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    Home » Appetizers & Drinks

    Updated: Jan 8, 2024 · Published: Oct 1, 2022 · by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    How to Make a Butter Board

    Jump to Recipe

    Butter boards are so easy and delicious that we will all wonder where have they been all our lives. Learn how to make a butter board in just minutes & be ready to fall in love with this sweet, spicy, & creamy recipe.

    Cutting board topped with soft butter and toppings next to sliced bread and butter knife.

    This one has a ton of wow with very little effort. The combination of creamy butter with a few salty ingredients plus hot honey for sweet heat has it all. Now I am calling upon all bread and butter lovers to get "on board"...see what I did there...with this recipe?!

    Butter boards are fantastic as an appetizer or first course. This recipe would go well with any Italian or French dinner. It is also ideal for dinner parties, gatherings, & potlucks. Everyone will love how beautiful it looks and how amazing it tastes. The bonus is that it is quick & easy to make - and can be made ahead of time too.

    Jump to:
    • What is a Butter Board?
    • Ingredients for a Butter Board
    • How to Make a Butter Board
    • What to Serve with a Butter Board
    • Substitutions
    • Other Ideas & Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storing & Make Ahead Ideas
    • Top Tips When Making a Butter Board
    • How to Make a Butter Board

    What is a Butter Board?

    If you haven't heard of butter boards before, you are not alone. They have hit social media like lightning and for good reason.

    Yes, I had to try out the new charcuterie-like trend & create one. And boy am I glad I did. This trending appetizer or first course takes bread and butter to a new gourmet level.

    Butter boards are simply put, a board smeared with butter and topped with a variety of ingredients for a pretty and flavorful spread. Fresh bread, butter, & tasty condiments have always been something our family loved so we knew this was so our thing.

    I love hot honey on bread, pizza, and biscuits. So that is where I started and the ending --- well you just need to make this to find out how this love of bread and butter story ends.

    Portrait of done butter board ready to eat with baguette and parsley in background.

    Ingredients for a Butter Board

    For this homemade butter board recipe, you will need the following ingredients. Keep in mind, you want fresh good quality ingredients when making this. This is true for all recipes but even more, the case when you are eating the ingredients simply and without cooking like for this recipe.

    Begin with the best quality butter you can afford. I recommend using salted butter even though we will be adding more as a topping. The butter will need to be softened to room temperature. It is also best to have the other ingredients at room temperature. For the sweet, salty, spicy, & fresh flavors that will be the toppings, here is what else you will need.

    Sweet & Spicy Butter Board Ingredients on a table.
    • Salted Butter - make sure it is good quality, soft, and at room-temperature.
    • Flaky Sea Salt - the crunchy bits of salt add flavor & texture. (regular table salt will not do)
    • Marinated Green & Black Olives - briney saltiness and color, make sure they are pitted.
    • Hot Honey - sweet, sticky, & spicy.
    • Chopped Fresh Parsley - the bright herb add freshness.
    • Baguette - sliced and served on the side.

    See the recipe card for quantities.

    How to Make a Butter Board

    Here are the easy steps to making a butter board. It only takes a few minutes once the ingredients are ready. Follow these simple steps when making a butter board:

    1. Prep Ingredients
    2. Spread & Swirl the Butter
    3. Sprinkle on the Toppings
    4. Serve with Bread & Crackers

    1 - Prep Ingredients

    Begin by bringing the butter and other ingredients to room temperature. It should take about an hour for the butter to be soft enough to spread and swirl. (depending on the temperature of your home at the time).

    My homemade Hot Honey is great on this. It is stored in the refrigerator so I bring this to room temperature too it can drizzle easily.

    I am using marinated olives that come in a packet from Trader Joe's. I like to use these because they have so much flavor versus plain olives. I cut and remove the pits

    Wash, chop, dice, etc whatever toppings you want to use. Remember to make them all small so they mix in with the butter when digging in.

    2- Spread & Swirl the Butter

    Once all the ingredients are ready it is time to spread and swirl the base of this recipe, the soft creamy butter. You will want a cutting board that is the right size for making a butter board. What size do you need?

    For 2 sticks of butter, a board of about 8x10 in size is good. It can be another shape like a 17x7 long wooden board with a handle similar to what I am using. Round, square, oblong, or any shaped wooden board is good for making a butter board.

    When smearing butter on your board, I like to use a spoon to do this. Why not a butter knife?

    I tried both and found the spoon to be so much easier. It was great to use the back end of the spoon for pressing the butter down to spread. But it was also perfect for the swirling design you want for a butter board.

    Using back of spoon to spread out soft butter on wooden board.

    Use the back of the spoon to flatten, spread, and press the soft butter on your cutting board.

    Sweet & Spicy Butter Board Using back of a spoon to create swirls in the soft butter.

