Easy Herb Butter is a delicious compound butter made with fresh thyme, parsley, garlic and lemon zest. Delicious topping for steaks, potatoes, fish, crostini’s, veggies and practically anything and everything.
Table of Contents
- Easy Herb Butter
- What is compound butter used for?
- Butter - the essential ingredient
- Best herbs for compound butter
- It's not too late to start your herb garden
- How to make fresh herb butter from scratch
- How do you soften butter?
- How long will compound butter keep?
- Fun ways to serve compound butter
- How to wrap up herb butter into a log
- More delicious how to recipes you can make at home
Easy Herb Butter
Creamy, dreamy and herbaceous, Herb Butter is better than sliced bread. It’s really good on sliced bread too. It makes recipes go from good to absolutely fantastic. Have you ever tried compound butter? What are you waiting for? In less than 5 minutes you can have it on your table with only 5 ingredients.
What is compound butter used for?
Compound butter is a mixture of butter and other ingredients. They can be either savory or sweet. Savory herbed butter is a game changer condiment for so many recipes. It gives a little extra silky deliciousness and freshness to everything. Be sure to try it on…
Steaks like our Grilled Marinated Flank Steaks
Potatoes like our Herbs de Provence Baby Potatoes and Tomatoes
Breads like our Gluten- Free Herbs de Provence
Vegetables like our Ginger Cumin Carrots
Seafood recipes like our Crab Stuffed Flounder
Stuffed in Savory Herbed Roasted Whole Chicken
Or anything your little heart desires...
Butter – the essential ingredient
You can use either unsalted or salted butter for this recipe. However, you will need to adjust the amount of added salt accordingly. If you are using unsalted butter, we added about ½ teaspoon of salt. If you are using salted butter, you may want to decrease the amount of salt to ¼ teaspoon or maybe you won’t need to add any at all. It is really up to your taste preferences.
If you have the option, try to buy organic butter from grass fed cows. However, with supplies being low at the stores these days, any butter is great.
If you have a lactose intolerance, you can try our easy herb butter with ghee. Ghee is clarified butter that has had the milk solids removed. If you want to make this recipe vegan, you can use vegan butter alternatives of choice.
Best herbs for compound butter
You can use either fresh or dried herbs in this easy herb butter recipe. However, fresh herbs are absolutely amazing. Use what you have on hand is our motto. We had fresh thyme and parsley. Fresh rosemary would be lovely in here as well. Use 2 heaping tablespoons of finely minced fresh herbs of choice to 8 tablespoons of butter. If you are using dried herbs, use a total of 2 teaspoons of dried herbs of choice.
It is not too late to start your herb garden
We decided to start a little herb garden again this year inside from seedlings. There is something special about being able to garnish and add a little fresh herb to your recipes the whole year long. In the spring we nurture the seedlings until they are strong enough tough out the summers on the balcony. During the summer months we bring the herbs outdoors. In the winter, we bring them indoors.
How to make fresh herb butter from scratch?
- Soften your butter
- Add fresh herbs
- Add garlic powder
- Add salt and pepper
- Mix
- Roll and refrigerate or freeze
How do you soften butter?
- On the counter: You can just leave it out at room temperature and let it soften naturally for a couple of hours.
- Microwave: Remove the wrapping off the butter and place it in the microwave in 5 second increments. In 10 seconds, we had perfectly softened butter. Be careful. You do not want melted butter. The effect you are going for is that you can easily dent your butter when you press your finger into the butter.
How long will compound butter keep?
You can keep herbed butter in the refrigerator for up to 2 months or in the freezer for up to 6 months. If you use fresh minced garlic, you will need to use your garlic within 4 days of making it. The reason being is that garlic can cause botulism. According to the food safety boards, it is best to be safe than sorry and either use fresh garlic within 4 days. This is why we use dried garlic powder in our easy herb butter recipe. Then, you do not need to worry.
Fun ways to serve compound butter
Of course, you can serve it immediately whipped on top of your favorite recipes. However, it is also nice to freeze your easy herbed butter in decorative cookie pans or chocolate molds for a cute design. We have also frozen our easy herb butter in ice cube trays and then transfer the frozen compound butter to a baggie and store in the freezer. When you need a little herbed butter, just take out and cube and use in your recipe.
How to wrap up herbed butter into a log
One of our favorite ways to serve compound butter is in a log shape at the table. It is a pretty way to serve it up to guests.
- Cut a sheet of saran wrap or parchment paper
- Place your compound butter on the ⅓ of the saran wrap or parchment paper closest to you.
- Spread the compound butter with your spatula slightly.
- Gently, but firmly, grab the edge of the saran wrap and roll the butter into a round log shape.
- Tightly twist the edges and wrap around.
