Photo courtesy of @the_salted_bite
This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Brianna Allison. Find her on Instagram at @ballison7. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
I know it’s hard to believe that anything could be better than a charcuterie board, but I’m telling you it is possible. TikTok has been filled with users showing off their new favorite snack… butter boards. Now, hear me out. This isn’t just your average bread and butter plate. They’re something much more unique, creative and flavorful. They’re amazing! So what do you think? Are you ready to jump on board and try one out, or are you still a little skeptical? Well, either way, I’m sure you have some questions so let’s get into those, and then we can look at some delicious butter board recipes. I have a feeling you’ll be making one of them for your next gathering!
What are butter boards?
So butter boards are basically exactly what they sound like. They are softened butter spread onto a tray and topped with whatever toppings you’d like! You then can eat the butter with bread, crackers, fruit, etc. There are unlimited ways to design and create your board, so they’re all about creativity!
Butter boards are becoming a sensation because they are a much cheaper alternative compared to last season’s sensation, the charcuterie board. However, the two boards are very similar in their display of delicious food and spreads across a cutting board. All you have to do is swap the meat out with butter.
How to make a butter board
So let’s break down the process of creating a butter board for your next event or party! First, get a decent-size cutting board and choose what kind of butter you’d like. You can stick to the traditional salted or unsalted butter, or you can use garlic-herb butter, almond butter, or jalapeño-honey butter. If you want a sweeter butter board, you can try cinnamon-honey butter, cookie butter, strawberry butter, apple butter, or even pumpkin spice butter. For more ideas, check out these easy flavored butter recipes – the options are endless!
Next, you’ll just need to soften the butter so you’re able to easily spread it across the board. If you’re celebrating a holiday or special occasion, you can fashion your butter into a holiday-inspired shape. Once the butter is on the board, you can let your own tastes and creativity shine! There are tons of toppings to garnish and pair with your board. Then, you just need crackers, pretzels, vegetables, fruit, cookies, or bread to dip!
More traditional butter boards include decorative items as well such as edible flowers like lavender and rose petals, dried fruit and berries, honey, shallots, herbs, oil, lemon zest and garlic. You can even spread jam right on top of the butter for a fruity flavor!
For a dessert option, you can use chocolate, peanut butter, pie filling, or another kind of dessert butter and top with chocolate shavings, nuts, shredded coconut, chocolate or caramel drizzle, chocolate chips, or brown sugar. For holiday boards, you can opt for more seasonal ingredients, like pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
After you’ve made your butter board, you can refrigerate it or leave it out for up to two days!
Can it be healthy?
Like most things, butter can actually be healthy in moderation! So just another reason for you to try out the new butter board trend! According to WebMD, butter is rich in calcium and other nutrients, like Vitamin A, D and E. Because of the vitamins and nutrients that butter has it can help strengthen your bones and help with your eyesight. It can even lower your chances of cancer and obesity, and it can be a great option if you’re on a low-carb diet.
If you’re just not a fan of butter or your diet restricts it, you don’t have to miss out on this new TikTok trend! Instead, you can use ricotta cheese, goat cheese, yogurt, peanut butter, plant-based vegan butter or a dairy-free butter alternative! There are plenty of other options to try!
Butter Board Recipe Options
Traditional Butter Board
@lowcarbnorma Make a butter board for your next gathering so easy and creative thanks for the inspo@Justine Doiron #charcuterieideas #butterboards #ketoapp #lowcarbsugarfree #RecycleUp
♬ Summer day – TimTaj
To make this keto-friendly recipe, use salted or unsalted butter for the base. Then, spread baked garlic over the butter, add flake salt, lemon zest, fresh thyme, chives, and some red pepper flakes. To top it off, you can drizzle some spicy chili oil and honey. Pair your butter board with warm bread. Since this is a low-carb, this TikTok user chose almond flour bread to dip.
Breakfast Butter Board
@ladyspatula Breakfast butter board! What would you add to your butter board? #butterboard #butterboards #butterboarding #butterboardtrend #charcuterieboard #buttercharcuterieboard #learnwithtiktok #foodtok #fyp #foryoupage #foodontiktok #tiktokfood #tiktokcookbook
♬ BIZCOCHITO – ROSALÍASee Also19 Stale Bread Recipes
Want butter for breakfast? This TikTok user starts off with some all-natural European butter for her board. She tops her butter off with sea salt, cinnamon powder and shredded coconut. Then, she adds a maple sugar drizzle and some toasted almonds. She serves her breakfast board with fresh berries and waffles.
Dessert Butter Board
To give the traditional butter board a sweet twist, this TikTok user substitutes regular butter with peanut butter and a hazelnut spread. She sprinkles some walnuts, granola, chocolate, shredded coconut and cinnamon over the peanut butter and hazelnut spread. Then she drizzles some honey and chocolate syrup to make it even sweeter. She finishes her dessert butter board with some flake salt and serves it with apples.
Savory Butter Board
@zestfulkitchen Let’s make my favorite #butterboard 👏🏼 crispy shallots and garlic make the perfect savory topping #fyp #trending
♬ original sound – Zestfulkitchen
For a more savory butter board option, try this shallot and garlic combination. Just fry them in a pan with some oil and, for a little kick, add some red pepper flakes. After you’ve created your mixture, this TikTok user recommends you whip the butter in a mixer before putting it onto your board. Sprinkle the shallot and garlic mixture on top of the butter, then pour some of the infused oil from the pan. Top it off with some flake salt and enjoy with bread!
Fall Butter Board
@kroger The trending butter board, but make it FALL. 🍂 #kroger #butter #butterboard #fallbutterboard #fallrecipes #appetizers @yessidothecookingg
♬ original sound – Kroger
Since fall is here, it’s the perfect time to try this butter board! First you’ll melt pumpkin purée, brown sugar and pumpkin spice in a pan on the stove. Spread regular butter onto your board and mix in the pumpkin blend you made. Add some sage leaves and walnuts then drizzle honey over top. Lastly, sprinkle some flake salt and serve with bread.
Italian Butter Board
@central_market We couldn’t resist putting our own spin on the viral #butterboard trend! 🧈
♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim
This delicious butter board incorporates some of your favorite Italian flavors! Start off with your softened butter and mix in some fresh basil pesto and stracciatella cheese. Add some roasted cherry tomatoes on top with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a balsamic glaze. To top it off, sprinkle some toasted pine nuts, flake salt and cracked black pepper. Don’t forget your Italian bread to dip!
Butter Board Alternative
Instead of butter, this TikTok user prefers a spreadable goat cheese base with fig spread on top. Similar to the ingredients of a charcuterie board, she included some fried prosciutto. Top your spread off with some edible flowers and sliced fig. Then drizzle some honey and enjoy with bread!
Butter boards are perfect for your next holiday gathering because they can satisfy anyone’s cravings, whether it’s sweet, salty, or savory. There are so many recipes on the Internet that you can try or you can make your own creation! All that matter is that you have fun with it and enjoy your butter board!
So don’t be afraid to try one out because they’re a great and affordable snack! Now you don’t have to worry about spending a fortune on making a charcuterie board for your guests. Now you can easily prepare a butter board and each of your guests will be able to find something they love!
Have you tried making a butter board yet? If so, share your favorite butter board recipe with us down below!
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