    Once spread, use the back of the spoon to press and slightly push up at an angle. This will create little swirls.

    The swirls act like divots in the butter for a rustic design. They are also great for catching all those yummy toppings and drizzles that will be added next. Not to mention it adds texture and makes it look even more pretty.

    3 - Sprinkle on the Toppings

    Now it is time for the fun and yummy toppings. Now begin layering each ingredient one by one. As this builds up the colors and smells will really get you ready for this amazing recipe.

    Begin by sprinkling on the flaky sea salt. It will seem like a lot but you want that saltiness to enhance all the flavors. I use Maldon flaky sea salt.

    SPrinkle on the flaky sea salt.

    After the salt is done, next comes the olive mixture. Sprinkle on the chopped marinated olives. Again, sprinkle them evenly spaced over the butter board.

    Add the olives.

    Next, using a spoon drizzle the hot honey over the top of the olives. The amount in this recipe adds a bit of heat to the butter but is not overly spicy. If you like a lot of heat, add more. It is all about what you love and making it fantastic.

    Drizzling honey using a spoon on to the butter board.

    For the last topping, on goes the fresh chopped parsley. Just a little bit goes a long way. It adds freshness and the grassy flavor always pairs beautifully with butter.

    Hint: If you are serving that at a party, have extra toppings on the side. This way your guests can add a bit more of this or that to customize. Everyone knows someone that loves this crazy spicy or super salty - so really please your guests.

    Sweet & Spicy Butter Board Closeup of baguette slice topped with butter olives honey and parsley.

    What to Serve with a Butter Board

    Keep in mind, a butter board is not a dip. The butter will be swirled relatively thinly so you can use your butter knife to scoop some up and then spread it onto your bread. Place the cutting board topped with butter out with one or more butter knives to make eating it easy.

    You may see others dipping their bread in and smashing it around to get it coated, that is ok too but the original intent of the recipe is for it to be a gourmet spread.

    Bread is a must to have with any butter board. Offer gluten-free & regular bread to guests if serving this at a party. Fresh sliced crusty loaves of bread like baguettes, sourdough, & my homemade ciabatta recipe are my personal favorites.

    But you can also serve these other items along with your butter board.

    • Toasted Crostini
    • Rye Crisps
    • Fancy Crackers
    • Apple Slices
    • Biscuits or Scones
    • Keto Cornbread Chaffles or other cornbread
    • Waffles cut into strips

    Substitutions

    This butter board is fantastic as is. I really recommend you enjoy this combination of sweet, spicy, salty, crunchy, creamy, tangy, & herbaceous. Use any ingredients that are both colorful & offer different textures. Using what is in season also makes it more amazing.

    However, if you are missing an ingredient or need to adjust for dietary reasons, here are a few alternate ingredient ideas.

    • Green & Black Olives - you can use canned black olives that are already pitted for an easier & more kid-friendly version
    • Hot Honey - use plain honey & stir in some red chili flakes for the heat

    This recipe is already vegetarian & gluten-free. It is not vegan due to the real dairy butter and the hot honey.

    Sweet & Spicy Butter Board Can of black olives.

    Other Ideas & Variations

    Honestly, butter boards have an endless amount of variations that can be done with them. The ideas on what to top or mix into the butter are endless. I like to balance different flavors as I did with this one. Here are a few combinations of butter board ideas that are sure to be delicious.

    • Italian Deluxe- stir in a bit of pesto along with the butter for a bit of color and basil flavor
    • Nutty - add finely chopped pistachios for a crunchy nutty flavor
    • Kid-friendly - omit the hot honey and use regular honey
    • Fancy - add edible flowers for a pretty butter board perfect for wedding showers
    Sweet & Spicy Butter Board Overhead super close w butter knife and sliced breads.

    Equipment

    Grab your favorite or cutest cutting board for this butter spread recipe. I have a paddle-looking one with a handle. It is also on legs which makes it more fun and a real showstopping centerpiece.

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    KARRYOUNG Acacia Wood Cutting Board with Handle - Wooden Charcuterie Board for Bread, Meat, Fruits, Cheese and Serving Butcher Block Carving Board for Kitchen Chopping 17 x 7 Inch
    KARRYOUNG Acacia Wood Cutting Board with Handle - Wooden Charcuterie Board for Bread, Meat, Fruits, Cheese and Serving Butcher Block Carving Board for Kitchen Chopping 17 x 7 Inch
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    Acacia Wood Cutting Board with Handle Wooden Chopping Board Round Paddle Cutting Board for Meat Bread Serving Board Charcuterie Boards Chopping Blocks Circular Circle Carving Cutting Board
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    05/13/2025 12:46 pm GMT
    Mike's Hot Honey, America's #1 Brand of Hot Honey, Spicy Honey, All Natural 100% Pure Honey Infused with Chili Peppers, Gluten-Free, Paleo-Friendly (10oz Bottle, 1 Pack)
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    Maldon Salt, Sea Salt Flakes, 8.5 oz (240 g), Kosher, Natural, Handcrafted, Gourmet, Pyramid Crystals (Packaging May vary)
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    05/12/2025 04:31 pm GMT

    The Short Order Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps with the costs of running the blog. Thank you! 

