Butter Boards are All the Rage! Is This TikTok Trend Worth the Hype?
Beautiful softened butter boards are “spreading” all over the internet. Here’s what you need to know about this TikTok trending appetizer.
Move over charcuterie boards, butter boards are having their moment!
If you keep up on the latest food trends on TikTok and Instagram. then you’ve likely seen how butter boards are the newest communal appetizer to consider serving at your next party or gathering. First, it was the charcuterie board, then dessert boards for every holiday, and now butter boards are gaining popularity.
Spoiler Alert: Yes I can confirm butter boards are delicious, because…well, butter! Serve them with some warm crusty bread and they’re insanely good. A butter board is an easy and unique food idea for upcoming holiday gatherings, so I am excited to share my version in the hopes it can inspire you!
What is a butter board?
Essentially it’s similar to compound butter with various herbs and “toppings” except. The difference is how butter boards are presented and spread on a wood board in an aesthetically pleasing way. Guests will then scoop up your softened butter masterpiece onto pieces of bread, crackers, or vegetable dippers.
The flavor combinations are endless and you can customize them to your taste and get creative. For instance, you can add various types of jams, herbs, nuts, edible flowers, salt, honey, and more! Justine Dorion’s viral TikTok video is the initial place on the internet that inspired me.
My board features sweet fig spread, roasted garlic cloves, chopped pistachios, arugula, and a drizzle of hot honey. The spicy sweet combo is so good spread on bread or crackers.
Fig and Honey Garlic Butter Board
yield: 8 SERVINGS
prep time: 10 MINUTES
total time: 10 MINUTES
Soften butter spread on a wood board with fig spread, roasted garlic, arugula, and a drizzle of hot honey.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons fig spread
- 10 pistachios, chopped
- 6 cloves roasted garlic
- handful of baby arugula
- drizzle of hot honey (such as Mike's)
Directions
1
Spread the softened butter on a small cutting board or plate using the back of a knife or spoon to make swoop designs.
2
Add small dollops of fig spread throughout. Add the garlic, and sprinkle the chopped pistachios and arugula.
3
Drizzle with hot honey over the top. Serve with bread, crackers, or vegetables. Enjoy!
Tips for making a showstopping butter board:
- I used a small wood cutting board, but you can use a plate or other small platter.
- Be sure your butter is softened enough to easily spread but not melted. If you forget, a hack that works is to heat a glass cup in the microwave and place it over the stick of butter. It quickly softens in a pinch.
- I loved the spicy hot honey drizzle on this board. We also like to use it on pizza. If you want to improvise with red pepper flakes instead, that could work too!
- I think the original intention of this appetizer is for guests to scrape the bread on the board. You could instead include a small knife for spreading if that’s easier for your dippers.
This idea is not limited to butter! Check out these spreadable variations:
- Bagel board: cream cheese, everything bagel seasoning, capers, and lox
- Hummus board: hummus, olive oil, pine nuts, olives, and feta cheese
- Goat cheese board: goat cheese, pesto drizzle, sundried tomatoes, chopped basil
- Peanut butter board: peanut butter, chocolate chips, M&M’s candy, caramel drizzle
I am a fan of this butter board idea and can’t wait to try other versions!!
Who doesn’t love delicious fancy butter? This is a beautiful way to present it. Plus, I think it’s an easy appetizer to serve alongside a loaf of crusty delicious bread. The idea of adding whatever herbs and jams you may already have on hand is so great too.
Spreading it on wood is not the cleanest idea because wood is pourous & difficult to really clean. Bacteria & mold can hide in it. Like most tik tock trends,it doesn’t make sense.
Marble cutting board would be better.
Whewww, and I thought I was the only one, Sally!! Yes, agreed, I’m so glad I don’t follow mainstream because this butter board thing made zero sense in my head space!
The one I saw had the board wrapped in parchment first which seems much better to me.
Great tip, Lana! Thanks for sharing! 💕
Just give everyone a stick, and let them use it as a crayon
🤣🤣
These trends are weird to me. What happened to a simple appetizer tray? I mean it is purposeful and foods don’t touch. I may be dating myself but this just screams unsanitary and gross.
It’s so strange to see charcuterie and butter boards to become so popular. We’ve literally done them my entire life (I’m 46) My mom and grandma did them before me. Maybe it’s a cultural thing? I’m Dutch.
Some of the tips are way off base and ridiculous too.
disgusting and I can’t believe it’s a trend, I mainly see it on social media but nobody ever is eating it, they are just showing you how to make one.
No thanks. Looks messy.
That will be a hard pass for my holiday table
My cholesterol level jumped into the red zone….just from looking at it
Well I do really love butter but I cannot see myself doing this. I’d rather just make compound butters in a dish to spread on bread.
NO is the answer!
WTF… I’ve never even heard of these… How weird 🤮
I’ve never considered myself germ phobic, but this seems kind of ick to me. Looks cute though 😂🤷♀️
Instead of cream cheese, you’re using butter…hmmm. There’s always a new way of doing things. The same individuals that are mocking this are the same ones eating impossible nuggets that are not real meat! This is exactly why it’s call a fad. It has its 15 minutes of fame and then off to something else. In the meantime, it does not hurt to try something new and live life a little before we all have to die.
We had something similar in Germany years ago but each type of butter was in a separate small dish on a tray in the middle of the table with bread for tasting. I enjoyed it and would more likely serve it that way.
Thanks for sharing about your experience in Germany, Gigi! I actually have a local German restaurant nearby that does something similar! So yummy! 🤗💕
Wow, I was surprised by all of the nay-sayers on here! I agree about not using something porous (the wood cutting board) but the idea is fun!
I agree.
Most people I know put their unsanitary “outside” footwear on couches/beds/tables anywhere and don’t wash their hands after touching the bottoms of the shoes. And so much outcry over a simple porous chopping board (one meant for appetizers, not cutting raw meat)!
I guess to each their own 🙂
Do you use salted or unsalted butter?
Hi Rebecca!! For the ideal butter board base, start with softened unsalted real butter.🥰