Easy Basil Compound Butter

More About This Recipe

• Making Compound Butter is Easy!
  
  Want to add a little gourmet touch to your next dinner? Making compound butters does that – without a lot of fuss.
  
  Start with good quality butter, which will be the base of your compound butter. You want good quality because flavor varies widely among butters, and the base should be pleasant (otherwise the butter won’t be as good).
  
  Then it’s as simple as 1-2-3.
  
  Step 1: Soften the butter.
  
  You want it to be room temperature, but not runny. If it melts completely, it won’t shape into the log and harden properly. So, basically, you want it soft enough to stir, but solid enough that it still has that creamy yellow butter color.
  
  Step 2: Stir in the mixings.
  
  There are so many ways you can take the butter with different spices, herbs and other mix-ins. Choose yours and gently stir them in with a spoon until they are dispersed throughout the butter.
  
  Step 3: Mold it.
  
  Typically, I mold compound butter into logs and serve them that way – so they are ready for slicing. However, you can get really creative with it and chill the butter in silicone molds to make anything from butterflies to race car butters.
  
  If you want to go the log route, spoon the butter onto a sheet of plastic wrap and use that to gently roll and pat it into a log shape. Chill inside the plastic wrap until solid.
  
  Flavor Ideas:
  
  Basil Compound Butter is my current addiction. It’s a mix of finely minced basil, garlic and sea salt – and is heavenly. Want to try something else? Here are a few ideas based on the Basil Butter recipe:
  
  Parmesan Garlic Butter – Omit the basil. Add ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese.
  Herbalicious Butter – Instead of ¼ cup of basil, use a ¼ cup total of mixed herbs like basil, thyme, sage and oregano. Mince finely.
  Cinnamon-Sugar Butter – Omit the basil and garlic. Add 2 tablespoons light brown sugar and 1 heaping teaspoon of cinnamon to the butter. Don’t use too much salt (but use some).
  
  Super Special Serving Suggestion:
  
  Want to melt your guests right into their chairs? Serve Basil Compound Butter (or your fave flave butter) on Pillsbury Simply...® Rustic French Bread. It couldn't be easier to pop into the oven, and when you serve that golden warm loaf with the compound butter, it tastes divinely like something a fine restaurant would bring to your table before an expensive feast!
  
  Or, for more ideas to serve with your butter, check out our Biscuits and Scones Recipes!
  
  Sarah W. Caron (aka scaron) is a food writer, editor and blogger who writes about family-friendly foods and raising a healthy family at Sarah’s Cucina Bella.
  
  What's your fave flavored butter? Herbs? Honey? Something else?