A simple steak can be transformed by a disc of herby butter popped on top in the last minute or so of cooking.

A warm. pancake with a little maple syrup or honey butter popped inside just before rolling up crepe style. Ahhmmmmazing.

I was chatting to some friends recently and not one of them had tried making flavoured butters before. Some had bought some ( typically garlic butter) or tried some in restaurants but considering its so easy to do I was amazed none of them did it.

So I’m doing what I always do. Blogging about it.

To make flavoured butter all you need is a stick of butter and your choice of herbs/flavour. Make sure first of all that your butter is soft. Wash and chop your herbs finely or use dried herbs. Here are just a few suggestions of butter/flavour combos:

Tarragon Butter – perfect for chicken or steak dishes
Rosemary & Garlic Butter – great for chicken dishes or potatoes
Honey Butter – great for spreading on warm, homemade bread. It’s delicious.

You could also do spiced butter:

Cinnamon Butter – lovely on top of toast or to use in a special bread n butter pudding
Ginger Butter – haven’t tried this yet but like the idea

Hot butters:

Chilli butter – great for lots of dishes but be sparing with the chilli flakes!

Or a zesty one:

Orange zest butter – great for basting a roast chicken
Lemon zest butter – brilliant for fish.

Soften your butter in a bowl and add your diced herbs or spices and mix thoroughly. Turn out onto a section of cling film and using the cling film ( or it will get messy) make into a sausage shape and completely cover with cling film. Twist or tie both ends. Place in the fridge or freezer. I tend to freeze mine and cut off a section as and when I need it.

Garlic & Herb Butter:

Cinnamon butter:

I used Kerrygold for my rosemary, thyme and garlic butter and for my cinnamon butter.

Kerrygold butter has had a bit of a makeover with the helpful of renowned Irish fashion designer Orla Kiely so why not pretty up your fridge while using the gorgeous Irish butter.

I’m sure there a are a million and one different flavour combos for you to try so go wild and experiment a bit.

* I was sent a voucher to try out the new Kerrygold.