Compound butter is a combination of butter, herbs and spices that are mixed together, chilled and then used as toppings on proteins/veggie or served with breads, pastas and salads. They are a super simple way to add tons of flavor to your foods. Listed below are 3 of the most popular butters I keep on hand in my house.

What is a compound butter?
Compound butter is softened, usually unsalted, butter that is creamed together with herbs and/or spices for creating either a sweet or savory butter. The flavor profiles are seemingly endless from herbed butters for steaks to sweet butters for pancakes or baked goods.
Compound butter is typically rolled in parchment paper to create the signature “log” and then cut into rounds. It is then served either on top of proteins or vegetables or it can also be added to a dish to create a sauce.
Alternately, you can whip your compound butter and serve it as a spread for bread, waffles, and muffins.
Herbed Compound Butter
Most steakhouses add butter to their steak dishes before serving it. This can be just a simple dollop of unsalted butter, or it can be taken a step further with an herbed compound butter. Simply by adding some fresh herbs, butter can be transformed. Try adding some garlic for a more robust flavor.

Jalapeño Lime Butter
Some of you may ask why you would make a Jalapeño lime butter or what you would use it for. This butter goes great on any Mexican fare you can think of. This butter would go amazingly well on Mexican corn thanks to the fresh, light flavor the lime provides! This particular recipe does not have cilantro, but it would be a welcome addition.

Whipped Cinnamon Maple Butter
Compound butters can also be sweet. This homemade cinnamon maple butter is a welcome addition to all your fall baking recipes. Put a generous dollop of it on French toast, slather it on a scone, or spread it on freshly baked bagel for that whimsical Fall flavor.

Serving Options
- Herb Butter: Grilled or Baked Chicken, Grilled, Roasted or Steamed Vegetables, Dinner Rolls
- Jalapeno Lime: Grilled or Boiled Corn, Grilled Meat, Chicken or Fish (particularly Salmon), Grilled Vegetables
- Cinnamon Honey Butter: Biscuits or Dinner Rolls, Toast, Cornbread, Sweet Potatoes
FAQs:
How long will compound butter last?
Compound butter has no different shelf life than regular butter. It can be kept in the fridge for several weeks. It helps to write the date on the paper it is rolled in. It can also be kept in the freezer for several months.
Should I use fresh or dried herbs?
You can use either. As a general rule of thumb, use 3 teaspoons of dried herbs vs. 2 Tablespoons of fresh for every stick of butter.
Print
Compound Butters
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
Description
Compound butters are super simple to make but have a profound impact on your final dish. Try mixing up a batch today and store it in the fridge or freezer.
Ingredients
HERB BUTTER:
- 1 Cup (2 sticks) Unsalted Butter, softened
- 4 Tablespoons Fresh Herbs, chopped (parsley, chives, thyme, rosemary)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
JALAPENO LIME BUTTER:
- 1 Cup (2 sticks) Unsalted Butter, softened
- 1 Jalapeno, seeded and minced finely
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- Juice of 1 lime, about 4 teaspoons
WHIPPED CINNAMON MAPLE BUTTER:
- 1 Cup (2 sticks) Unsalted Butter, softened
- 4 Tbsp. Pure Maple Syrup
- 1 ½ teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until well blended
- Place butter on parchment paper, cover and roll into log
- Twist ends of parchment paper
- Chill in refrigerator at least 24 hours before serving
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Thank you for this! I can’t wait to try the cinnamon butter this fall.
★★★★★