How to Make Homemade Whipped Butter

Whipped butter is regular butter beaten with a splash of milk until it’s light, fluffy, and a little paler than the stick you started with. It takes two ingredients and about 5 minutes with an electric mixer, and it makes warm rolls, pancakes, and toast feel a lot fancier than they are.

about this whipped butter recipe 

Whipped butter feels like a restaurant move, the kind that shows up in a little ramekin next to the bread basket. It’s also almost embarrassingly easy. Soft butter, a little milk, and a mixer, and you’re done.

The first time I had whipped butter was the first time I went to Paris. My friends and I went to a bar and they had an endless amount of salted whipped butter and bread for all their customers. It was the best night ever – wine, bread, and French butter.

I hate to say it, but it took me longer than I’d like to admit to start making it at home. It’s become my favorite easy recipe for the week because it’s only two ingredients, and I can customize it with salt or other flavors like honey, fresh herbs, and more.

Whipping adds air, so the butter turns pale, light, and fluffy, and it melts quickly on warm bread, pancakes, and baked potatoes. Making it yourself also means you pick the butter, so you can use the kind you like best.

What is whipped butteR?

Whipped butter is butter that’s been beaten with a little liquid (here, milk) until it’s lighter in texture and color. Compared to a regular stick, it’s fluffier and softer, and it has a milder look on the plate. Because of the air, a tablespoon of whipped butter has less butter in it by weight than a tablespoon of regular butter.

ingredients

Butter. You’ll need 1/2 cup, which is one stick. The butter needs to be at room temperature, soft enough that your finger leaves an indent but not greasy or melty. If you forgot to set it out, cut it into cubes so it softens faster. Cold butter will whip up lumpy.

Milk. Two tablespoons is all it takes. I like to use whole milk, but you can also use heavy whipping cream or half and half. The milk helps the butter whip up light and smooth.

this recipe’s must-haves 

You need an electric mixer: either an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer with the whisk attachment.

A mixing bowl with some depth helps keep the milk from splashing, and a rubber spatula is handy for scraping the sides.

You’ll also want a small airtight container or jar for storing it.

how to make whipped butter (step-by-step)

Combine

Put the room-temperature butter in a mixing bowl and add the milk.

Beat

Beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes on low to medium speed.

Scrape

Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl so everything combines properly.

Beat

Beat on high speed for 2 to 3 more minutes until the butter is light and creamy. It should be pale in color and hold stiff peaks.

Store

Transfer to an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to one week. Let it come to room temperature before serving.

variations on how to make whipped butter

This is a great base for flavored butters. These are ideas, so add the amounts only once you’ve tested them:

• Honey whipped butter: Beat in a drizzle of honey, about 1 to 2 tsp depending on your taste. Great on biscuits and cornbread.
• Cinnamon sugar whipped butter: Beat in 1/4 tsp to 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon and a little sugar (about 1 tsp) for toast, pancakes, and waffles.
• Garlic herb whipped butter: Stir in minced garlic (1 clove) and chopped fresh herbs (about 1 to 2 tsp) for dinner rolls and steak.
• Maple whipped butter: Add a little maple syrup (about 1 tsp) for fall breakfasts.

Here’s what we love to serve this butter on: Overnight No Knead Bread | Air Fryer Garlic Bread | Strawberry Waffles | Peach Pancakes

faqs

What is the difference between whipped butter and regular butter?

Whipped butter has air beaten into it, so it’s lighter and fluffier than a regular stick. Here, a little milk helps it come together smoothly.

Why add milk to whipped butter?

The milk gives the butter a little liquid to whip with, which helps it turn light and creamy.

Should I use salted or unsalted butter?

Either works! Salted butter gives you a ready-to-serve spread, and unsalted lets you control the salt. I personally like to use unsalted so I can salt it with coarse or flaky salt of my choosing.

Do I need an electric mixer?

I use one, and I recommend it. Beating for 4 to 5 minutes by hand is a lot of work.

Need inspiration for a sweet treat? Check out my dessert recipes page!

what to serve with whipped butter

Whipped butter is made for anything warm and bready: dinner rolls, biscuits, cornbread, and muffins. It’s also good on pancakes, waffles, toast, baked potatoes, and corn on the cob.

It’s a good one for the holiday table, too. I like to set small bowls of it on a Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve table to serve with rolls, on mashed potatoes, and more.

how to store

Keep whipped butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Let it come to room temperature before serving (about 15 minutes). Don’t leave it out for long, since it has milk in it.

more of our favorite spreads to try out

Whipped butter is hard to beat on warm bread, but sometimes you want a spread with a little more punch. These three are some of my favorites to keep in the fridge, and all of them are great on toast, sandwiches, and cheese boards.

My Bacon Onion Jam is sweet, smoky, and savory. It’s one skillet and about 45 minutes. Spoon it warm over toast points with ricotta, or pile it on a burger.

This Hatch Green Chile Tomato Chutney is a Southwestern twist on the classic. It’s thick, tangy, and a little smoky, and it cooks down on the stovetop in under an hour with no canning required. Great over scrambled eggs, grilled chicken, or tacos.

And my Tomato Relish is the one to make when you want a sweet and tangy condiment that doesn’t need peeled tomatoes. Try it on sandwiches, burgers, or a slice of toast with cream cheese.

Finally, if you make this homemade whipped butter recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a star recipe rating on the recipe card and/or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment.

Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!

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