Butter boards are such a fun, entertaining way to serve guests for a gathering. Learn how to make a butter board, what to serve with a butter board, and all the best seasonal variations.

If you love a traditional charcuterie board, you’re going to love this concept too. It’s such a fun, flexible way to create a delicious spread for friends and family!

Learn how to style your butter board along with delicious accompaniment ideas and so much more, in this complete guide.

A butter board, arranged on a wooden board, with a plate of bread nearby

Who doesn’t love a charcuterie board? They’ve taken the entertaining world by storm over the past couple years, and it’s such a fun way to serve delicious eats for a party.

Butter boards are similar in concept, but have burst onto the scene more recently. They are equally craveable, but a little more affordable and easier to put together on a whim.

Much like these cute jarcuterie appetizers, part of the fun is in the flexibility. We put together our butter boards with a few variations – one is for any time of the year, one is for fall, and one is for the holidays.

I hope this guide inspires you to create your own butter boards in the coming months. Take this concept and make it your own! Let’s learn how to make them together, with a few easy tips and tricks along the way.

Use the drop down Table of Contents menu to navigate this post. It’s jam-packed with information to help you get creative!

A butter board shaped into a Christmas tree, placed on a wooden board.

What is a Butter Board?

First of all… what is it? Butter boards are simply a cutting board or platter, smeared with softened butter throughout the center. As you can see throughout this post, you can get creative with the shape of your butter, or keep it simple.

They are then topped with all the delicious toppings you can imagine – from savory to sweet, the options are endless. People are dipping and smearing everything from breads, to crackers, cookies, fruits and veggies in their butter boards.

The concept is simple and the flavors are on point. Who can argue with butter, right? Let’s dive in!

A butter board for fall, topped with pumpkin puree and spices

Why You’ll Love Them

  • Easy to Make
  • More Affordable than Traditional Charcuterie
  • Savory or Sweet
  • Vegetarian
  • Guests can Dip, Swirl, or Spread
  • Make it Ahead!
A Christmas butter board, placed on a wooden charcuterie board and shaped into a Christmas tree.

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Butter – You can’t have a butter board without the butter, right? Salted or unsalted, because of course, you’ll add your own seasonings either way. Learn How to Make Homemade Butter, and How to Soften Butter Quickly.
  • Toppings – We’ll walk you through three easy variations, plus a variety of additional toppings below.

Traditional Butter Board Toppings

  • Parsley
  • Shallots
  • Lavender Buds – (ensure they are edible)
  • Rose Petals (ensure you choose an edible brand)
  • Honey
  • Big Salt Flakes
  • Serve this one with homemade Crostini
A butter board, arranged on a wooden board, with a plate of bread nearby

Fall Butter Board Toppings

  • Pureed Pumpkin
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • Brown Sugar
  • Oregano (for stem)
  • Candied Nuts – optional
  • Serve this one with Vanilla Wafers
A butter board for fall, topped with pumpkin puree and spices, nilla wafers in the foreground

Holiday Butter Board Toppings

  • Craisins – Dried cranberries or anything similar
  • Rosemary – Fresh, chopped
  • Orange Zest
  • White Cheddar Cheese – (Or any favorite cheese.) Cut into a star for the tree topper with a cookie cutter!
  • Nuts – For the “trunk” – or get creative with pretzel sticks, etc
A Christmas butter board, placed on a wooden charcuterie board and shaped into a Christmas tree.

How to Make a Butter Board

  1. Spread the softened butter on a wooden or marble cutting board. The beginning of a butter board, with a blue linen towel in the background
  2. Use a butter knife to swirl the butter into the pretty-looking pattern of your choosing.
    • To spread butter into the shape of a pumpkin, create two ovals side by side and blend together. A butter board topped with pumpkin puree, placed on a marble countertop
    • To create the Christmas tree shape, break your butter into tablespoons – use just one for the tip of the triangle, and three at the base. Butter on a wooden serving board, with a knife spreading it into a tree shape
  3. Add your toppings. The beginning of a butter board, with a blue linen towel in the background, honey being drizzled over the topThe beginning of a butter board, with a blue linen towel in the backgroundA Christmas butter board, placed on a wooden charcuterie board and shaped into a Christmas tree.
    • For the fall board, swirl the pumpkin and spices in an up and down motion to create the look of natural pumpkin ridges.
A butter board for fall, topped with pumpkin puree and spices, nilla wafers in the foreground

