Spread the Love: Exploring the Tasty World of Butter Boards

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Butter boards, a spinoff of better-known cheese boards, are all the rage right now. A butter board can transform any occasion into a memorable one, and it can be as simple or as elaborate as you desire. Learn about this culinary trend and impress your guests with an impressive butter board that looks almost too good to eat.

Before I discovered this presentation, I never thought of serving butter as a main appetizer. Then, I saw pictures of people creating these stunning boards with all sorts of ingredients. Imagine my surprise when I found out it was butter and not some type of cheese.

Of course, I had to try it. If you want to serve a butter board for your next dinner party, here’s everything you need to know.

Butter Boards — a Delicious History

Butter boards have a surprisingly rich and interesting history. Before refrigeration, butter was prominent in many cultures’ cuisine, not just as an ingredient but as a standalone dish to savor. In these early days, presenting butter became something of an art form. Enter the first version of the butter board.

The earliest butter boards were simple; flat pieces of wood or stone, similar to what we know today. As early as the 17th century, beautifully crafted wooden butter boards were found in many European homes. They were not just functional kitchen tools but pieces of art, often engraved with intricate designs and family crests.

As the centuries passed, the butter board evolved along with society’s tastes and technologies. During the Victorian era, for instance, it wasn’t uncommon to see elaborate butter boards made of silver or gold adorning high societies’ best dining tables. These luxurious items were often intricately designed and became a status symbol.

In the 20th century, with the rise of modern manufacturing and materials, butter boards were made from glass, ceramics, and various types of engineered wood. These offered more durability and were easier to clean than their earlier counterparts, making them popular among busy households.

Modern Butter Boards — Adding Flavor, Texture and Fun

Today’s butter boards are much more than just a flat serving dish for showcasing butter and they’re at home right beside charcuterie boards and snack boards. In fact, butter boards are glammed up with all sorts of tasty treats, turning them into edible works of art. 

Modern butter boards are still presented on a board made of wood, glass, ceramic, or any material, as long as it is flat, but they’re topped with myriad ingredients transforming humble butter into a show-stopping appetizer before delicious meals of seafood, roasted meats and more.

Imagine a flat platter topped with softened butter and then loaded with tasty ingredients meant to accentuate and elevate the flavor of the butter. Different colors, textures, and flavors combine to transform butter from a condiment into an experience. 

Served with fresh baguette slices or crackers, and sometimes even other dippers, these boards are culinary works of art. And with both sweet and savory butter boards to try, the flavors are endless.

“I love butter boards; you get to sample different flavor combinations that you haven’t tried before. Whenever I have friends around for dinner, I’ll always have a selection of different butter and toppings for them to try and I love seeing their reactions to the diverse flavors.” 

— Mandy Applegate, Splash of Taste

Savory Butter Boards

Savory butter boards showcase butter’s versatility in ways you may have never imagined. This kind of butter board is a canvas for flavor and texture, and the star is, of course, butter. 

Start with the very best salted butter. European butter, grass-fed butter and pure Irish butter are far superior in flavor to supermarket-brand butter. I also like serving compound butter. Then, have fun with the toppings. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Italian butter board: Top your butter with finely chopped sundried tomatoes, small drained capers, shredded Parmesan, a pinch of Italian seasoning and toasted pine nuts.
• Greek butter board: A drizzle of honey, lemon zest and crushed pistachios with a pinch of finishing salt turns this butter board into a masterpiece.
• Fall butter board: Celebrate the holidays with a butter board topped with toasted pecans, chopped dried cranberries, a pinch of chopped fresh thyme and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
• Christmas butter board: Top it with pomegranate arils, orange zest, fresh thyme and dollops of cranberry sauce or jam.
• Everything bagel: A sprinkle of this seasoning plus finely shaved red onion and drained capers is a delicious combination.

Sweet Butter Boards

Butter boards don’t have to be savory, they can also be sweet. In fact, butter lends itself to sweet notes as easily as savory, and with myriad topping options, you can create a mouthwatering butter board without much trouble. Some sweet board ideas include:

• Summer berries: Top the butter with chopped strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and more, chopped mint and a drizzle of balsamic syrup.
• Figs & honey: Chop some fresh figs, and add a drizzle of honey, and a bit of fresh mint to make this stellar board.
• Hazelnut chocolate: Toasted hazelnuts, a drizzle of Nutella, and dark chocolate curls or savings will transform your board into a work of culinary art.
• Cinnamon & honey: A few sprinkles of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey are all it takes to transform this butter board into a delicious appetizer.

