6 DIY Savory Herbed Butter Recipes

Herbed butters add robust flavors to dishes and are a great way to make use of the large amounts of herbs growing in the garden over the summer. Herbed butters are great to use when seasoning meats, added to pasta, used to saute vegetables in, or to simply spread on delicious bread.

There are two methods you can use to have herbed butter always on hand.

Log method is the simplest. Simply, spoon the mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap, roll into a log and freeze until ready to use.

Tray method uses ice cube trays to create single servings of herbed butter. This is ideal to use when making freezer meals or for dinner parties when you want each guest to have a pat of herbed butter. Drop herbed butter by spoonfuls onto an ice cube tray, cover with plastic wrap or foil and freeze or refrigerate until ready to use.

Here are six of some of my favorite herbed and spiced butter recipes that anyone can make.

Garlic Basil Butter

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 teaspoons minced fresh basil
• 1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Fresh sage and thyme
• pinch of salt

1. Combine minced fresh herbs and salt with softened butter or margarine.
2. Spoon the mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap, roll into a log and freeze until ready to use.
3. Slice off a tablespoon or so of the butter to serve with cooked vegetables, chicken, fish, warm bread or rolls.

Cilantro Chili Lime Butter

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons minced cilantro
• 1/2 tablespoon lime juice
• zest of 1 small lime
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper, to taste (if desired)

1. Combine minced fresh herbs and salt with softened butter or margarine.
2. Spoon the mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap, roll into a log and freeze until ready to use.
3. Slice off a tablespoon or so of the butter to serve with steaks, fish, chicken vegetables or to kick up the flavor of corn on the cob.

Lemon Parsley Butter

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves

1. Combine minced fresh herbs and salt with softened butter or margarine.
2. Spoon the mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap, roll into a log and freeze until ready to use.
3. Slice off a tablespoon or so of the butter to serve with fish or chicken.

Sweet Honey Butter

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Combine ingredients.
2. Spoon the mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap, roll into a log and freeze until ready to use.
3. Slice off a tablespoon at a time to serve on pancakes or sweet bread.

Pumpkin Spice Butter

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 1/2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1. Combine ingredients.
2. Spoon the mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap, roll into a log and freeze until ready to use.
3. Slice off a tablespoon at a time to serve on muffins, pancakes or sweetbreads.

Spiced Pear Butter

• 3 tablespoons pear puree
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• ½ cup honey
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Combine ingredients.
2. Spoon the mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap, roll into a log and freeze until ready to use.
3. Slice off a tablespoon at a time to serve on muffins, pancakes or sweetbreads.