Butter Board

A shared appetizer is a great icebreaker when hosting friends, but if you’ve become bored with the standard go-to charcuterie board, introduce the butter board to take its place. A butter board puts a new spin on bread ‘n’ butter in a fun, interactive way.

The butter is mixed with a bunch of colorful, flavorful ingredients to make something similar to a compound butter. It’s spread across a serving board with fresh slices of bread alongside. It’s the perfect serve-yourself, memory-making appetizer to bring out at any social gathering. And, with so many ways to flavor it, we’ll never tire of a butter board.

What is a butter board?

A butter board is an appetizer that consists of softened, heavily flavored butter that’s been smeared across a flat serving board. Thick slices of bread are served alongside, and guests are encouraged to swipe the bread into the flavored butter to collect it on top, eat and enjoy.

Ingredients for a Butter Board

• Butter: Be sure to soften the butter to room temperature beforehand so it easily whips to a light, fluffy consistency.
• Cream cheese: This is not a typical ingredient in butter board recipes, but it’s the not-so-secret ingredient in ours! Cream cheese ups the tangy flavor of the spread, and it enhances all the other flavors and aromas.
• Garlic: One clove of garlic is all you’ll need to add that spicy-zingy flavor to this butter board.
• Sriracha: Add 2 teaspoons Sriracha if you like a small kick of heat in your savory appetizers.
• Worcestershire: If you don’t have Worcestershire sauce on hand, use soy sauce or tamari.
• Spices: A nice sea salt, white pepper and a bit of cayenne pepper are small ingredients that add big flavor to our butter board.
• Herbs: Fresh dill and parsley create an herbaceous, refreshing flavor in this spread.
• Bread: Just before serving, cut up a baguette or focaccia into slices to serve with the spread.

Directions

Step 1: Create the compound butter

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In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the butter, cream cheese, minced garlic, Sriracha and Worcestershire sauce until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Step 2: Spread on the board

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Use a rubber spatula, mini offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the butter mixture across a large cutting board or serving platter. The butter should be about 1/4-inch thickness.

Step 3: Add the toppings

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Sprinkle the top of the butter with the sea salt, white pepper and cayenne pepper.

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Arrange the dill, parsley and green onion on top.

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Serve the butter board immediately with the sliced bread and other dipping foods of your choosing.

Recipe Variations

• Add edible flowers: There’s a whole world of edible flowers that can create beauty in your dishes. Since this is a savory butter board, you’ll want to add complementary edible flowers. Go for spicy nasturtiums, allium-forward chive blossoms or saffron-like marigolds.
• Grate citrus zest: A quick way to brighten this umami-heavy dish is with lemon, lime or orange zest sprinkled on top.
• Get inspired from charcuterie boards: Ready to invent your own butter board flavor? Get inspired by some of our charcuterie boards.

How to Store a Butter Board

To store any leftovers from your butter board, wrap the board with storage wrap, or scrape the flavored butter off the board and into an airtight container. Depending on the ingredients added to the butter, it can last in the fridge for up to three days.

Can I make a butter board ahead of time?

Yes, you can set up your butter board ahead of time. Just make sure to cover the board with storage wrap so the butter doesn’t absorb any funky fridge smells. Also, be sure to take the butter board out of the fridge 30 minutes before serving so the butter can soften to a spreadable, scoopable room temperature.

Butter Board Tips

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What do I serve with a butter board?

Hearty, thick, neutral-tasting foods make the best serving vessels for butter boards. Crusty slices of baguette, sourdough, focaccia, country loaves or artisan loaves work best here. We also like to use sturdy crackers, thick-cut radishes, toasted English muffins, torn soft pretzels or broken hard pretzels. Even kettle-cooked potato chips can work as they’re stronger than regular potato chips.

What is the best butter to use for a butter board?

Here at Taste of Home, we love using Kerrygold, Vital Farms and a few other high-quality butter brands. Good butter is important in a butter board recipe. It isn’t masked by a ton of other ingredients, so the butter’s taste is going to shine through.