- You can either place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or in the freezer to store. Slice into wedges to serve and enjoy
More delicious How-to Recipes that you can make at home
Better Than Mrs. Butterworth's Pancake Syrup
Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup
How to Cook Tasty Gluten-Free Job Tears
How to Roast Sweet Mini Peppers
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Easy Herb Butter
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoon butter unsalted (see notes below for salted butter)(½ cup softened)
- ½ teaspoon salt if using salted butter you can either hold salt or add ⅛ - ¼ teaspoon to your desired taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tbsps fresh herbs of choice (we used thyme and parsley but rosemary is also very delicious) or 2 teaspoons dried mixed herbs like an Italian seasoning or herbs de Provence.
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder if you add fresh garlic you will need to use easy herb butter in 4 days.
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest optional - really delicious if using on fish, poultry or pasta.
Instructions
- Soften the butter. You can just leave it out at room temperature and let it soften naturally for a couple of hours. Microwave: Remove the wrapping off the butter and place it in the microwave in 5 second increments. In 10 seconds, we had perfectly softened butter. Be careful. You do not want melted butter. The effect you are going for is that you can easily dent your butter when you press your finger into the butter.
- If using unsalted butter, add ½ teaspoon of salt. If using salted butter, you may choose to add ¼ teaspoon of salt or less to your desired taste.
- Add pepper, finely chopped fresh herbs or dried herbs, garlic powder and lemon zest (if desired) and mix well with a fork.
- You can serve it whipped right away. However, you may choose to roll it in a log and refrigerate or freeze for later. Cut a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper Place your compound butter on the ⅓ of the plastic wrap or parchment paper closest to you. Spread the compound butter with your spatula slightly.Gently, but firmly, grab the edge of the plastic wrap and roll the butter into a round log shape. Tightly twist the edges and wrap around. You can either place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or in the freezer to store. Slice into wedges to serve and enjoy.
Heidi | The Frugal Girls says
This really would be so amazing on some French bread. I also loved your tip for using fresh herbs for best flavor. YUM... I can almost taste it now!
Emma says
can you put this on bread to make garlic bread
HWC Magazine says
Herb butter is fabulous on garlic bread. Just slather a little on top of the bread before baking or grilling. Take Care
Stev says
Looks Yum!!! Must try it!!
mjskitchen says
I have SO MANY herbs growing on the patio right now, that this is a must make! And yes, putting a slab on a grilled steak - heavenly!
HWC Magazine says
Thanks MJ. We hope that by Mother's Day we will be able to take our herbs on to the patio. We are supposed to get another cold spell so need to be careful. We hope you make some herbed butter soon as it is so good. Take Care
Juliana says
That is such a great idea Bobbi, have this herb butter handy to use at anytime...and I am loving the idea of lemon zest in it...lemons grow almost like weeds here...everywhere...I think I will slice them once frozen and place it back in the freezer.
Have a wonderful weekend and stay safe!
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Juliana. Wow, lemons that are growing like weeds. We would love that problem... LOL Slicing your herb butter before freezing it is a great idea. You will need to put it in the refrigerator for a couple hours first just to help it firm up a little bit before trying to cut slices. Stay well and take care
Kelly | Foodtasia says
Bobbi, such a wonderful herb butter that would make so many things yummier! It looks so irresistible on that steak!
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Kelly. Stay tuned as we have a delicious flank steak recipe coming your way soo. Take Care
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
It's amazing what you find to do with this when it is tucked in your fridge! Total yum. And your site is looking awesome!
HWC Magazine says
It really is amazing that we can create with little bits and bobs in our refrigerator, right?. So glad you like the new website layout. Take Care
Eha says
Am not a huge butter user but make this quite often . . . it can be used 'everywhere' ! Love the look and practicality of the ;logs' ! warm, healthy vibes across the Pond . . .
HWC Magazine says
Hiya Eha! We also love slathering herb butter on everything too. Sending positive vibes and thoughts across the pond right back at ya. Take Care
Gerlinde says
I don’t know why I don’t make herb butter more often. I have so many fresh herbs in my tiny garden. Thanks for reminding me.
HWC Magazine says
You are very welcome Gerlinde. A tiny little garden can produce many delicious treats. Hope your garden is starting to flourish. Stay well and take care.
Priya says
We love herbed butter. You know I am going to try this. I am getting bored with slightly minty flavoured and regular garlic butter.
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Priya. Herbed butter is the best. It really does take recipes from okay to fabulous. Stay well and take care
Hannah says
A handful of fresh herbs really do brighten any meal. This sounds like a lovely blend that would also be great for making an olive oil dip or drizzle! Lots of great ways to infuse flavor.
HWC Magazine says
Hiya Hannah, for sure herbed olive oil and herbed ghee are just as fabulous. We are excited that are herbs have germinated well. They are well on their way to be ready to be replanted outdoors when the weather permits. Take Care
Raymund says
All that thing need is a nicely marbled rib eye! Yum
HWC Magazine says
You bet Raymund! Awesome on steak. Stay well and take care.