As a well-loved but relatively humble kitchen staple, butter is in the middle of a resurgence in popularity in everything—from being slathered on a fresh slice of sourdough to forming the surprising centerpiece of our tablescapes. It’s clear butter is no longer a supporting act: it’s a star.

Homemade Butter

Try your hand at making your own delicious butter from scratch; it’s simpler than you might think! Making your own lets you control the flavor and texture—and if you want to add an extra ingredient, it’s easy to experiment with different flavors. 

Not only that, it’s incredibly satisfying, and all you need is heavy cream and something to mix with—like your stand mixer.

Just follow 5 simple steps to make homemade butter in your KitchenAid Stand Mixer: whisk the milk until it separates into cream, press and knead to remove excess buttermilk, rinse in clean, cold water, and add any flavors or salt you desire.

Experiment with Flavored or Compound Butters

Compound butters combine the rich creaminess of butter with herbs, spices or other ingredients that pack a flavorful punch. Savory or sweet, compound butters are often rolled into a log form for easy slicing. 

Try adding herbs like garlic or thyme, spices like chipotle chile powder or paprika, vegetables like shallots, truffles, maple syrup or even cheeses like parmesan or Gorgonzola to create your own flavor profile. The possibilities are endless, from spicy-tangy Chile Lime to nutty-savory Cheesy Parmesan or smoky Barbecue compound butters.

Transform Butter into Brown Butter

A butter trend now beginning to gain traction is sure to be one to try in 2025: Brown Butter. Also called beurre noisette in French, brown butter is a staple ingredient in French cuisine. The revamped butter adds depth and complexity to anything it’s used in, and as a bonus, it’s simple to make.

Just melt the butter over low heat until the water is cooked out and the milk solids are caramelized for butter with even more rich, nutty flavor. Try it in cookies, in your latte, or finish off a butternut squash soup with it; you’ll be hooked!

Delicious, Decorative Butter Appetizers

Is there anything better than a bite of warm, pillowy bread slathered in rich butter? Maybe one thing: when that butter comes from a beautiful display, tantalizing your tastebuds and your eyes.

Spread the Love with a Butter Board

Whether it’s regular salted butter or a freshly made compound butter, the Butter Board, a trend that originated in 2022, continues to be a beautiful and simple way to serve up a classic appetizer: bread and butter. 

Creating your own butter board is as simple as spreading softened butter on a charcuterie board and sprinkling it with various ingredients, depending on if you want your butter board to be savory or sweet.

For a savory board, garnish the butter with flaky salt, seeds, spices, vegetables, or edible flowers. Serve with sliced bread, crackers or with crunchy vegetables like carrots or radishes.

For a sweeter board, garnish with pockets of salt, honey, jam or fruits. Or, if you want to transform it into a dessert board, swap out your butter for a buttercream frosting and serve with little cupcakes, cookies and other sweets.

And if you’re feeling particularly creative, vary the way you smooth, spread and sculpt your butter to look like flowers, an ocean wave, or mold the butter into a fun shape. Crafting your own butter board means you can make it with anything, with as few or as many ingredients as you like.

Make a Butter Candle Centerpiece 

Meet the decorative centerpiece that only gets more delicious as it melts! The butter candle is exactly what it sounds like: a pillar of butter with a candle wick, but as you burn it, the butter softens and melts into a decadent consistency, perfect for slathering on a slice of sourdough.

Much like a butter board, you can easily customize your butter candle with as many different ingredients as you like, or shape the whole thing from a compound butter. Just make sure you choose a food-safe wick when you make yours!

Mold and Sculpt Your Butter for Maximum Effect

The internet’s obsession with butter continues with the trend of molding and sculpting butter. Once reserved for State Fairs, the butter sculpture has found its way into our homes with small, playful pats of butter that are equal parts delicious and art.

And it’s not just foodies getting in on the action; food stylists and set designers have been including these photogenic butter bites in their photography to add a touch of whimsy.

Whether you tackle this trend by carving it by hand, or soften the butter before packing it into individual molds and refrigerating them to set, it’s a fun way to add a little more personality to your plate.

Drink Your Butter in Your Morning Cup

Coffee and butter lovers unite! One trendy way of consuming your morning wake-up or afternoon pick-me-up is by adding butter and coconut oil to coffee instead of cream, for a delicious beverage that looks and tastes kind of like a latte. Just brew your coffee using your preferred method, add 1-2 tablespoons of butter and coconut oil, and blend until frothy and well-combined!

Embrace the Nostalgia of Butter Recipes

There’s something so warm and cozy about digging into a recipe made with a lot of butter—like something your grandmother used to make. So it shouldn’t be any surprise that retro, butter-filled recipes are making a comeback, like shortbread cookies, butter pecan cake, quiches or butterhorn rolls.

To get in on the warmth, try these flaky butter biscuits.

Not in the mood for breakfast? Bake up a sweet loaf of brioche, or some croissants to enjoy slathered in butter. Or get into the retro mood and churn up some thick, rich buttercream frosting for cupcakes, or make a modern take on shortbread with Yuzu Shortbread.

Color of the Year 2025

Savor the Moment with Butter

Inspired by the most lovable ingredient of all, Butter is more than an indulgent, joyful color. It's an invitation to savor life's simple heartfelt moments. So add a touch of Butter to your life, and turn everyday experiences into something truly comforting.