Go Back
Print Recipe

Butter Board

Put together a show-stopping butter board that's delicious and beautiful using this simple formula. An alternative to charcuterie boards for quick appetizers, party snacks, and effortless entertaining.
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Condiment
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy, holidays, party, quick

Equipment

  • 1 wood or marble board
  • 1 offset icing spatula

Ingredients

  • Butter room temperature
  • 3-5 Toppings (see notes)
  • bread or crackers

Instructions

  • Use an offset icing spatula to spread the butter on your clean board in small decorative pats, swirls, or waves. Keep the butter pattern loose and natural. It's OK if it's not perfect.
  • Sprinkle dry toppings like salt, crushed nuts, finely chopped herbs, citrus zest, or flower petals in a light, even layer right over the butter.
  • Carefully place larger, decorative toppings like whole herb leaves, dried fruit, or edible flowers in a way that looks beautiful to you.
  • TIP: Reserve whole flowers, larger citrus peels, nuts, and stems of herbs to decorate around the edges of the board. These won't be eaten, but they look great for the presentation!
  • Use a spoon to slowly drizzle wet toppings like honey, maple syrup, olive oil, or chili crisp. If you are using a thick topping like jam, thin it out with a bit of water so that it's easier to drizzle.
  • Pile the crackers or bread around the butter board and enjoy.
  • TIP: A butter board can be made ahead of time without the wet toppings and stored in the refrigerator. Pull it out about an hour before serving so that the butter can come back to room temperature.

Notes

For toppings, choose at least one from each category:
  • a texture: flaky sea salt, crushed nuts, toasted seeds, chili crunch
  • a flavor booster: herbs, honey, citrus zest, roasted garlic, ground spices, capers, olives
  • a visual pop: edible flowers, chili flakes, dried fruit, citrus zest, rose petals or other edible flower petals
  •  
Ideas for Savory Butter Boards
  • sea salt + roasted garlic + thyme + lemon zest
  • chives + chili crisp + toasted sesame seeds
  • smoked paprika + chopped olives + olive oil
  • sage + black pepper + hot chili flakes
  •  
For Sweet Butter Boards
  • honey + figs + crushed pistachios
  • cinnamon + maple syrup + toasted walnuts
  • orange zest + ground cardamom + toasted almonds + honey
  • rose petals + orange zest + chopped golden raisins
      •  
For Seasonal Butter Boards
  • Fall: sage + maple syrup + toasted pumpkin seeds
  • Winter: rosemary + cayenne pepper + sea salt + raw sugar
  • Spring: edible pansies + chives + sea salt
  • Summer: basil + dill + lemon zest + sea salt
      •