Easy Homemade Herb Butter (2024)

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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.

Easy Homemade Herb Butter (1)

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 ofsourdough dinner rollsand enjoy those delightful summer flavors.

Easy Homemade Herb Butter (2)

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.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosurehere.

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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 apowerful kick. Add garlic butter tosourdough French breadto 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.

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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

Easy Homemade Herb Butter (5)

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.

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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.

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Chop herbs and spices finely.

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Add the herbs and spices to the butter.

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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.

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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.

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FAQ

What is herb butter made of?

It is a mixture of real butter with a variety of fresh or dried herbs and salt. You can also add other things like garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, red pepper flakes, or lemon juice.

How long does herb-infused butter last?

It will last about 3-4 weeks in the fridge and up to six months in the freezer.

What is meant by compound butter?

It is simply a mixture of butter with added ingredients like garlic, herbs, and spices.

What’s the difference between regular butter and compound butter?

Compound butter is infused with a variety of flavors from herbs, spices, garlic, lemon, etc.

How long does homemade herb butter last in the refrigerator?

It will last 3-4 weeks in the fridge if stored in an air-tight container.

Can herb butter be frozen?

Yes! My favorite way to store it is in an air-tight container in the freezer. You can enjoy summer fresh herbs in the dead of winter.

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.

Easy Homemade Herb Butter (12)

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, you will find four delicious recipes.

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Additional Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 32 tablespoons

Author: Lisa

Ingredients

Basil Butter

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup basil chopped

Italian Herb Butter

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup chopped herbs thyme, oregano, rosemary and basil

Herb Garlic 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

Instructions

  • Set out butter to soften.

  • Add softened butter to a bowl.

  • Chop herbs and spices.

  • Add the herbs and spices to the butter and mix well.

  • Place the herb butter in the center of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Roll up to form a log.

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

Notes

  • 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.4g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 91mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 398IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @FarmhouseOnBoone or tag #farmhouseonboone!

Easy Homemade Herb Butter (2024)

FAQs

What is herb butter made of? ›

Fresh Herb Butter is made with an assortment of fresh parsley, basil, chives, and thyme. Blended with fresh creamy butter. This is one of the best kinds of butter you will ever spread on a slice of Crusty bread.

How long does herb-infused butter last? ›

It is a mixture of real butter with a variety of fresh or dried herbs and salt. You can also add other things like garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, red pepper flakes, or lemon juice. How long does herb-infused butter last? It will last about 3-4 weeks in the fridge and up to six months in the freezer.

How do you preserve herbs in butter? ›

Stir into the softened butter until well combined. Roll the herb butter into a loaf shape, and wrap tightly with aluminum foil, wax paper, or plastic wrap. Label the roll-up, place in an airtight container and freeze.

Can I leave herb butter out overnight? ›

As per the USDA, keeping butter at room temperature is safe, but it should not be left out for more than one to two days. However, if it is stored properly in an airtight container, butter can remain fresh for up to two weeks on the counter .

How long does homemade butter last? ›

How long does homemade butter last? Homemade butter has a shelf life of up to 2 – 3 weeks when kept in the fridge. You can also keep your homemade butter in the freezer for up to 9 months.

What is witches butter made of? ›

Witches butter is an edible wild fungi. Nutritionally, it is made up of polysaccarides (carbohydrates) and is being studied for it's immune boosting properties. If you get stuck out in the forest it's one of the few edible mushrooms that can be eaten raw.

How do I know when my cannabutter is done infusing? ›

Reduce the heat to low and cook the butter very gently, stirring occasionally and maintaining a temperature of between 200° and 250°F, until the top layer in the saucepan changes from watery to glossy and thick, 2 to 3 hours—you may need to add water if the temperature gets close to the 250°F mark (so the butter doesn' ...

How long does it take for infused butter to kick in? ›

Furthermore, edible cannabis products like cannabutter have longer latency periods, as they're metabolized differently than inhalable cannabis products ( 10 , 11 ). With edibles, it can take 30–90 minutes to notice effects, with reactions peaking around 2–4 hours.

Does infused butter need to be refrigerated? ›

Your fat is ready to use right away in recipes that call for melted butter or liquid fat, or you can stick it in the refrigerator to harden before creaming with sugar. “Infused butters and fats can last a couple months in the fridge,” Trinidad says, “and a little longer in the freezer.

What herbs are best to preserve? ›

Freezing. There are many herbs that can be frozen, such as parsley, basil, mint, tarragon, chives, cilantro, oregano or dill. Frozen herbs tend to be limp when thawed, as the cell walls rupture due to the ice crystals; it's recommended to use frozen herbs in cooked dishes, bread dough, herb butter or sauces.

How do you increase the shelf life of homemade butter? ›

Unsalted butter, especially when whipped, contains more water; so, it spoils faster compared to salted butter. I recommend wrapping butter in either foil or plastic before storing it in the freezer to keep it fresh for longer periods. By doing so, I have found that the butter may remain well-preserved!

Can herb butter be frozen? ›

Compound butter can also be called 'herb butter' or in French, 'beurre compose'. It is a great butter to keep in the fridge or freezer. Anytime you want to quickly enrich a dish, compound butter is an easy ingredient to add in while cooking.

How to tell if butter is rancid? ›

Any sour or off-putting smell means it's a goner. Same goes for taste: If it tastes sour or off, toss it out. 5 And don't worry, a small taste of rancid butter won't hurt you. Of course any visible mold, discoloration, and changes in texture are visible cues that it's time to throw the butter in the trash.

Can you leave homemade butter on the counter? ›

Should You Leave Butter on the Counter? According to the USDA, butter is safe at room temperature. But if it's left out for several days at room temperature, it can turn rancid causing off flavors. The USDA does not recommend leaving it out more than one to two days.

How long does garlic herb butter last in the fridge? ›

Storing Compound Butter

To store your Garlic Herb Compound Butter, pop it in the fridge until solid and portion out as need for later! You can store Garlic Herb Compound Butter in your fridge for 1 week or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

What is plant-based butter made from? ›

Vegan butter is a non-dairy butter substitute made from plant-based ingredients. It is typically made from a blend of vegetable oils such as coconut, palm, or soybean and other natural ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and even algae. This makes it a great alternative for those who: Follow a vegan diet.

What is artificial butter flavor made out of? ›

Butter flavor is often created by isolating compounds like diacetyl, acetyl propionyl, or acetoin. These compounds can be sourced from butter, soybeans, or other oils. Mixing any of these compounds with water and other ingredients creates a rich buttery flavor that many consumers have come to know and love.

What herbs are in Kerry Gold Herb Butter? ›

Kerrygold Garlic and Herb Butter is made with our all-natural Irish butter and a compound mixture of chives, parsley, garlic, fresh herbs and spices. It still has the creamy texture you'd expect from butter made from the milk of cows fed from the grass of Ireland's lush pastures, but it carries a little kick with it.

What is Lotus butter made of? ›

Ingredients. Biscoff cookies (Wheat flour, Sugar, Vegetable oils [contains one or more of soybean oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, palm oil], Brown sugar syrup, Sodium bicarbonate [leavening], Soy flour, Salt, Cinnamon], Canola oil, Sugar, Soy lecithin, Citric acid.

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