Best Homemade Compound Butter Recipes (Savory & Sweet!)
Every week, I churn fresh butter from my sweet Jersey cow, Pearl, and it never gets old. The rich, creamy flavor is pure magic. Now that spring is on the way, I can’t wait to start snipping fresh herbs from the garden and using last year’s homegrown garlic to make the most flavorful compound butter recipes. There’s something so simple yet special about blending quality butter with herbs and spices.
You don’t have to churn your own butter to make this amazing spread. (But if you want to learn how, read this!) Whether you’re using store-bought butter or a fresh batch from your kitchen, these compound butter recipes come together in minutes and add tons of flavor to any dish. A simple mix of herbs, garlic, and spices can turn a plain stick of butter into something truly special—perfect for slathering on warm bread, melting over roasted vegetables, or even adding a rich, savory touch to meats.
Let’s dive into making your own compound butter—the easy way!
What is Compound Butter?
If you’ve never made an infused butter, think of it as normal butter but taken to the next level! By blending softened butter with herbs, spices, or sweet ingredients, you can create a savory butter that enhances the flavor of a dish or a sweet butter that’s perfect for serving with appetizers and bread.
The best butter for this is real, high-quality butter—you can use unsalted butter if you want to control the amount of salt, but I personally love using salted butter for that extra richness.
The Best Herbs & Ingredients for Compound Butter
Savory Compound Butter Ideas
These savory butter combinations are a great way to add tons of flavor to meals:
- Garlic Compound Butter – Perfect for garlic bread, pasta, and roasted veggies. Use a garlic press for a smoother texture.
- Garlic Herb Compound Butter – A mix of fresh garlic, fresh parsley, and fresh rosemary that makes everything taste better.
- Lemon Zest & Herb Butter – A milder flavor that’s fresh and bright. Try it with fresh lemon juice, black pepper, citrus zest, and chives.
- Herb Compound Butter – Gather all your favorites, fresh parsley, rosemary, thyme, chives, and garlic. This is my favorite go-to butter mix.
Also feel free to experiment using foods like crisp bacon bits, blue cheese, and feta. The combo’s are endless!
Fresh Herbs vs. Dried Herbs in Compound Butter
When making homemade compound butter, you can use either fresh herbs or dried herbs, but they do affect the flavor of a dish differently. Fresh herbs—like fresh parsley, rosemary, or thyme—have a brighter, more vibrant flavor and add little bursts of freshness to the butter. However, they have a higher water content, which means they won’t last as long in the fridge.
On the other hand, dried herbs have a more concentrated flavor and blend smoothly into the butter, making them a great way to add depth when fresh herbs aren’t available. Since they contain no moisture, they also help your butter last longer in storage.
If using dried herbs, start with about one-third the amount of fresh, since their flavors are more intense. Whether you choose fresh or dried, both bring tons of flavor to your savory compound butter or sweet butters, so experiment with what you have on hand!
Sweet Compound Butters
These sweet butters are so good, they deserve a spot on your table all year:
- Cinnamon Honey Butter – The perfect addition to dinner rolls, sweet potatoes, or biscuits.
- Orange Zest & Honey Butter – Bright and citrusy, great for muffins or pancakes.
How to Make Compound Butter (Step-by-Step Guide)
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup of butter (softened at room temperature)
- Savory ingredients (like cloves garlic, fresh parsley, black pepper, fresh rosemary)
- Sweet ingredients (like cinnamon, honey, orange zest)
- A small bowl, a garlic press, a hand mixer or food processor (for easier mixing)
- A piece of parchment paper, wax paper, plastic wrap, or tin foil (for rolling and storing)
Instructions
- Start with softened butter – Let a stick of butter sit at room temperature until soft. You can also use a hand mixer or food processor to speed things up.
- Mix in ingredients – In a small bowl, combine your favorite way of seasoning: fresh or dried herbs, garlic, citrus zest, or honey. Adjust the amount of salt to taste.
- Shape the butter – Spoon onto a piece of parchment paper, roll into a log shape, and twist the ends to seal.
- Chill & use – Refrigerate for at least an hour before slicing.
Pro Tips for the Best Compound Butter
- Use high-quality butter – The best butter makes the best-tasting compound butter.
- Experiment with dried herbs – They work well when fresh herbs aren’t available.
- Add a little olive oil – Helps make the butter more spreadable.
- Make a whole batch – Compound butter stores beautifully for future use.
How to Store & Freeze Compound Butter
- In the fridge: Wrap in plastic wrap, tin foil, or store in a freezer-safe container for 1-2 weeks.
- In the freezer: Roll into a log shape, wrap in wax paper or a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 6 months.
- Easy way to use frozen butter: Slice off what you need and let it soften at room temperature.
Easy Compound Butter Recipe (Savory & Sweet Versions)
Easy Compound Butter Recipe
Ingredients
Garlic Herb Compound Butter
- 1 cup of butter softened at room temperature
- 2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh minced Chives
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice optional, for brightness
Lemon Zest and Herb Compound Butter
- 1 cup of butter softened
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Cinnamon Honey Butter (Sweet Compound Butter)
- 1 cup of butter softened
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon orange zest optional, for extra warmth
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Start by softening the butter at room temperature until it's easy to mix. If you're short on time, cutting it into small pieces helps it soften faster.
Prepare the ingredients by mincing cloves of garlic, chopping fresh herbs, and zesting any citrus zest if using.
In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with your chosen ingredients—whether it's fresh garlic, dried herbs, lemon zest, blue cheese, or honey and cinnamon. Use a fork, hand mixer, or food processor to blend everything until smooth and well combined.
Taste and adjust the amount of salt, black pepper, or citrus zest to get the perfect flavor of a dish.
Spoon the butter mixture onto a piece of parchment paper, wax paper, or plastic wrap. Roll it into a log shape, twisting the ends to seal.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm. For longer storage, wrap tightly in tin foil or place in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 6 months.
Slice and use on artisan bread, roasted fresh vegetables, filet mignon, crab legs, garlic bread, sweet potatoes, or dinner rolls for a delicious flavor boost.
Notes
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re spreading a savory compound butter on warm garlic bread or melting a sweet compound butter over pancakes, these recipes are a great way to add tons of flavor to everyday meals. The sky’s the limit when it comes to herb butter recipes—so get creative!
What’s your favorite way to make homemade compound butter? Let me know in the comments! And if you give this recipe a try, I’d love to see it—tag me on Instagram so I can share your creations!
