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Soft, ultra-creamy and luxurious – with just 3 basic ingredients, 5 minutes and 1 SECRET tip for making perfect flavored butters, you can create an array of delicious compound butters: from roasted garlic butter for bread, to herb flavored butter for turkey and fish, or sweet seasoned spread for croissants and pancakes; plus more!
Update: This recipe was originally published in March 2022. I made updates to the article below to include more information about making garlic butter at home.
This simple homemade butter recipe will guide you to making the best fluffy, rich seasoned butter YOUR WAY! Use your soft butters right away or store them to have on hand as a fast and simple, yet elegant way to infuse flavor and elevate any meal!
Table of Contents
About this garlic butter recipe
There’s no denying it, butter makes everything better! But, have you ever seasoned your butter? Honestly, it’s life changing!
This compound butter recipe turns out butter that is unbelievably creamy and ultra-soft with an airy and light texture! And, this garlic butter recipe is totally customizable, allowing you to flavor and season butter YOUR WAY! Keep your homemade butter simple by adding fresh herbs, such as rosemary, for topping sizzling steaks! Or blend in parmesan cheese to make garlic spread for bread! Or get a little fancy by stirring in honey, vanilla and cinnamon to create a perfectly sweet flavored butter for pastries and croissants!
Homemade butters are perfect for anything and everything! Whether you slather it on bagels and pancakes, dollop it onto fluffy baked potatoes, or toss it with silky pasta (and MORE!), rich specialty butters are such an easy way to elevate and boost the flavor of everyday meals!
If you’re looking for more simply delicious homemade spreads, be sure to try these fan-favorite recipes next: Chives Cream Cheese, Salmon Spread, and Everything Bagel Spread.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Amazingly easy! Making garlic gutter (or any compound butter!) is astoundingly easy – you need just a few ingredients, plus hand-held or stand mixer to whip everything together! (However, you can use just a bowl and a spoon if you are in a pinch!)
- 5 minutes! You can whip up any flavor of compound butter in under 5 minutes!
- Specialty butter flavor! Making your own garlic butter or flavored butter allows you to add your personal touch! You can create a soft, rich homemade spread perfectly customized to your tastes! Keep things simple with fresh garlic and a pinch of kosher salt, or brighten up the flavor by adding your favorite type of herbs, such as parsley or thyme! Try adding in freshly-grated parmesan and Italian seasoning for garlic bread or explore new combinations of flavors! With this recipe, you can make rich, fancy butters YOUR way!
- All natural! Store-bought condiments, such as flavorful butter spreads, are convenient; however, they also contain undesirable additives and preservatives! Homemade flavored butters only contain the ingredients YOU choose! When you make your own garlic butter (or iterations!) you know you’re getting quality!
- Incredibly versatile! Flavor-infused homemade butters are such a simple and elegant way to elevate any dish!
- Impress guests! Garlic butter or herb butters, also know as compound butters, are an easy way to impress dinner guests! Roll your whipped flavored butter into a log and serve it sliced into pretty pats! Or use a butter mold to offer various types of flavored butter in the form of pretty shapes!
- Perfect for gifts! Everyone loves a homemade edible gift! A freshly whipped batch of homemade butter is a great gift for any occasion!
Garlic butter ingredients
You need three basic ingredients to make luxuriously-soft, creamy homemade garlic butter – butter, an enriching liquid and fresh garlic! You can use this basic gourmet butter recipe to create different flavors of butter, from garlic butter, or herb butter, to honey butter, and anything in between!
- Butter: You can use either salted or unsalted butter when making garlic butter. However, because compound butter has so few ingredients, it’s essential those ingredients are good-quality! Here you’ll want to use a good stick of butter! There are some popular brands that people think are butters, which are actually margarines. Look at the ingredients – butter is made from pure cream, while margarine is made from vegetable oil. (Kerrygold, Trader Joe’s Cultured Salted Butter, Land O’Lakes, and Goat Butter are all great brands of butter!) Pro-tip: The butter needs to be at room temperature before flavoring with spices, fresh herbs or dried herbs! Set the butter on the counter for at least an hour ahead of time, so that it has time to soften to room temperature.