    Storing & Make Ahead Ideas

    This recipe does not store well. You can make it about an hour before your guests arrive and let it sit at room temperature. The butter board will last for many hours during your party as long as it is in a cool location indoors or outdoors. If the weather or house is hot or too cold, it will be hard to spread the butter to serve it and enjoy it.

    If you want to assemble it ahead of time you can. Store it spread and topped in the refrigerator for up to 6 hours (depends on what sort of toppings you used). Bring it to room temperature about 30-60 minutes before you wish to serve it so the butter is spreadable.

    Top Tips When Making a Butter Board

    For easy cleanup or if you do not want to spread butter all over your fancy cutting board, use parchment paper. I actually did that for this recipe and for the photos. The parchment may move around a bit as people serve themselves so keep that in mind.

    Customize: Make it match the theme of the party, meal, or even. Try some of these butter board ideas:

    • Italian - top the butter with swirls of pesto, roasted garlic, & chopped sundried tomatoes.
    • Greek - top with feta crumbles, roasted chickpeas, & fresh mint.
    • Thanksgiving - top with cranberry sauce, orange zest, & chopped herbs.
    Butter board topped and ready to eat with sliced bread.

    I am so glad I caught Justine from Justine Snacks on GMA the other day. Otherwise, I never would have found something new to love. I hope you adore butter boards as much as I do now too. Let me know what you think and if you try any other combinations.

    Butter board with toppings and bread for spreading.

    How to Make a Butter Board

    Angela
    For the best sweet & spicy butter board try this easy recipe. This trending appetizer or first course takes bread and butter to a new gourmet level. It's creamy, salty, & irresistible.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American, French, Italian
    Servings 12

    Equipment

    • wooden cutting board

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 sticks salted butter room temperature
    • ⅓ cup marinated green & black olives chopped
    • 2 tablespoons hot honey
    • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
    • 1 baguette sliced into thin rounds
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Be sure all ingredients are at room temperature.
    • Grab a clean wooden cutting board. It will need to be about 8'x10" or another similar size so it can hold all the butter & toppings with room on the sizes for bread.
    • Use the back of the spoon to flatten, spread, and press the soft butter on your cutting board.
    • Once spread, use the back of the spoon to press and slightly push up at an angle. This will create little swirls.
    • Now add the toppings. Begin by sprinkling on the flaky sea salt.
    • Next, sprinkle on the olives in an even layer. Be sure to space them out a bit.
    • Drizzle on the hot honey so it is evenly distributed.
    • Lastly, sprinkle on the fresh minced parsley.
    • Serve with sliced baguette. See the section about for other ideas on what to serve with this butter board.

    Notes

    Nutritional info will vary based on the bread used and how big the slices/servings are per person. 
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Servings: 12
    Amount per serving  
    Calories 282
    % Daily Value*
    Total Fat 15.8g 20%
    Saturated Fat 9.8g 49%
    Cholesterol 40mg 13%
    Sodium 523mg 23%
    Total Carbohydrate 31.4g 11%
    Dietary Fiber 1.2g 4%
    Total Sugars 3.9g  
    Protein 4.3g  
    Vitamin D 11mcg 53%
    Calcium 13mg 1%
    Iron 2mg 12%
    Potassium 9mg 0%
    *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.
    Keyword appetizer, easy, first course, gluten-free, salty, spicy, sweet
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Theresa says

      October 02, 2022 at 1:49 pm

      5 stars
      My first butter board. It was really good served with Carr water crackers & sourdough bread.

      Reply
    2. Julie says

      October 14, 2022 at 1:57 pm

      5 stars
      Looks fun. I saw this on Facebook and want to try it. Sounds silly but can I make a margarine board? I cannot have dairy so I use margarine.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        October 14, 2022 at 2:03 pm

        I am glad you found this new recipe. Margarine does have a different molecular combination than butter. Margarine is already soft even when not at room temperature. When margarine is left out, the oils/waters and solids will separate. If you wish to try this as a butter board, I recommend assembling it and eating it immediately. Any not eaten within 5 minutes should be returned to the refrigerator to keep chilled. If you are the only one with the dairy allergy - maybe make a personal size for yourself. Enjoy

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. As a former personal chef & caterer, I specialize in family recipes that taste great & are easy to make. I rely on my trusty stool every day to create & test recipes I know you will love.

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