• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Instant Pot Recipe Guide! download now!

FREE 5 Instant Pot Meals in 5 Minutes E Course!


Thank you for subscribing!


Your Homebased Mom

  • About
  • Latest
  • Contact
NEW! Watch on youtube!

Your Homebased Mom

Leigh Anne Wilkes

  • Recipes
    • Course
      • Appetizers
      • Beverages
      • Bread
      • Breakfast and Brunch
      • Dessert
        • Bars and Brownies
        • Cake
        • Candy and Treats
        • Cookies
        • Ice Cream
        • Pie
      • Main Dishes
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches and Burgers
      • Sauces and Dressings
      • Side Dishes
      • Soup
    • Cooking Method
      • Crock Pot
      • Grilling
      • Instant Pot
      • One Pan
      • Oven
      • Quick and Easy
      • Recipes for Two
    • Ingredients
      • Beef
      • Eggs
      • Pasta
      • Pork
      • Poultry
        • Chicken
        • Turkey
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
      • Gluten Free
    • Cuisine
      • American
      • Asian
      • European
      • Indian
      • Italian
      • Mediterranean
      • Mexican
    • Holiday
      • New Year’s Eve
      • Valentine’s Day
      • St. Patrick’s Day
      • Easter
      • 4th of July
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
  • Travel
    • Europe
    • United States
      • New York City
      • Portland
    • What To Wear
  • Life
    • Home
    • Party Ideas
    • Empty Nesters
    • Church
      • Activity Day
      • Relief Society
    • Organizational Tips
    • Recommended Reads
  • New? Start Here
  • Subscribe for weekly recipes

    FREE 5 Instant Pot Meals in 5 Minutes E Course!


    Thank you for subscribing!


Recipe Finder

  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Dessert
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches and Burgers
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
  • Cooking Method
    • Oven
    • Crock Pot
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • One Pan
    • Quick and Easy
  • Ingredients
    • Beef
    • Eggs
    • Pasta
    • Pork
    • Poultry
    • Seafood
    • Vegetarian
    • Gluten Free
  • Cuisine
    • American
    • Asian
    • European
    • Indian
    • Italian
    • Mediterranean
    • Mexican
  • Holiday
    • New Year’s Eve
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
Home / Latest Posts / Recipes / Course / Sauces and Dressings / Compound Butter

Compound Butter

Jump to Recipe Share
Share on:
By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 12/20/20Updated: 1/09/25

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.

sliced herb compound butter

Compound Butter is simple to make and adds amazing flavor to whatever you put it on. Use it on bread, meats or vegetables.

compound herb butter on a plate

What is Compound Butter?

It is simply a combination of butter and something else. In today’s recipe it is butter and fresh herbs but the possibilities are endless. Maybe you’ve eaten at a restaurant that served yummy garlic butter, that is a compound butter.

I’ve got lots of other combinations here, including cranberry, fig, and red pepper.

Another example is honey butter.

side view of sliced compound butter

Ingredients Needed

  • Butter. I use salted butter and you want it softened to room temperature.
  • Fresh Herbs. My favorite ones to use are thyme leaves, chives and rosemary. I use fresh herbs for best flavor.
  • Lemon Juice. This gives the butter a nice fresh flavor but if you aren’t a lemon fan, leave it out.
  • Fresh Ground Pepper

How Do I Tell if my Butter Is Softened?

Softened butter is when you can push your finger into the butter and it leaves an indentation but your finger doesn’t go all the way through.

slice of compound steak butter

How to Make Compound Butter

  • Add ingredients to softened butter.
  • Stir to incorporate.
  • Form butter into a log and wrap in wax paper.
  • Twist the ends of the paper.
  • Refrigerate until butter firms up.
butter and herbs in a bowl

How do I use Compound Butter?

You can use it on anything you would put normal butter on. I like savory butter on bread, vegetables, beef, chicken, potatoes, or shrimp. The sweet butters are amazing on scones and biscuits. Possibilities are pretty much limitless.

I think my favorite way to use the herb butter is on a steak, it takes the flavor of your steak to a whole new level. My favorite way to use it is with my Perfect Steak Recipe.

Butter is ready to use after it has firmed up.  If it gets too hard just let it sit at room temperature for a while.

Serve this with:

  • No Knead Bread
  • Easy French Bread
  • 30 Minute Rolls
  • The Perfect Steak
  • Roasted Vegetables
  • Herbed Shrimp
overhead shot of compound butter

Frequently Asked Questions

What else can I use in compound butter besides herbs?