- Enriching liquid: The secret to luxuriously-creamy whipped butters and ultra-rich flavored butters with garlic, herbs or other various tasty addition, is to whip the butter with just a touch of fat. Regular butter is simply a solid emulsion made from the fat and protein components of churned cream. Adding a touch of enriching liquid, such as milk or extra-virgin olive oil, gives flavored butters a creamier, richer mouthfeel.
- Kosher salt (optional): If you are using unsalted butter, I recommend adding a generous pinch of kosher salt to your compound butter – it really enhances the flavors!
- Garlic: For the best tasting butter recipe, make sure you use fresh cloves of garlic and mince them yourself! While those jars of pre-minced garlic are convenient, they are lackluster in flavor! For simple garlic butter with a subtle garlic taste, use 4 cloves of garlic. However, if you prefer a more distinctive, punchy garlic taste, use 6 garlic cloves (or more)! And if you prefer a richer, mellower flavor, use oven roasted garlic cloves.
Tips for the best success!
- Use a good brand of butter! Garlic and butter are the two main ingredients, so make sure you use a good brand of butter (not margarine!) and fresh garlic!
- Soften butter to room temperature! In order to easily season and flavor butters at home, the stick of butter needs to be at room temperature. Set the butter out on the counter at least an hour ahead of making this garlic butter recipe! Butter is easiest to work with when it’s nice and soft (but, not melted!)
- Rinse and chop herbs! You can use both fresh and dried herbs to season the butter! If you are using fresh herbs, use the tender leaves only (discard stems) and finely chop prior to adding to butter mixture!
- Add enriching liquid! Whipping butter with a tablespoon or two of milk or olive oil will result in incredibly fluffy, perfectly soft and ultra-rich flavored compound butter!
Step-by step-photos: making this recipe at home
Below you will find a picture collage showing you exactly how to make this garlic butter recipe (or any flavored butter recipe!), step-by-step! Please scroll down for the printable recipe card, which contains detailed instructions and measurements!
FAQ: frequently asked questions
Unsalted or salted butter?
You can use either salted or unsalted butter for making homemade flavored butters! However, some dishes are more suited for one or the other! Generally, unsalted butters are better for preparing sweet flavored butter recipes, such as cinnamon butter or whipped cherry butter! While salted butters are best for making savory butter flavors, like herbal butter with fresh herbs for steak. While there is no hard and fast rule, I do recommend adding at least a generous pinch of kosher salt when using unsalted butter! This is especially true if you are making garlic butter sauces and spreads!
Fresh or dried herbs for herb butter?
You can use fresh herbs or dried herbs in this easy garlic butter recipe! For the best taste and freshest flavor, use fresh herbs to season your butter! However, don’t feel like you can’t use dry herbs in a pinch! When substituting dried for fresh herbs in this butter recipe, do so in a 1:3 ratio – meaning 1 teaspoon of dried herb will replace 3 teaspoons of fresh! (Helpful tip: There are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon!)
What herbs are in herb butter?
You can make a quick garlic butter with whatever herbs and seasonings you love! Italian parsley and fresh basil are the two most common herbs in garlic spreads. However, homemade butters are a great way to preserve any fresh herbs from your garden, especially those like thyme or rosemary, which lose a lot of their delicious texture and flavor when dried. Below are some of my favorite herbs and spices to use when seasoning butter!
Helpful tip #1: If you are looking to expand your knowledge of herbs and their culinary applications, this complete guide to fresh herbs and this kitchen tutorial on how to store fresh herbs are incredibly informative!
