How to Soften Butter

What is softened butter?

Most baking recipes call for softened butter so it’s important to know what that means. Softened butter is not cold and it’s not melted: it’s somewhere in the middle, the juuuuust right, as Goldilocks would say.

Softened butter, also called room temperature butter, is when the butter is soft but not melted. My rule of thumb for softened butter is when I can make a finger indent into the stick of butter, the butter is soft enough. Note, however, that your finger should press into the butter but not fall into it (there is such a thing as over-softened butter!)

Softened butter makes your cookies, cakes and all your baking recipes turn out perfectly (when softened butter is called for in the recipe). While some of my favorite cookie recipes call for melted butter, softened butter is a baking standard, so knowing how to do it is important.

1. Slice your butter

Slicing your butter into tablespoons or even smaller pieces will help it to soften quicker. You’ll still have to wait, but not as long. Be sure to measure your butter before slicing it (by using the guidelines on the wrapper).

2. Pound your butter

This is a great method if you need to get out some aggression!

• Simply place your cold stick of butter between two sheets of parchment paper.
• Use a rolling pin to pound (or roll) the butter into a flat rectangle.

The stick will be thinner, thus it will soften faster.

3. The Double-Boiler Method

• Place your butter in a heat-proof bowl.
• Place the bowl over a pot of boiling water and let it sit for a few minutes.
• Watch the butter carefully to make sure it doesn’t start to melt.

4. The Glass Method

Be sure to use a heat-safe glass (like a coffee mug or measuring cup) for this method! You also need to make sure that the circumference of your glass will fit your butter.

• Heat water in a heat-proof glass in the microwave until boiling. (Alternatively, boil water and add it to the glass.) Let it sit until the glass is hot.
• Place your butter (slicing it will make it work better) on a plate.
• Invert the cup over the butter on the plate. Let it sit for a minute or so, watching to make sure the butter doesn’t melt. 

This method is a cool science-y way to do it – especially with kids – but it’s not that much faster than just slicing and waiting…you have to wait for the water to boil, after all.

5. The Microwave

I know, this is the most frowned upon method but it really is the method I use most often. I think the microwave gets a bad wrap, but if you watch it, it can work just fine.

• Place your butter to one side of the microwave (do not place it directly in the center).
• Be sure that, if your butter is wrapped in foil, that you unwrap it and place it on a plate first.
• Heat at 50% power in 5 second increments, flipping the stick of butter after each.
• Just check it each time to make sure that it’s not starting to melt!