My fiancé likes to joke that my diet is mainly comprised of gluten-free pasta and bread, olive oil, and butter. And in all honesty, he’s not wrong. I do love all of those things and consume them on a regular basis, and I slather butter on pretty much everything. So when I heard about TikTok’s viral butter board trend, I knew I had to try it.
According to the internet, butter boards are the new charcuterie. There’s a good reason for this: They’re simple, delicious, and make the perfect appetizer or snack. And while I will always be partial to a good charcuterie board (there’s nothing I love more than pairing cheese with Prosciutto or Soppressata), I’ll admit that the pure simplicity of butter boards has my heart at the moment.
That being said, if you’re curious about the appetizer that’s taken over the internet, you’ve come to the right place. Below I’ve broken down everything there is to know about the viral trend and how to make your own; plus, I’ve also included my go-to butter board recipe. Keep scrolling to learn more.
Everything you need to know about the viral TikTok butter board trend:
What exactly is a butter board?
A butter board is exactly what it sounds like: a soft, buttery spread on top of a wooden cutting board or marble slab that’s garnished with a variety of herbs, spices, fruits, jams—pretty much anything you can think of. This spread is then served with some warm bread that’s used to dip into the buttery goodness.
Justine Dorion—the Brooklyn-based recipe developer and blogger who’s own butter board video helped popularize the trend—tells The New York Times, “It’s basically a glorified stick of butter.”
Dorion also went on to say that she first learned about the idea from chef and cookbook author Joshua McFadden, who’s the original creator of the butter board. The chef first shared the idea in his 2017 cookbook, Six Seasons: A New Way With Vegetables. In an Instagram post, he said that this “herbed” butter has been his go-to starter at dinner parties for years.
Why they’re so popular:
One of the biggest reasons butter boards are going viral is due to their sheer simplicity. You don’t need very many ingredients in order to make a tasty spread, nor do you need to spend a small fortune. After all, anyone who’s ever made a charcuterie board knows that they can cost a pretty penny. And with prices skyrocketing everywhere, butter boards are an effective and affordable option. Plus, they’re super versatile—they can be literally anything you want!
I’m also a fan of them because I can whip them up so quickly. I eat a lot of carbs because it’s what my body responds best to, so I have bread and butter or bread with garlic and oil on a regular basis (read: pretty much every day). I love how I can elevate something I normally eat and add additional nutrients in there as well. Personally, I love sharing a butter board with my fiancé as a snack or appetizer, or putting it out during Sunday dinner with my family.
What goes into a butter board:
Although there are no rules for making a butter board, you do need a few staples. The first would be butter (obviously), and McFadden recommends using room temperature butter for your spread. Remember: It should be soft and spreadable, not runny and melted. You can easily achieve this by leaving your butter out for an hour before cooking. Or, if you’re in a pinch, place some butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heating up for 5-10 seconds.
In addition, you’ll also need either a wooden cutting board or marble slab. Admittedly, wooden boards have a more rustic appeal, but they can get dirty quickly, so try laying down wax paper in order to combat that.
Lastly, you’ll need bread for dipping. Of course it doesn’t have to be bread—you can opt for carrots, celery, etc. if you’re looking for a healthier option, but I highly recommend trying the bread first. (You won’t be disappointed!)
How to make your own butter board:
Once you have your main staples, the fun can begin! Begin by using the back of a spoon or spatula to spread the butter on top of the board like you would frosting on a cake. Once you’ve done that, you can move on to toppings, which can be anything you want—herbs and spices, edible flowers, nuts, onions or garlic, honey, etc. Think about what flavor profile you’re going for (salty, sweet, bitter, sour, etc.) and which pairings will go best together. In addition, be sure to chop everything into little pieces.
My go-to butter board:
It didn’t take me very long to come up with a savory butter board of my own making. If you appreciate rich, decadent flavors, you’ll love this recipe. I have to be gluten and dairy-free, so my personal recipe obviously reflects that, but you’re welcome to use regular butter and bread if you wish.
Ingredients:
- Dairy-free/vegan butter. I use SmartBalance or Earth Balance.
- 1 Schar gluten-free baguette. This is my favorite bread for dipping, but you can use any kind.
- Roasted artichoke hearts. I roast mine in the oven beforehand so they’re fresh at 400°F for a total of 30 minutes, flipping halfway through. Prior to popping them in, I’ll toss them in olive oil, then mix them all around with salt and black pepper.
- Chopped garlic. Minced garlic works fine here too.
- Lemon juice. You can also use a lemon for zesting, but this is just easier.
- Sea salt and mixed peppercorns. Salt is your BFF here.
- Kalamata olives. I love olives and these pair wonderfully.
- Olive oil. This is the final ingredient that brings everything together.
How to make it:
- Remove butter from fridge and roast artichoke hearts in oven following the directions above. When they’re done, promptly remove from oven and turn it off, then scoop the artichoke hearts off of the tray and onto a separate plate. Set aside, then place baguette on the same tray and pop it in the oven (with the heat still off) to warm up the bread—not toast it or burn it—while you make your butter board.
- Grab a marble slab or cutting board, and use a big spoon to drop butter onto it, then spread it around using the back of the spoon. Once you’re satisfied, sprinkle on a generous amount of salt, drizzle on some lemon juice, then sprinkle on some more salt and mixed peppercorns.
- Slice up roasted artichoke hearts and place on top of butter, then do the same with the garlic (if it’s not chopped already), followed by the kalamata olives; add more salt if needed.
- Drizzle on olive oil, then remove bread from oven and cut into slices.
- Serve immediately while bread is still warm and enjoy!
In conclusion…
Will I ever let butter boards replace charcuterie boards in my life? It’s highly unlikely; I’m just too big a meat, cheese, olive, honey, and jam lover for that. But will I be rotating butter boards in and out of my life from now on? Absolutely!