Tip #2: When making garlic butter at home, don’t limit yourself to just fresh or dried herbs! You can also add your favorite pantry seasonings and spices, such as red pepper flakes and freshly-ground black pepper in your herbed compound butter! Plus, you can season butter with various yummy flavoring ingredients, such as lemon zest!
Herbs for herbal butter
- Fresh parsley: Both curly and flat-leaf parsley are great options when making garlic butter! Parsley garlic butter pairs well with everything from eggs and potatoes to fish, pasta, meats, and more!
- Basil: Slightly sweet and minty with a hint of peppery goodness, fresh basil butter is perfect for preparing sauces, slathering on sandwiches, tossing with pasta and more!
- Chives: Dainty chives with their delicate onion flavor is perfect for flavoring butter! Use chive butter on everything from eggs and bagels, to corn-on-the-cob or green beans, and potatoes, risottos and more!
- Thyme: Lemony, slightly peppery thyme butter tastes delicious with rice dishes, potato recipes and chicken!
- Dill: Slightly grassy, sweet dill flavored butter is perfect for topping fish or for using in eggs!
- Rosemary: Fresh rosemary is a woody herb with a lemony, pine-like taste. Rosemary butters are delicious on potatoes and chicken dishes!
- Oregano: There are two types of oregano – Mediterranean and Mexican. Mediterranean oregano is more citrus-forward, while Mexican oregano is peppery and slightly sweet. Oregano butter is delicious on Italian cuisine, dishes like pizza and pasta; however, it’s equally delicious on poultry!
- Sage: Slightly peppery and minty sage butter is perfect for rich, creamy pasta dishes and sausage recipes!
- Tarragon: Licorice-like tarragon is a popular herb in French cooking! Try using tarragon butter to top poached eggs, lobster tails and roast chicken! Or use it to make Sole Meunière!
- Mint: Cool and refreshing mint butter pairs great with lamb!
- Lavender: While not traditional, you can use lavender to flavor butter! It’s an assertive herb with a floral, slightly bitter flavor. Smear soft lavender butter on warm biscuits, hearty whole-grain breads or toasty scones for a touch of sophisticated flavor!
How to roll compound butter into a log?
Forming your garlic infused butters into a cylinder is so simple! Below is the step-by-step method for making a butter log (or butter roll!) – you only need some parchment paper and your hands!
- Add to parchment: Dollop your garlic flavored butter down the center of a sheet of parchment or wax paper.
- Fold: Fold one end of the paper up and over the herb butter.
- Roll: Using your hands, gently roll the log of butter forward, into a cylinder.
- Twist ends: Use your fingers to twist the ends of the paper to seal!
- Store: Chill the butter in the refrigerator until ready for serving. When ready to use your different butters, slice off what you need and store the rest for later!
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More homemade butter recipes!
If you love this recipe for garlic butter, be sure to try these recipes next:
Garlic Butter Recipe (+ Flavor Variations!)
Equipment
- 1 Stand or Hand-held Mixer
Ingredients
Garlic Butter
Herb Butter
- 1 Cup Butter – cubed & softened to room temperature (SEE NOTES)
- 2 TBS Whole Milk OR a good quality Olive Oil
- 1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Fresh Herbs (SEE NOTES)
- 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt – OMIT if you are using salted butter!
Herb Garlic Butter
Parmesan Garlic Butter
- 1 Cup Butter – cubed & softened to room temperature (SEE NOTES)
- 2 TBS Olive Oil
- 4-6 cloves Garlic – minced, or more to taste
- 1/4 Cup Finely Chopped Fresh Herbs (Parsley, Chives, Basil)
- 1/4 Cup Freshly-Grated Parmesan Cheese (or Pecorino!)
- 1/8 tsp Kosher Salt – OMIT if you are using salted butter!
Tuscan Butter (for poultry, pastas, vegetables and more!)
- 1 Cup Butter – cubed & softened to room temperature (SEE NOTES)
- 1 TBS Olive Oil (good quality!)
