Spread the word! Butter boards, topped with vibrant, delicious delights are sweeping the nation.
If you haven’t already seen this trend on TikTok, a butter board is all about fresh butter being spread onto a board, before being decorated with an assortment of toppings, served with bread for dipping.
Before going viral on TikTok, the invention is credited to the cookbook Six Seasons: A New Way With Vegetables by Joshua McFadden. While for us, it will never replace the charcuterie board, these photogenic sharing platters are perfect for gatherings and a novel way of serving bread. They’re also great for a celebratory vegetarian feast, too, which was the original point.
As butter is the star of the show, it’s worth sourcing the good stuff. A regular old butter spread isn’t going to cut it here. Our friends at Trewithen Dairy tell us that their luxuriously smooth and rich salted butter is ideal for a butter board.
The butter fat content in the Cornish cream used to make their butter gives it such an exceptional mouthfeel and transforms a hunk of bread into something very special indeed.
Moreovever, Trewithen’s butter is enhanced further with the addition of Cornish sea salt, which is hand-harvested from the ocean waters west of the Tamar. The salt’s unique, concentrated flavour enhances anything it is paired with. Indeed, it is this rich complexity of flavour that brings Trewithen Dairy butter to life.
With the help of Trewithen, here’s how to make the IDEAL butter board, alongside some recipe ideas that we’ve churned out (sorry).
How To Make A Butter Board
- Soften a block of butter so it is spreadable but still firm
- Take your favourite wooden board or sharing platter and spread the butter onto the board
- Using a spoon, create ripples and grooves in the butter to fill with your toppings
- Top with an assortment of delicious delights
- Serve with slices of French baguette for dragging, dipping and spreading
Butter Board Pairing & Flavour Ideas
Though this is a trend which has a ‘no holds barred’ feel to it, you shouldn’t simply throw everything you’ve got at your board and hope for the best. Instead, try to pair considerately and thoughtfully, using ingredients that go well together. Here are just a few ideas…
Savoury
- Chilli flakes, anchovies, rosemary, lemon zest, crispy bacon
- Olive tapenade, sun dried tomatoes, red onion slices, fresh basil, olive oil
- Chutney, walnuts, crispy sage, balsamic glaze, orange zest
Sweet
- Banana slices, caramel sauce, digestive biscuits
- Caramelised figs, orange zest, maple syrup
- Raspberry jam, crumbled shortcakes and desiccated coconut
The Breakfast Butter Board
For an indulgent brekkie, try raspberry jam, fresh raspberries, orange Zest, maple syrup and croissants for dipping.
The Appetiser Butter Board
Serve up an appetiser board of Gordal olives, red peppers from a jar, crispy sage leaves, toasted pine nuts and olive oil for drizzling, to really impress (or befuddle) your dinner party guests.
The Sunday Brunch Butter Board
For a Sunday brunch with a difference, a board of Nutella, toasted hazelnuts, slices of banana and toasted French bread could really hit the spot.
The Bottom Line
Of course, these are only a few ideas of the places you can take a butter board. Whether savoury or sweet, sharing or solo (which would, admittedly, be pretty indulgent), this Tik Tok trend looks here to stay, and we’re certainly not complaining!
Speaking of the wisdom of the world’s most popular social media platform, here are some top Tik Tok tips for getting the best sleep.
