Vanilla bean compound butter is the perfect way to elevate your culinary creations, adding a rich and aromatic touch that transforms everyday dishes into gourmet delights. With its simple preparation and endless versatility, this flavorful butter is a must-try for toast, pancakes, rolls, and muffins, as well as savory dishes.
Vanilla Bean Compound Butter: A Flavorful Fusion
Compound butter is a versatile blend of softened butter with flavorings such as vanilla beans, herbs, spices, garlic, citrus zest, or sweet elements like honey and fruit preserves. This recipe for vanilla bean compound butter uses butter, vanilla beans, and honey to create a delightful concoction. It is delicious on bread, pancakes, toast, and savory foods such as roasted vegetables.
The Simplicity of Making Flavored Butters
One of the appeals of flavored butters is their simplicity. You can add sophistication to your meals with just a few minutes of prep time, with no advanced culinary skills or elaborate equipment required. Simply soften the butter, mix in your desired flavorings, and shape it into a log to chill or place it in a container to serve it soft and spreadable. For added visual appeal, consider rolling the butter in herbs or spices. Once prepared, flavored butters can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks or frozen for extended enjoyment.
Mixing Vanilla Bean Compound Butter
To prepare vanilla bean compound butter, you can mix it by hand or with a mixer, depending on the butter’s softness. If the butter is sufficiently softened, it will blend easily with the vanilla beans and honey by hand. However, if it is still firm, a mixer will help incorporate the flavors.
Adding Vanilla Beans
This recipe uses vanilla beans to add flavor. However, you can substitute vanilla bean paste to infuse this flavor if you do not have vanilla beans.
Extracting the Vanilla Beans
To extract the beans from a vanilla pod, make a lengthwise cut from tip to tip along one side of the pod. Gently open the pod at the cut and scrape out half of the beans, reserving the rest for another recipe. Next, add the scraped beans to the butter.
Adding Honey to Vanilla Bean Compound Butter
Honey is the sweetener for this butter. I recommend using lavender honey for a delicious taste, but other honey flavors are also tasty.
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Lavender Vanilla Honey Butter
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ vanilla bean–beans scraped out (or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste)
- 1 tablespoon lavender honey
Instructions
- Let the butter come to room temperature for about an hour or until soft.
- Stir all ingredients together until well-mixed. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate for 30 minutes to harden.