Delicious and Easy Compound Butters for Neighbor Gifts

Looking for a unique and savory neighbor gift this year? Skip the cookie marathon and try something fresh, flavorful delicious easy and homemade: compound butters! This year, I made Herb Butter, Cranberry Orange Butter, and Orange Cinnamon Honey Butter, and they turned out absolutely amazing. These butters are not only easy to make in a Cuisinart but also elevate any meal or snack. Plus, they’re wrapped so adorably, they’ll wow your neighbors before they even taste them! Let me show you how to make and package these buttery delights.

Herb Butter Recipe

This versatile butter is perfect for spreading on bread, topping roasted vegetables, or melting over a steak. Here’s how I made it:

• Ingredients:
  • 4 sticks (1 lb) of butter, softened
  • ½ cup fresh herbs (measured before chopping)
  • A mix of thyme, basil, rosemary, parsley, and sage (feel free to use your favorites!)
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • ½ tsp beer can chicken seasoning
• Instructions:
  1. Place the softened butter in a Cuisinart.
  2. Add the herbs, salt, and seasoning.
  3. Pulse until the herbs are evenly distributed throughout the butter.

Orange Cinnamon Honey Butter Recipe

This sweet butter is dreamy on warm rolls or pancakes and smells like Christmas morning!

• Ingredients:
  • 4 sticks (1 lb) of butter, softened
  • Zest of 2 small oranges
  • Juice of 1 small orange
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • ⅛ cup powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
• Instructions:
  1. Place all ingredients into the Cuisinart.
  2. Pulse until everything is creamy and smooth.

Cranberry Orange Butter Recipe

A tart and sweet combination that’s perfect for bagels or scones.

• Ingredients:
  • 4 sticks (1 lb) of butter, softened
  • ½ cup fresh cranberries
  • Zest of 2 small oranges
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • ⅛ cup powdered sugar
• Instructions:
  1. Combine all ingredients in the Cuisinart.
  2. Pulse until the cranberries are finely chopped and the mixture is well blended.

How to Package Compound Butters

Once the butters are made, it’s time to package them into charming gifts your neighbors will love.

1. Form the Butter Logs:
   • Scoop the butter onto a sheet of waxed paper.
   • Roll the butter into a log shape.
   • Use a straight edge (like a cookie sheet) to push the butter evenly into a smooth log.
   • Seal the waxed paper with a piece of tape.
   • Twist the ends of the waxed paper and tie them with baker’s twine.

1. Add a Personal Touch:
   • Place a cute sticker over the log for an extra polished look.
   • Pair each butter log with a fresh baguette in a clear gift bag.
   • Tie the bag with a festive bow and attach a tag.
2. Gift Tags:
   • I found some adorable printable gift tags on Lia Griffith’s blog (https://liagriffith.com) and World Label’s Christmas Label PDF (https://blog.worldlabel.com/Christmas-labels.pdf).
   • Both resources offer customizable options so you can add personal touches to your tags.

Why Compound Butters Make the Perfect Gift

These compound butters are delicious, easy, unique and a thoughtful alternative to traditional baked goods. They’re practical and a delightful treat your neighbors will actually use. Plus, they’re a breeze to make with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.

This year, gifting these homemade compound butters with a fresh baguette was a game-changer for me. They’re savory, sweet, and oh-so-simple to create. I’m sure they’ll be a hit with your neighbors, too!

Have you ever made compound butter before? I’d love to hear your favorite flavor combinations in the comments!