Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

The butter board trend is hot right now: Here’s how to create your own

Butter board ideas: Impress your guests with this tasty, newly popular trend

By

Finally, a new TikTok trend we can be excited about. With all of the stupidity going around on the popular app lately, it’s about damn time. The butter board trend involves a completely customizable spread, topped with any and all of your favorite toppings. It’s simple to put together and great for large or small crowds. Or, you know, when you’re on the couch Netflix-ing alone. No judgment, here.

Sound good? We think so, too.

Recommended Videos

What are butter boards?

Simply put, a butter board is an appetizer board that’s composed of softened, spreadable butter and anything else you please. Some popular combinations we’ve seen so far include nuts, olives, specialty oils, honeys, dried fruits, and herbs. In addition to being a stunning centerpiece, a major part of this trend’s appeal comes from its adaptability and versatility. Anything that pairs well with butter (is there anything that doesn’t pair well with butter?) can be included on your board.

Related

What is the butter board trend?

On September 15, New York cook Justine Doiron, posted an Instagram reel of a beautiful butter board she’d created. In just a few days, the view count of that reel was over 8 million, and a new darling of social media food trends was born. While Doiron credits Chef Joshua McFadden with the creation, it was her post that set the trend ablaze.

Since then, butter boards have been popping up all over social media. And it’s no wonder, with such a gorgeous, delicious, easy-to-make dish that will please just about everyone.

How to use butter boards at home — our favorite recipes

Chances are, you currently have everything in your kitchen at this very moment to create even a basic (but lovely) butter board. While part of this dish’s popularity is that it’s so visually attractive, it’s pretty easy to recreate one just as pretty at home, even if “food stylist” is nowhere to be found on your resume.

Choose the right serving vessel for your butter board

The first step is finding a serving vessel. Most of the designs we’ve seen thus far have been created on wooden boards, which most everyone has in their kitchen —even a cutting board would be perfect for this. No need to get too fancy. If you don’t have one of these at home, or you’re just totally over the rustic-chic trend (we get it), feel free to use any other serving plate or platter you have on hand.

Make sure your butter is soft

The next step is making sure your butter is perfectly spreadable. We’ve all experienced that horribly frustrating feeling of trying to spread cold butter on toast. Now imagine trying to do that on a huge serving board. Nope. Soften your butter. The best way to do this is by leaving it out on the counter until it reaches the perfect texture. In our experience, microwaving is just not the way to go here as it creates too many hot and cold spots. Practice your patience and leave it on the damned counter.

Consider the ingredients you want to add

And then there’s the matter of what you want to feature on top of your butter. As we’ve already stated, you can use popular pantry ingredients you probably already have — nuts, dried fruits, etc. If you have some time, or are planning a fancy party, branch out and get creative with fun ingredients like edible gold-leaf or flowers.

Sweet and spicy butter board recipe

Aubrey's Kitchen

(From Aubrey’s Kitchen)

There aren’t any measurements listed in this recipe, which we realize is a bit unusual. But the thing we love so much about this dish is that the details are entirely up to you. Obviously, if you have a larger serving board or platter, you’ll want to use more of your ingredients. If, however, it’s a more intimate gathering of two, a tiny plate garnished with small amounts of these ingredients would be completely charming. Also, if you love honey, go nuts and use a ton! Hate chili oil? No problem, don’t use it. The beauty of the butter board is that everything is completely up to you. Embrace your culinary freedom.

Ingredients:

  • Butter, softened
  • One head freshly roasted garlic
  • Chili oil
  • Honey
  • Cashews
  • Micro greens
  • Sea salt
  • French bread, crackers, or another bread you prefer

Method:

  1. Spread softened butter over a wooden board, swirling to create an attractive pattern as well as crevices for other ingredients to sit in.
  2. Sprinkle sea salt all over the butter.
  3. Layer other ingredients on top of salted butter, arranging any way you prefer.
  4. Serve with bread and/or crackers.

That’s it! In no time, you’ll have a delicious snack completely customized to your preferences.

Editors’ Recommendations

Lindsay Parrill
Lindsay Parrill
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Lindsay is a graduate of California Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu, San Francisco, from where she holds a degree in…
How to steam milk: Perfect your technique for rich, creamy coffee drinks
Learn to steam milk like a Barista
steamed milk

As an aspiring barista, I've grown to understand the importance of steamed milk in making all of my favorite drinks. To learn how to make a cappuccino at home, I had to master the art of making steamed milk. Learning how to steam milk at home is difficult, but you'll need to commit to learning if you want to expand the types of coffee drinks you can make at home. Teaching yourself how to steam milk will allow you to experiment with all kinds of elaborate espresso drinks just like you order at the café -- from the cafe au laits to cappuccinos.
Steamed milk vs. frothed milk

As you experiment with how to steam milk, it's key to understand the slight differences between steamed milk and frothed milk. In the world of coffee-making, these two are often confused -- and I completely understand why. To help you know the difference, consider how you'd make a latte. The ratio of espresso to milk in a latte is usually 3:1, with espresso on the bottom, steamed milk on the top, and a light layer of frothed milk on the top.

Read more
How to use a milk frother: Simple tips and tricks to elevate your drinks
Here's how to use a milk frother with ease
Cappuccino

Once you've mastered brewing the perfect coffee at home, the next step in every home Barista's journey is to learn how to use a milk frother. You'll need frothed milk to enjoy specialty-type coffees from your kitchen, such as lattes and cappuccinos. At one point, I was intimated by the concept of frothing my milk, as it can sound more complicated than it is. Learning to use a milk frother is easy enough for coffee lovers of any skill level. Here are two of my favorite ways to froth milk for coffee at home, ideal for those who do not have an espresso maker with a steam wand attachment.
How to use a milk frother: Hand frothing

Using a handheld wand milk frother is one of the easiest methods for frothing milk at home. A handheld milk frother can be used in your mug and is an excellent option for those who don't have an espresso maker at home. Before I had an espresso machine with a steam wand at home, I found the handheld milk frother to be my go-to for frothing milk for coffee. I like this method because it requires minimal skill and clean-up (always a motivating factor when making coffee at home instead of ordering it out at a cafe).

Read more
What is lungo? Here’s how it compares to your regular espresso shot
Lungo means long in Italian
espresso shot

You might come across a "caffè lungo" around Italy or a "long shot" in cafes around the U.S. I only recently learned the difference between a short espresso, known as a ristretto, and the opposite order: a lungo. The difference between variations of an espresso shot depends on the water-to-coffee ground ratio, leaving each shot of espresso with a different volume and taste. Now that I know the difference between these espresso shots, it makes ordering espresso even more fun. If you've also wondered: "What is lungo?" when reading a coffee shop menu, here's what you should know.
What is lungo?

A lungo is a shot of espresso that contains more water than a standard espresso shot. Its name is derived from the Italian word "long" (which seems fitting if you ask me). Lungo espresso shots use the same amount of ground coffee beans as traditional espresso shots. However, twice as much hot water is used.

Read more