Compound butter may seem like the name for a very complex stick of butter, but it’s not: It’s simply regular butter that’s been softened and then mixed with other sweet or savory ingredients like fresh or dried herbs, alliums, and spices, or even honey, nuts, and berries.
The addition of other components adds even more flavor to butter, making compound butter an excellent secret weapon in your culinary arsenal.
Sweet compound butter can add an oomph to plain slices of toast, bread, muffins, and scones — whereas savory compound butter like garlic, basil, or tomato butter can elevate seared meats, rich pasta sauces, and bland rice or vegetables.
It’s incredibly easy to make compound butter at home. All you have to do is pick some butter, allow it to soften, and then whip it into a fluffy cloud. Fold in your mix-ins, transfer the compound butter onto parchment paper, and simply shape it before popping it back in the refrigerator. Although it doesn’t matter whether you use salted or unsalted butter, it’s always easier to start with unsalted butter and then add salt to it, especially if you’re making a sweet compound butter.