Tips

  • Softened butter is very important for the perfect spread!
  • Use an icing spreader or any type of wider, flat spreader to create smooth waves of butter on your board.
  • Starting with a flavored butter would be so much fun – see my list of homemade flavored butters below.
  • Let your imagination run wild with the toppings! There are so many fun ways to personalize these boards.
  • Keep in mind, the oil from the butter can soak into marble or wood, changing the finish long-term.
A Christmas butter board, placed on a wooden charcuterie board and shaped into a Christmas tree.

More Butter Board Topping Inspiration

  • Fresh Herbs – think chives, rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano and more! Dried herbs work as well.
  • Fresh Flowers – edible flowers are available in the herb section of your grocer.
  • Pureed Pumpkin
  • Pie Filling
  • Spices and Seasonings – Check out all my best homemade seasoning blends.
  • Figs
  • Chocolate shavings
  • Seeds – pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame etc
  • Thinly Sliced Radishes or Onions
  • Berries- fresh or dried. Cranberries, Craisins, etc are great for these.
  • Chopped Nuts – Pecans, walnuts, almonds, and more!
  • Honey – Try hot honey for a fabulous addition.
  • Jams and Jellies
  • Roasted Garlic
  • Citrus Zest
  • Cheese – Because what could be better than butter and cheese combined?
A butter board, arranged on a wooden board, with a plate of bread nearby

What to Serve with a Butter Board

How to Store

  • Room Temperature – Butter can sit out at room temperature for up to two days.
  • Refrigerator – You can wrap your leftover butter airtight and store in the refrigerator for up to a week!

Sources

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Wood Board

12″ Round, $18

Marble Board

11″, $24

Rectangular Wood Board

17″x11″, $19.99

A graphic image combining three different pictures of butter boards - one for Christmas, one traditional, and one in the shape of a pumpkin
5 from 2 votes

How to Make a Butter Board

Butter boards are such a fun, entertaining way to serve guests for a gathering. Learn how to make a butter board, what to serve with a butter board, and all the best seasonal variations.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 8
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Ingredients  

  • ½ cup butter softened (one stick) salted or unsalted

Traditional Board Toppings:

  • 1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley
  • 2 tablespoons Shallots sliced thin
  • Edible Flowers We used dried rose petals and lavender buds
  • 1 tablespoon Honey
  • ½ teaspoon Salt Large chunky flakes
  • Crostini (For serving)

Fall Board Toppings:

  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 stem fresh oregano for pumpkin stem
  • ¼ cup nuts Optional

Holiday Board Toppings:

  • ¼ cup Craisins
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh Rosemary chopped
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons nuts for tree trunk, optional
  • 1 cheese star white cheddar, cut out with cookie cutter

Instructions 

  • Spread the softened butter on a wooden or marble cutting board.
  • Use a butter knife to swirl the butter into the pretty-looking pattern of your choosing.
  • Add your toppings.
  • *To spread butter into the shape of a pumpkin, create two ovals side by side and blend together.
  • *To create the Christmas tree shape, break your butter into tablespoons – use just one for the tip of the triangle, and three at the base.
  • *For the fall board, swirl the pumpkin and spices in an up and down motion to create the look of natural pumpkin ridges.

Tips

  • Softened butter is very important for the perfect spread!
  • Use an icing spreader or any type of wider, flat spreader to create smooth waves of butter on your board.
  • Starting with a flavored butter would be so much fun – see my list of homemade flavored butters below.
  • Let your imagination run wild with the toppings! There are so many fun ways to personalize these boards.
  • Keep in mind, the oil from the butter can soak into marble or wood, changing the finish long-term.

Video

Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 387mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 5180IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

Equipment

1 wooden or marble board for serving

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