Cranberry Orange Honey Butter
An easy way to dress up a simple breakfast is with some delicious compound butter, a fancy phrase for butter with goodies in it! This Cranberry Orange Honey Butter is our favorite, all year round.
You might think the combination of cranberry and orange in a compound butter sounds like Christmas flavors but that would be a mistake…we love this combination all year round. Add some honey to those two and this Cranberry Orange Honey Butter will be a sweet favorite for your breakfast table from January through December too.
Maybe the special part about making it over the holidays is that it’s great for gift giving. My friends and neighbors look forward each holiday to what I’ll give them from my kitchen; this Cranberry Orange Honey Butter is one they also pleaded with me for the recipe. OK, here it is…for EVERYONE!
Ingredients needed:
- Finely chopped dried cranberries: Fresh is best but if yours have been around for awhile, soak them for a bit in cranberry juice or water to add some moisture.
- Honey: Let’s make it sweet…no honey? Try maple syrup!
- Vanilla: Just a smidgen but I think it makes for a more complex and delicious flavor.
- Orange zest: The addition of citrus makes it bright and especially flavorful.
- Butter: If you use salted, just omit the Kosher salt from the ingredients.
- Kosher salt: To bring out the other flavors.
I seldom take ingredient shots…I thought I would for this post because they were so every day and easy. But I had one problem. I made the butter first and used the last of the honey in my pantry! I went back and forth but eventually decided I could not include an empty bottle in this image. Maybe I’ve discovered why I seldom do them? 🙂
The salt is optional…especially if you use salted butter but still try your finished butter and see if you need some. The amount of salt in butter varies across the board depending on the brand, so you might still enjoy a bit in your compound butter even if it is salted.
I wrap up several logs to shape for a butter dish to share with neighbors and then save some for myself and keep it in a Butter Bell (affiliate link); it’s great for keeping room temperature butter ready for use!
I moved into the home I’m in now a little over ten years ago. All new homes, all new neighbors, and ultimately a crew that was both amazed that I worked in the kitchen and a photo studio for my job, but also gave them goodies and had them for dinner often.
Honestly it’s had to believe I’ve lived here for ten years; I’ve watched their little kids become teen-agers, I’ve now ridden with them for a year and helped teach them to drive while they’ve had their learners permits and now, everyone of them is official and can run errands for me!
I started to catalog my favorite recipes in 1995 thinking it would be easier to share a web address if a friend wanted a recipe than to have to write it down on a 3X5″ card…and it was easier…once everyone else got online too! I can’t even remember the first name I called my food recipe site but it’s been Creative Culinary for a long time…this web archive page dates back to 2003!
So I’ve shared my favorites since then, many I’ve redone from those first days and so many that are newer. Because people loved the first cocktail I shared so much (this Vootbeer), I did more, and today cocktails are a big part of this blog. I do love to feed people and make them great drinks too! Luckily my new neighbors and I became friends from the getgo and they still get regular surprises from my kitchen.
I love simple things too. Easy to make dishes and treats, some like this Cranberry Orange Honey Butter that takes but minutes to whip up and sometimes only minutes to gobble down. Try this one but also try other combinations. I’ve included a list of others I’ve made; they’re all easy, fun, and your neighbors will love you too!
More Compound Butters
PIN IT! Cranberry Orange Honey Butter’
Cranberry Orange Honey Butter
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- â…“ cup dried cranberries finely chopped
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
- â…“ teaspoon vanilla
- â…› teaspoon kosher salt optional if using salted butter
Instructions
- Let the butter sit at room temperature until soft but not melted. If necessary, heat in microwave on medium heat for a few seconds until it’s soft enough to be stirred…but not melted.
- In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients, the softened butter, honey, chopped dried cranberries, orange zest, vanilla, and salt. Stir until well combined.
- Store in an airtight container. If you want to make a log of butter, scoop the butter mixture onto a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Roll it into a log shape, twisting the ends of the parchment/plastic to seal.
- If you want a stick of butter, flatten the log on four sides on a hard surface.
- Chill. Refrigerate the butter for at least 1-2 hours to firm up. Store in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 3 months.
I tried this cranberry orange honey butter for breakfast – super fragrant, slightly sweet, and just the right amount of fat. Spread it on toast and it’s perfect, everyone compliments it.