Name: How To Make Whipped Butter
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup salted butter (softened*); 1/4 cup milk

Jump to Recipe

This two-step recipe for whipped butter doubles the quantity making it last longer.

We get through quite a bit of butter mainly in baking but also for sauces and sautéeing vegetables. Butter adds flavour giving a creamy richness to the dish and occasionally contributing to texture. I usually stock up when its on offer, keeping several bars in the fridge and the rest in the freezer.

For table use or to garnish a dish, we like to use whipped butter. Whipping butter doubles the quantity so ½ cup of butter will make 1 cup of whipped butter.

Whipped butter in small white bowl — Whipped Butter

When butter is whipped it becomes aerated and light, so it remains creamy but becomes easier to spread. A little goes a long way making it more economical and lower in fat.

Whipped butter is great for table use or to finish off a dish as it is softer and more delicate than regular butter. It’s delicious on all sorts of breads, muffins, pancakes, waffles, and even as a garnish for vegetables and meats such as corn on the cob, baked potatoes, steak, grilled fish, etc.

See below for ideas on how to add extra flavour to whipped butter.

Note: whipped butter is not suitable for baking.

Jump to:

Why its great
How to make it
Can you over-whip butter?
Adding flavour
Storing
📋 Recipe

closeup of whipped butter in bowl — Whipped butter detail

Why its great

For table use we love whipped over regular butter for several reasons:

it’s easier to spread
it is lighter and softer, and can look more elegant when piped with an icing bag
doubles the quantity so you end up with twice the amount of butter
it’s more economical
a teaspoon of whipped butter contains half the fat of non-whipped butter

How to make it

You can use either salted or unsalted butter.

Make sure to start with softened butter. If you usually store butter in the fridge, remove it 30 minutes to 1 hour ahead of time.
Then use a hand mixer or a stand mixer to fully incorporate the butter with the milk till it is light and fluffy.

butter and milk in white bowl — Butter with Milk

Can you over-whip butter?

As the butter is whipped, a small amount of heat is generated causing the already softened butter to melt. Over-whipping will create too much heat melting the butter so it will not aerate or become fluffy.

Adding flavour

Whipped butter with herbs – mix in finely chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme, sage, rosemary or oregano for extra flavour. This makes a tasty spread for sandwiches or garnish for grilled meats and vegetables!

Whipped garlic butter – mince a medium garlic clove and whip it into the butter adding a little sea salt and fresh black pepper.

Sweet whipped butters, to serve on breads, desserts, carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, pancakes and waffles. To the quantity of whipped butter in the recipe below, mix in any combination of these:

1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon maple syrup
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon or ½ teaspoon vanilla and 2 tablespoons brown sugar
chopped berries or fruit

Storing

To ensure whipped butter remains light and soft, cover with plastic wrap and keep in a cool part of the kitchen. The salt or if using sugar, for a sweet version, in the butter acts as a preservative keeping it fresh for a few days.

Storing whipped butter in the fridge or freezer will cause it to lose its air and lightness and will make it harden causing it to return to its original butter form.

Note: re-freezing butter may affect its flavour and texture.

Check out these great tips and on How To Store Butter, or try 10 Delicious Compound Butter recipes.