Flavored compound butters (also called butter spreads or honey butters) are a simple way to elevate everyday meals. With just softened butter and a few pantry ingredients, you can create restaurant-quality spreads like Strawberry Honey Butter, Garlic Herb Butter, Cinnamon Honey Butter, and Pecan Maple Butter. These creamy, customizable butters are perfect for toast, bagels, biscuits, pancakes, corn on the cob, grilled meats, or even as hostess gifts in cute jars.
These homemade compound butter recipes take 10 minutes to prepare, require no cooking, and store beautifully in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freezer for 3 months. Each recipe makes about ¾–1 cup (enough for 8–12 servings).
1. Strawberry Honey Butter
This fruity, pink-hued strawberry honey butter tastes like spring on toast—sweet, tangy, and ultra-creamy.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 tbsp honey
- ¼ cup fresh strawberries, mashed or finely chopped (about 4–5 medium berries)
- ½ tsp fresh lemon zest
- Pinch of salt (optional, enhances flavor)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, beat softened butter with a hand mixer or fork until light and fluffy (1–2 minutes).
- Add honey, mashed strawberries, lemon zest, and salt. Mix until fully combined and smooth.
- Taste and adjust sweetness or zest if desired.
- Transfer to a small jar or ramekin. Smooth the top.
- Refrigerate 30 minutes to firm up before serving. Serve at room temperature for easiest spreading.
Tips: Use very ripe strawberries for maximum flavor. For longer storage, blend strawberries into a puree first.
2. Garlic Herb Butter
This savory garlic herb butter is a must-have for garlic bread, steaks, roasted vegetables, or grilled seafood.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cloves garlic, minced very finely (or 1 tsp garlic paste)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme or rosemary, finely chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Beat softened butter until creamy.
- Add minced garlic, chopped herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
- Roll into a log using plastic wrap or spoon into a jar.
- Chill 30–60 minutes to set flavors.
- Slice or scoop as needed. Great melted over hot bread or veggies.
Tips: Double the garlic for bolder flavor. Freeze in coin shapes for easy use on steaks.
3. Cinnamon Honey Butter
Sweet, warm, and cozy—this cinnamon honey butter is perfect on toast, muffins, sweet potatoes, pancakes, or waffles.
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter, softened (or unsalted + extra pinch of salt)
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp honey
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp sea salt (if using unsalted butter)
Instructions
- Whip butter until pale and fluffy (2–3 minutes with mixer).
- Add powdered sugar, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Beat until smooth and well combined.
- Scrape into a jar or shape into a log.
- Refrigerate until firm. Serve softened for spreading.
Tips: Use high-quality cinnamon (Ceylon or Vietnamese) for best flavor. Dust with extra cinnamon on top for presentation.
4. Pecan Maple Butter
Nutty, sweet, and slightly caramel-like—this pecan maple butter pairs beautifully with bagels, oatmeal, French toast, or roasted squash.
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- ¼ cup pecans, toasted and finely crushed/chopped
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Beat softened butter until creamy.
- Stir in crushed pecans, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla until evenly distributed.
- Spoon into a jar or roll into a log.
- Chill 30 minutes to let flavors meld.
- Serve at room temperature. Stir before each use if pecans settle.
Tips: Toast pecans in a dry skillet 3–4 minutes for deeper flavor. Use real maple syrup—imitation won’t taste the same.
General Tips for Perfect Compound Butters
- Always start with room-temperature butter for smooth mixing.
- Use unsalted butter when you want full control over salt level.
- Store in airtight jars or wrapped logs in the fridge (up to 2 weeks) or freezer (up to 3 months).
- Let butter soften 10–15 minutes before spreading for best texture.
- Package in small mason jars with ribbons for thoughtful homemade gifts.
- Experiment: Mix and match—add orange zest to cinnamon butter or rosemary to garlic butter.
These homemade flavored butters are inexpensive, customizable, and far superior to store-bought versions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long do compound butters last in the fridge?
Up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months (slice logs before freezing for easy portions).
Can I use margarine or plant-based butter?
Yes—vegan butter works well. Flavor may be slightly different, but the recipes still turn out delicious.
Do I need a mixer or can I mix by hand?
A hand mixer or stand mixer makes it fluffier faster, but a sturdy fork or spoon works perfectly too.
How do I make these butters dairy-free?
Use vegan butter sticks and plant-based alternatives for honey/maple if needed (agave works for honey).
Can I reduce the sugar in the sweet versions?
Absolutely—taste as you go and adjust honey, powdered sugar, or maple to your preference.
What’s the best bread or food to serve these on?
Strawberry Honey: brioche or sourdough toast
Garlic Herb: baguette or grilled steak
Cinnamon Honey: pancakes, waffles, sweet potatoes
Pecan Maple: bagels, oatmeal, French toast
Conclusion
These four flavored compound butter recipes—Strawberry Honey, Garlic Herb, Cinnamon Honey, and Pecan Maple—prove that a simple stick of butter can become something extraordinary with just a few mix-ins. Quick to whip up, endlessly versatile, and perfect for breakfast, snacks, or gifting, they bring restaurant-quality flavor to your home kitchen.
Try one (or all!) this weekend and watch ordinary toast or rolls become irresistible. Which flavor are you most excited to make? Drop a comment below and let me know how it turns out!