You can basically put anything into compound butter! I have used garlic, honey and fruit. You can find other flavor variations here.

How long will compound butter last?

Stored, covered or rolled up in wax paper or parchment paper in the refrigerator, it will last up to a month. In the freezer it will last up to 3 months, keep in an airtight container or freezer bag.

Try these other delicious recipes:

  • 30 Minute Cheese Herb Rolls
  • Herb Rice
  • Lemon Herb Chicken Marinade
  • Herb Pasta (30 minute meal)
  • Cheese Garlic Rolls

Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos.

5 from 3 votes
sliced herb compound butter

Compound Butter

Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes
Herb Compound Butter is simple to make and adds amazing flavor to whatever you put it on.
serves: 12 servings
Prep:15 minutes minutes
Cook:0 minutes minutes
Chill:1 hour hour
Total:1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
Rate Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 2 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 Tbsp chopped fresh chives
  • 1 Tbsp fresh chopped rosemary
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • Fresh ground pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Add ingredients to softened butter. Stir to incorporate.
  • Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate until butter firms up.

Tips & Notes:

You can basically put anything into compound butter! I have used garlic, honey and fruit. You can find other flavor variations here.
How long will it last?
Stored, covered or rolled up in wax paper or parchment paper in the refrigerator, it will last up to a month. In the freezer it will last up to 3 months, keep in an airtight container or freezer bag.
 

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 70kcal (4%) Carbohydrates: 1g Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 8g (12%) Saturated Fat: 5g (31%) Cholesterol: 20mg (7%) Sodium: 68mg (3%) Potassium: 7mg Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin A: 292IU (6%) Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) Calcium: 7mg (1%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Course:Appetizer
Cuisine:American
sliced herb compound butter
Did you make this?I love seeing what you made. Be sure to share a picture and tag @yourhomebasedmom on social media!
Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating

Originally posted July 14, 2009

Previous Post
Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies
Next Post
Eggnog Cookies

Reader Interactions

5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Leave a Review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Made this? Rate this recipe:




  1. Dorothy says

    Posted on 6/15 at 4:58 am

    I have been making herb butter using my garden fresh herbs for many years; never knew it was called compound butter! I use a combination of whatever herbs I havae in my garden to make mine, plus I always add fresh garlic & a generous pinch of sea salt too. Now I want to try the honey butter that you mentioned!

    Reply
  2. Kelley says

    Posted on 6/10 at 12:31 am

    (Found this on Pinterest) I just made this and it was AMAZING (yes, it was midnight here…whoops!)!!!!! I used the herbs you posted, but didn’t measure. I would have never thought of the lemon juice, but it just “made” the butter. Thanks tons!!

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 6/10 at 7:16 am

      Glad you found me on Pinterest and that you liked the butter. Summer is a perfect time to make it with all the wonderful fresh herbs.

      Reply
  3. andria says

    Posted on 11/8 at 9:54 pm

    I made it and was perfect. My 2 and 4 year old loved it and said it tasted like stars on their toast. Thanks : )

    Reply
Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Seasonal Posts

hand holding a s'mores ice cream cone

S’mores ice Cream

creamsicle ice cream in a hand

Creamsicle Ice Cream

dish of lemon meringue ice cream

Lemon Meringue Ice Cream

dish of blueberry ice cream

Fresh Blueberry Ice Cream

Most Popular Posts

Crock Pot 5 ingredient Pork Roast sliced

Crock Pot Pork Roast

Lemon Oatmeal Cookies

Lemon Oatmeal Cookies

chicken cooked in the microwave

How to Cook Chicken in the Microwave

texas sheet cake for two in a baking pan

Chocolate Sheet Cake for Two {Texas Sheet Cake}

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Trending Now

overhead shot of cinnamon rolls

One Hour Cinnamon Rolls

plate of smashed potatoes and a fork

Crispy Smashed Potatoes

overhead shot of bowl of almond chicken

Almond Chicken

baked riblets

Easy Oven Baked Riblets

No knead bread in a pan

Instant Pot Bread

Tomato tart pieces

Easy Tomato Tart

spoon full of mac and cheese

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Almond Torte

  • Crock Pot
  • Instant Pot
  • Chicken
  • Breakfast
  • Appetizers
  • Bread
  • Salad
  • Dessert

Order my Cookbook, Holiday Slow Cooker!

Buy Now!
Back to Top
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • Contact
© 2013–2025 Leigh Anne Wilkes Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.