What to Serve with Your Board

Wondering what to serve with a butter board? Bread and butter go hand in hand for a reason, but if you want to jazz your board up a bit, consider some of these for the base of your butter.

• Sliced fresh baguette
• Grilled bread
• Sliced sourdough bread
• Fresh pita wedges
• Any kind of cracker
• Sliced quickbreads: pumpkin bread or zucchini bread
• Vegetables: celery, carrots, peppers, etc.
• Fruits: Use harder fruits like apples and pears.

Low-Carb Options You Can Add to A Butter Board

If you’re on keto or any other kind of low-carb diet, the foods mentioned above might not be the best options. So, I’ve listed a few low-carb-friendly additions or bases for your butter:

• Fresh vegetables: Opt for crisp, colorful veggies like celery sticks, cucumber slices, bell pepper strips, and cherry tomatoes. These are low-carb, colorful, and pair really well with butter.
• Low-carb bread: Keto drop biscuits never fail with a sweet or savory themes.
• Low-carb crackers: If you want a crunchy element, include low-carb crackers made from almond flour, flaxseed, or cheese. These can be store-bought or homemade and are perfect for spreading butter.
• Nuts and seeds: Sprinkle your butter with a variety of nuts and seeds for added crunch and flavor. Almonds, walnuts, pecans, and pumpkin seeds are all low-carb choices that complement the creamy texture of butter.
• Olives: Olives are a fantastic low-carb addition that brings a salty, savory element to your board. Choose a mix of green and black olives to make it prettier.
• Cheese: Add some slices or crumbles of low-carb cheeses like cheddar, gouda, or feta. These pair beautifully with butter and provide a satisfying, savory addition to your board.
• Pickles: Pickled vegetables such as cucumbers, radishes, and onions can add a tangy, crunchy contrast to the richness of butter. Just be sure to choose varieties without added sugars. If you want to make your board even more interesting (and savory), try these pickle chips.
• Smoked meats: Thin slices of smoked meats like prosciutto, salami, or smoked salmon can add a rich, savory touch to your board while keeping it low-carb. I love adding smoked meats to make my board fancier for special occasions. 

How to Build an Epic Butter Board

Wondering how to build the most amazing butter boards? It’s easy. Just follow these steps, and before long, you’ll be munching on something amazing.

1. Pick your board. It should be large enough to hold the butter without having a lot of excess space.
2. Soften the butter. This is best done by leaving the butter out on the counter for a few hours. Don’t try to force it to soften too quickly; you could end up with melted butter instead.
3. Spread the butter onto the board. You don’t want it too thin; you shouldn’t be able to see the board through the butter. Use the back of a spoon or an offset spatula to gently spread the butter in an even layer across the board, creating swoops or patterns for decoration.
4. Top your butter with the chosen ingredients. Try to space each ingredient evenly so you get a nice distribution of the toppings with each dip.
5. Arrange your bread, crackers, or other nibbles nearby, and have at least one butter knife handy for spreading. Pro tip: Don’t take crunchy food out of the packaging to maintain the texture.
6. Serve and enjoy.

They’re Not Just for Entertaining

Sure, these boards are perfect whenever you have guests, but they can also be a part of your everyday meals. In fact, Tamara uses them to get her kids to eat more vegetables. 

“My toddler girl is obsessed with butter. She can eat it all day, every day, with or without other foods. To make things exciting and ensure she eats other nutritious foods besides butter, I started creating butter boards. We use butter as a canvas for food art. Butter boards became our new favorite thing. My 7-year-old son joined us in the fun too. This helps me sneak in so many vegetables they wouldn’t normally eat.”

— Tamara, Thriving In Parenting

Good to The Last Bit

If you’re a butter fan or you want to pull out all the stops and really impress, these butter boards are just what you need. Sweet or savory, simple or fancy, butter boards celebrate humble butter like never before.

Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.