Learn how to make a fantastic butter board with some delicious, easy to find toppings just in time for your holiday parties.
You have to be living under a rock at this point to miss the viral trend of butter boards. They are a close relative of the charcuterie board and amazing appetizer eye candy. The essence of these edible displays is high quality butter, sea salt, beautifully arranged, and served with bread to spread it on.
These boards can be topped with an array of gourmet elements both savory and sweet. Let’s be clear, no one had to twist my arm to try new ways to enjoy bread and butter.
The recipe below is an Italian inspired butter board that I know you’ll love. Like all of my recipes, this gourmet board is high quality and super special without the specialty food price tag. All of the elements can be purchased at your everyday grocer.
Ingredients
Butter- Use your favorite salted or unsalted butter to build your board. This is the time to spring for the good stuff since the flavor of the butter will be on full display.
Coarse Sea Salt- Salt brings out the flavor of everything it touches and the coarse texture is great for mouth feel.
Italian Inspired Butter Board Toppings
Roasted Garlic - Smashed roasted garlic adds nice spice and warm rich flavor.
Sliced Green Olives- An extra hit of saltiness.
Roasted Red Peppers- They add a touch of sweetness and beautiful color.
Minced Basil Leaves- Finely chop basil leaves and mix with a drizzle of olive oil. The olive oil will help keep them green and make them stick to the butter so you can really get the full benefit of their flavor.
How to Roast Garlic
Cut the top off of a head of garlic. Drizzle with Olive Oil. Then Wrap in Foil and bake in a 375° oven for 40 minutes. Garlic should be soft and spreadable.
How to Make it!
- Let butter sit out on the counter for around 30 minutes to soften.
- Spread the butter over your favorite serving board. Use the knife to make small swirls for visual appeal.
- Then sprinkle evenly with sea salt.
- Finally, add your toppings of choice and serve with bread and crackers.
Butter Board Toppings
The beautiful thing about appetizer boards and butter boards is that you can make just about anything you can imagine. Some fun flavor combinations are...
Sweet and Spicy Butter Board
- Sea Salt
- Fresh Black Pepper
- Hot Honey
- Blackberry Jam
Crunchy Sweet and Salty Butter Board
- Sea Salt
- Chopped Mixed Nuts
- Maple Syrup
- Chopped Chives
Breakfast Butter Board
- Sea Salt
- Sliced Strawberries
- Mixed Berry Jam
- Lemon Zest
Super Simple Butter Board
- Sea Salt
- Lemon Zest
- Crack Pepper
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
What to serve with a Butter Board
While eating spoonfuls of flavored butter has its appeal. You will likely want to have something to spread the butter on. Some ideas include…
- Warm soft French bread slices
- Toasted Baguette slices
- Multigrain Crackers
- Biscuits
- Bread Sticks
FAQs
You can certainly put a butter board together ahead of time. The butter itself can be spread on the board and stored covered in the refrigerator long before it needs to be served.
Be thoughtful about how long the toppings on the board will last when making it early. Some ingredients might wilt, brown, or leave behind color on the butter. It’s best to put those items on right before serving.
Take your butter board out of the refrigerator about 30-45 minutes so that the butter will be spreadable.
Diana’s Tips for Success
Butter should be spreadable but not melted. It’s not a good time to use the microwave.
When adding savory toppings, you should use unsalted butter. Items like olives will add lots of salty flavor and you don’t want to over do it.
Chop your toppings into small pieces so they can be evenly spread across the butter. It’s best when you can pick up a little bit over everything in one scoop to fully enjoy the flavor combination.
Butter Board Decorating Tips
Make small swirls in the butter to make a pretty texture across the soft butter.
Use ingredients with vibrant colors.
Place bread slices and crackers in opposite corners of the board for symmetry.
Save some of your toppings in whole form to place around the edges. Example: Place small bundles of herbs or whole nuts in the corners of the board to make an interesting border.
More Fun Appetizers
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📖 Recipe
Italian Inspired Butter Board
Equipment
- Small Wood Serving Board
Ingredients
- ½ Pound Unsalted Butter softened
- ½ Teaspoon Flaky Sea Salt
- 1 Head Roasted Garlic smashed into a paste
- ¼ Cup Green Olives sliced
- ¼ Cup Roasted Red Peppers diced
- 2 Teaspoons Basil minced, mixed with olive oil
- 16 Slices Baguette warmed
Instructions
- Let butter sit out on the counter for around 30 minutes to soften.
- Spread the butter over your favorite serving board. Use the knife to make small swirls for visual appeal.
- Then sprinkle evenly with sea salt.
- Finally, add your toppings and serve with bread and crackers.
Notes
- You can certainly put a butter board together ahead of time. The butter itself can be spread on the board and stored covered in the refrigerator long before it needs to be served.
- Be thoughtful about how long the toppings on the board will last when making it early. Some ingredients might wilt, brown, or leave behind color on the butter. It’s best to put those items on right before serving.
- Take your butter board out of the refrigerator about 30-45 minutes so that the butter will be spreadable.
- Diana’s Tips for Success
- Butter should be spreadable but not melted. It’s not a good time to use the microwave.
- When adding savory toppings, you should use unsalted butter. Items like olives will add lots of salty flavor and you don’t want to over do it.
- Chop your toppings into small pieces so they can be evenly spread across the butter. It’s best when you can pick up a little bit over everything in one scoop to fully enjoy the flavor combination.
- Make small swirls in the butter to make a pretty texture across the soft butter.
- Use ingredients with vibrant colors.
- Place bread slices and crackers in opposite corners of the board for symmetry.
- Save some of your toppings in whole form to place around the edges. Example: Place small bundles of herbs or whole nuts in the corners of the board to make an interesting border.
Nutrition
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Elizabeth
I think I need this at my next party. It's so pretty to look at and who doesn't love butter. LOL!
Andrea
This is awesome! I'm excited to make this for our next family get together.
Dana
I've been seeing these everywhere and they look so delicious! I love that you've added olives. Adds a nice saltiness and brininess, which I'm ALL about.
Luci Petlack
Sign me up for the roasted garlic all up in the butter!! What fun flavor combinations!