Swap the dish for Christmas shapes! Make a shaped butter spread using cookie cutters

Butter up your guests! This holiday touch will make your party extra festive. Pull out the Christmas cookie cutters and start shaping! This holiday butter display will wow your guests. We know it tastes good… but now your butter will look good, too!

Studio 5 Food Editor Maddy Tolman shared how to shape your butter. You don’t have to live with boring butter rectangles. It’s better when it’s shaped. We’ll show you how to make this festive spread.

Shaped Butter Instructions

1. Prepare Your Dish: Start by lining a Tupperware dish or an 8×8 pan with parchment paper. This will make it easier to remove the butter once it’s shaped.
2. Soften the Butter: Take 3-4 sticks of butter and let them soften at room temperature. You want the butter to be soft enough to spread easily but not melted. Once softened, spread the butter evenly in your prepared dish. Aim for a thickness of about 1 inch.
3. Smooth the Butter: Use the back of a spoon to smooth the surface of the butter. This step is important to ensure that your shapes come out clean and neat.
4. Chill the Butter: Place the dish in the refrigerator and let the butter harden completely. This might take a few hours, so it’s best to plan ahead. The butter needs to be firm for the next step.
5. Shape the Butter: Once the butter is firm, it’s time to get creative. Choose simple Christmas cookie cutters, such as a tree, mitten, or snowflake. Intricate designs might be harder to keep intact. Press the cookie cutter into the butter firmly, then carefully remove the shape. Use a spoon to gently push the butter out of the cutter, being careful not to touch the butter directly to avoid leaving fingerprints.
6. Decorate the Butter: Now for the fun part—decorating! Use parchment paper to cover parts of the butter shapes and sprinkle with spices. Choose spices that complement the flavor of butter, such as cinnamon, thyme, peppercorns, or paprika. Avoid strong spices like cayenne pepper, as they might not pair well with butter on a dinner roll.
7. Store Until Serving: Keep your shaped and decorated butter in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. This will help maintain their shape and keep them looking fresh.