🧈 Compound Butters: The Secret Weapon Your Kitchen Needs
Let's talk about one of the easiest ways to make literally anything taste better: compound butter.
If you've never made one, don't worry—it's just butter mixed with flavorings. That's it. But the impact? Chef's kiss.
You can slap compound butter on grilled corn, melt it over steak, toss it with pasta, or spread it on warm bread. It's versatile, it's fancy without trying, and it stores beautifully in the fridge or freezer.
🦀 Garlic Dust Butter - The OG
This is the compound butter that started it all for me. Before Garlic Dust even existed as a product, I was making Garlic Dust Butter for my garlic crabs and garlic shrimp that I sold for years.
It's simple: just softened butter mixed with Garlic Dust. That's it. But the flavor? Unmatched.
👉 Watch how I make garlic crabs with Garlic Dust Butter on YouTube
🍋 Meyer Lemon Butter
This is one I make all the time! It's a Meyer Lemon Butter from Bon Appétit that I use for burgers stuffed with the butter. It has herbs mixed in and the bright citrus flavor is incredible.
👉 Get the Meyer Lemon Butter recipe from Bon Appétit
🍑 Sweet Peach Butter
This sweet, fruity butter is perfect for summer! Spread it on biscuits, pancakes, or toast for a taste of sunshine. From the wonderful makers of The Peach Truck Cookbook
👉 Watch how I make Sweet Peach Butter on YouTube
🌽 Honey Garlic Dust Butter
Garlic Dust is already an MVP in our kitchen, but melt it into honey and butter? Game over. This sweet-savory combo is perfect for grilled corn, roasted vegetables, or even brushed on chicken before it hits the grill.
All you need is:
- Unsalted butter (softened)
- Garlic Dust
- Honey
Mix it all together, roll it into a log with parchment paper, and refrigerate. Slice off a pat whenever you need instant flavor.
👉 Try it on our Grilled Corn with Honey Garlic Dust Butter recipe
💡 More Compound Butter Ideas
Once you master the basics, the possibilities are endless:
- Herb Butter: Mix softened butter with Pryme Thyme, fresh parsley, and a squeeze of lemon. Perfect for fish or vegetables.
- Spicy Butter: Combine Spicy Garlic Dust with butter and a pinch of smoked paprika. Melt over grilled shrimp or steak.
- Sweet Cinnamon Butter: Mix A Sprinkle of Spice with butter, ground cinnamon, and a drizzle of maple syrup. Spread on pancakes, waffles, or sweet potato.
🛒 Pro Tips
- You CAN use unsalted butter so you control the seasoning or you can be lazy and use regular salted butter like me. Either works just remember which one you choose
- Let butter soften at room temperature for easy mixing
- Roll into a log and freeze—slice off what you need
- Label and date your butters (trust me, you'll make more than one)
Compound butters are one of those little luxuries that make everyday cooking feel special. Try one this week and let me know how you use it!
📸 Tag us @TheTastyTin and use #MadeWithTastyTin so we can see your creations.
