Honey Butter
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This whipped honey butter takes 5 minutes and 3 ingredients: softened butter, honey, and a little kosher salt.
Honey butter is butter whipped with honey and a pinch of salt until it's fluffy. It's a sweet and savory spread that melts into warm bread. It isn't the same as whipped honey (also called creamed honey), which is honey on its own with no butter.
Whipping the butter first makes it light and easy to spread, and the honey and salt make it sweet, salty, and rich all at once. It makes about 8 servings of 1 tablespoon each, and it's good on rolls, biscuits, cornbread, pancakes, and just about any bread.
I put this one off for far longer than I should have. It's so simple that I kept assuming I'd get to it later. But warm bread with honey butter melting into it is one of my favorite things to eat, so it finally got its own post.
This recipe couldn't be easier to make! Just 3 basic ingredients and a quick 5 minutes popping them into the mixer. Stupid simple!
But boy does it reward you with the most incredible flavor!
This sweet and savory spread takes your baked goods to a whole new level. I'm telling you, there's nothing like sinking your teeth into a bite of warm bread, straight from the oven and drenched in homemade honey butter. It's one of life's greatest pleasures!
So I'm glad I was finally able to get my butt in gear and get this recipe up for you! It's going to come in very handy!
As much as I love baking, it's topping recipes like this that really make those baked goods shine. Be sure to check out my apricot jam, chocolate whipped cream frosting, and basil pesto for more awesome ways to bring out the best in everything you bake!
Jump to RecipeWhy You'll Love This Honey Butter
- It tastes sweet and salty. The honey adds sweetness, and the salt keeps it from tasting flat.
- It only takes 3 ingredients. You probably have all of them already!
- It's ready in 5 minutes. Once the butter is soft, it takes just minutes to whip.
- It goes with almost anything. Use it on yeast breads, biscuits, muffins, cornbread, and pancakes.
- You can make it ahead. It keeps in the fridge and freezes well.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter, softened: The base of the spread. Soft butter whips up light and fluffy, while cold butter stays lumpy. If you only have salted butter, it works. Leave out the added salt, taste, and add a pinch only if you need it. See how to soften butter quickly if you forgot to set it out.
- Kosher salt: I prefer kosher salt because it doesn't have the iodine or bitter additives that table salt can have. If you only have table salt, use about half as much.
- Honey: Any honey works, from regular grocery store honey to raw, clover, wildflower, or orange blossom. A mild honey lets the butter come through, and a darker honey gives a stronger flavor. For heat, use hot honey.
Special Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons: Follow my guide on how to measure ingredients.
- Bowl: In which to whip up the honey butter.
- Mixer: Either a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment.
- Silicone spatula: For scraping down the bowl and getting every last bit out!
How To Make Honey Butter
This easy recipe comes together in 2 simple steps.
Step 1: Whip the butter and salt
Place the softened butter in the bowl along with the salt.
Whip these 2 ingredients together until fluffy.
Step 2: Add honey
Next just pour in the honey.
You'll probably want to scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl with your silicone spatula just to make sure everything gets incorporated.
Recipe Tips
- Soften the butter completely. Butter that's still cold won't whip smoothly and leaves small lumps.
- Start with a little salt. Add the amount in the recipe, taste, and add a pinch more if you want it saltier.
- Whip the butter before adding the honey. This gives you a lighter, fluffier texture.
- Serve it at room temperature. It spreads easily and melts into warm bread.
- If it looks loose or greasy, the butter was probably too warm. Chill the bowl for 10 to 15 minutes, then whip it again.
Honey Butter Variations
These are easy ways to change it up. Mix them in after the honey.
- Cinnamon honey butter: Add about ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon. It's great on rolls and pancakes.
- Orange honey butter: Stir in about 1 teaspoon of orange zest.
- Hot honey butter: Use hot honey in place of the regular honey. It's good on cornbread and biscuits.
- Brown butter honey butter: Brown the butter, chill it until it's soft but solid again, and then whip it as usual for a nutty flavor.
- Maple butter: For a whipped butter with maple, see my whipped vanilla bean maple butter.
How To Store Honey Butter
- Room temperature: It keeps for a few days. Cover it, and keep it away from heat.
- Refrigerator: Store it in an airtight container for a few months. Let it sit out for a bit before serving so it softens.
- Freezer: It freezes well for about 6 months. Thaw it in the fridge or at room temperature.
Recipe FAQ
You certainly can! And it's so nice to have a little pot hanging around for whatever you might want to spread it on.
This should keep at room temperature for a few days, in the fridge for a few months, or in the freezer for about 6 months.
Compound butters like this one freeze very well. Thaw it in the fridge or at room temperature.
I've figured on a serving size of 1 tablespoon per person. The recipe makes approximately 8 servings, and the nutritional info is for â…›th of the whole batch.
Serving Suggestions
- Soft homemade dinner rolls or homemade crescent rolls
- A crusty French baguette or ciabatta
- Moist and sweet cornbread or cornbread muffins
- Southern-style buttermilk biscuits
- Pancakes or waffles
- Outback bread (copycat), which is made for dipping in honey butter
- For a main dish that uses the same flavors, try my Honey Butter Chicken.
More Topping Recipes
Ingredients
- ½ cup (113.5 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ teaspoon (1.5 g) kosher salt, or to taste
- 2 tablespoons (42 g) honey
Instructions
- Place the butter and salt in a large bowl and whip together until fluffy.
- Stir in the honey.
Author
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