for topping pancakes, waffles, and French toast.
11. 11. Mixed herb butter: Use any medley of fresh or dried herbs (like fresh rosemary, thyme, tarragon, oregano, and parsley) to make this herbaceous compound butter.
12. 12. Sun-dried tomato butter: This Italian-inspired butter utilizes finely minced sun-dried tomatoes and Italian herbs like thyme and oregano.
13. 13. Truffle butter: If you’re feeling extra decadent, add shaved truffles or truffle oil to your softened compound butter for an earthy, savory spread.

Home cooks can use compound butter in any dish that would use regular butter. Slice it into thick pats and serve it atop grilled meats (like steak, lamb, and pork), hunks of crusty sourdough bread, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, and other baked goods for extra flavor and richness.

Add a dollop of compound butter to baked, grilled, or sautéed veggies like broccoli, green beans, sweet potatoes, and brussels sprouts. Spread garlic herb butter over a baguette and toast it in the oven for a quick garlic bread. Use compound butter as a cooking fat for eggs or French toast, or add a slice of sweet butter to the top of your pancakes and waffles.