Easy Homemade Herb Butter

This easy homemade herb butter, also known as compound butter, is a great way to add a fresh burst of flavor to many dishes. In this post, I’ve included four delicious recipes.

Summer cooking is one of my favorites. With all the fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs just overflowing from the garden, it’s easy to be inspired to be in the kitchen. 

I head out to the garden in the morning to see what’s ripe and get inspiration for meals for the rest of the day or preserving for the future.

When it comes to preserving, most minds automatically go to canning, drying, or freeze-drying (the newest method to me). For herbs specifically, another easy method is to preserve them in fat, like butter. 

This is a wonderful way to enjoy the freshness of the summer season even in the dead of winter. Pop out some compound herb butter from the freezer any time of year to spread on top of sourdough dinner rolls and enjoy those delightful summer flavors.

Tips:

• This is a great way to preserve fresh summer herbs. It adds so much flavor.
• Below, I offer multiple recipes, but you can easily create your own. 
• I like to chop my herbs really finely. This helps distribute the herbs throughout the butter and helps you avoid large chunks of anything when eating.
• If you don’t have fresh herbs, you can also do this with dry herbs. The flavor is different compared to fresh, but it is still delicious.

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Ingredients:

Here is a list of a variety of ingredients you could use:

Unsalted butter: This allows you to control how much salt you are using. Also, I highly suggest using real butter. Nothing can quite do the job like real butter.

Herbs: Use one of the following or even a combination of herbs like fresh thyme, basil, parsley, sage, rosemary, cilantro, chives, etc.

Salt: Unrefined sea salt is best.

Fresh garlic: Raw garlic cloves add a powerful kick. Add garlic butter to sourdough French bread to make the best garlic bread. You can use a garlic press, mince, smash, or even make your own roasted garlic.

Sun-dried tomatoes: Add some sun-dried tomatoes to the mix for a fun twist and a lot of flavor.

Lemon zest: Lemon contributes a wonderful punch of sweet and sour. Grate some fresh lemon zest into the fresh herb butter.

Tools you may need:

Parchment paper

Knife

Cutting board

Measuring cup

Air-tight container or freezer-safe plastic bag

My Favorite Herb Butter Recipes: Different Flavor Combinations

Basil Butter

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

Italian Herb Butter

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup chopped herbs – thyme, oregano, rosemary and basil

Homemade Garlic Herb Butter

1/2 cup butter

5 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup chopped herbs – thyme, chives, and rosemary are all delicious options

Sage Butter

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup chopped sage

Want to create your own herb butter recipe?

There’s a formulation that gives me great success every time.

Use 1/4 cup of chopped herbs (any variety) with 1/2 cup of butter, adding salt to taste.

How To Make Herb Butter:

Set out a stick of butter to soften. This usually takes a few hours. If it is too hard, the butter and herbs will have a difficult time combining. 

Add room temperature butter to a small bowl.

Chop herbs and spices finely.

Add the herbs and spices to the butter. 

Add salt, to taste, mixing well. One of the easiest ways is to use a hand mixer.

Place the herbed butter mixture in the center of a piece of wax paper, parchment paper, or plastic wrap. Roll up to form a log of butter and herbs. Alternatively, you could use butter molds or even a candy mold to create whatever shape you like.

Place in the fridge for an hour to harden, if desired, or use right away.

If you want to keep it longer term, place it in an air-tight, freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 6 months.

How To Use:

• Use on bread
• Compound butter for steak– Top steak with a little bit of butter when serving (or cooking). Adding butter to steak is a game changer.
• Top veggies
• Add to homemade mashed potatoes
• Smother corn on the cob
• Spice up buttered noodles
• Roast chicken – Before roasting, place the compound butter between the skin and the meat, then roast as usual. It’s delicious. And more.
• Meat dishes

And more.

FAQ

Find More Delicious Condiment Recipes:

• Best Cranberry Sauce Recipe
• Homemade Fermented Ketchup
• Mexican Ranch Dressing – Only 3 Ingredients
• Kefir Ranch Dressing Recipe
• Fermented Hot Sauce

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars! Thank you! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.

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