Better Butter: How to Make Homemade Mantequilla

The best gifts are from the heart and the best way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach. You’ve made the cookies, the sweet and spicy nuts, granolas, and a dozen cake-in-a-jar’s. What’s left? Compound butters! A mixture of sweet and savory spices with creamy butter is as delicious as it sounds. From Coconut Dulce de Leche to Serrano, these butters are the perfect gift!

Starting with the sweet, Coconut Dulce de Leche Butter is perfect smeared on toast, a waffle, or in a crumble. Shredded coconut is swirled with unsalted butter and creamy, luscious, sweet dulce de leche, creating a butter that makes everything you top it with a sweet treat.  Turn any snack into an exciting bite with Rum Panela Butter. This butter has a rich flavor thanks to the shredded panela and shot of rum for a butter that is slightly less sweet but just as delicious. And for your fall-loving friends make a batch of Pumpkin Spice Butter. Pumpkin puree is mixed with butter, cinnamon, ancho for spice, and sweet agave for a butter that is both sweet and savory.

Raid the bar for this tequila butter. Chile Lime Tequila Butter, perfect on grilled chicken thighs, has a smokey and slightly spicy flavor evened out by smooth tequila. And for your friend that loves steaks and everything full of spice, make a batch of Serrano Butter. Fresh minced serrano is added to unsalted butter along with fresh roasted garlic and white pepper making a butter that will add intense flavor to any filet or veggie stir fry you put it up against.

Do your loved ones a favor and spice up their kitchens with a flavorful, homemade compound butter. Pack them in festive jars, label them with their ingredients, and give them as a set or as small stocking stuffers. Wishing you a happy (and delicious!) holiday.

Next, five compound butter recipes…

Coconut Dulce de Leche Butter

• 1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup dulce de leche
• 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

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Rum Panela Butter

• 1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
• 1/3 cup packed shredded panela
• 1 1/2 tablespoons rum
• 1/2 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

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Serrano Butter

• 1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons ground white pepper
• 1 serrano pepper,  minced
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil
• 4 garlic cloves, skin on

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Pumpkin Spice Butter

• 1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons agave
• 1/4 teaspoon ancho

Get the full recipe.