- 4 cloves Garlic – minced, or more to taste
- 4 whole Sun-Dried Tomatoes (in oil) – drained & finely chopped
- 1/4 Cup Freshly-Grated Parmesan Cheese (or Pecorino!)
- 3-4 TBS Thinly Sliced Fresh Basil (chiffonade)
- 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt – OMIT if you are using salted butter!
Rosemary Butter (for steaks!)
Lemon Dill Butter (for fish, seafood and chicken!)
Instructions
- Whip Butter: Add the butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, or to a medium mixing bowl and use a hand-held mixer. Beat the butter on MEDIUM, until it is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Stop to scrape down the side of the bowl as necessary.
- Add Milk or Oil: With the mixer on LOW, slowly add the enriching liquid to the mixing bowl. Mix on LOW until just combined. Increase speed to MEDIUM-LOW and beat for 1-2 minutes, or until the butter is very fluffy.
- Add Flavorings: Add the garlic, herbs, cheese, and any flavoring ingredient you love. If using unsalted butter, add salt. Mix on LOW until well combined.
- Use or Store: Use immediately, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freezer for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using. Enjoy!
- To shape into logs: Cut two sheets of plastic wrap to be a few inches longer than a stick of butter. Spoon the HALF butter onto one of the sheets of plastic wrap, arranging it lengthwise in the middle. Roll the garlic herb butter up tightly in the plastic wrap, forming a long cylinder or log. One both hands to twist the ends of the plastic wrap, rolling the butter log across the work surface to help form and tighten the roll. Keep rolling until a tight log of butter forms. Tie a knot at each end of the plastic wrap or use a piece of kitchen twine to tie off ends. Repeat with remaining plastic wrap and butter. Refrigerate. To use, unwrap and cut crosswise into thick round coins of garlic butter!
Notes
- Butter: Butter is the main ingredient, so please use a good brand as quality matters! You can use salted or unsalted butter depending upon your preference. If using salted butter, you can omit the kosher salt, or use just a pinch!
- To speed up softening butter to room temperature: Cut the cold stick of butter into small cubes! Alternatively, you can use the large holes of a box grater and grate the cold butter!
- Milk: You can replace the whole milk with a good-quality olive oil (NOT extra-virgin) if you prefer! Olive oil works great if you are using the butter in savory dishes, such as bread, steak, fish, and chicken!
- Herbs: You can use your favorite or any combination fresh herbs you love! Parsley, chives, basil, green onions, thyme, rosemary and/or oregano are all great options. Please be careful if you select herbs with a stronger flavor, such as rosemary and oregano – I recommend decreasing the amount! (Shown Here: An even split between Parsley, Chives + Basil. I did about a heaping tablespoon each.)
- Cheese: You can substitute parmesan with pecorino, asiago, or any other firm cheese in the butter. If you use 1/2 cup of salty cheese, I recommend omitting the kosher salt!
- Serving Suggestions: Bread, Pasta, Potatoes, Steak, Veggies, Corn on the Cob, Grilled Cheese and MORE! (See the post for more suggestions!)
- Compound Butter Flavor Variations: See the post for more recipes!
- Storage: To store like compound butter, roll the softened butter in plastic wrap or parchment paper, forming a long log. Refrigerate until ready to use. Alternatively, you can pipe softened butter into fun shapes (Stars! Hearts!) and wrap them individually in plastic wrap!
Nutrition
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Jan Perkins
Can you put butter in glass containers to give for Christmas gifts?
Cheyanne
Hi Jan,
Great question. Unfortunately, I’m not a food storage expert; however, I do believe glass and acrylic are perfectly acceptable vessels to store butter. I do know metal containers are an absolute no-go, as metal accelerates oxidation. I hope this helps!! Cheers and warm wishes for a wonderful day. 🙂
angiesrecipes
I too just made some flavoured butter. Love the stuff and I could spread it on everything!