Description
Whipped cranberry butter elevates holiday tables with its festive red hue and tangy sweetness. Creamy spread combines fresh cranberries, butter, and maple syrup for an irresistible condiment you’ll want to slather on everything from warm rolls to morning toast.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (226 grams / 2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (75 grams) fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2–3 tbsps (30–45 ml) honey (or maple syrup)
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) orange zest (optional, for added brightness)
- 1 pinch of salt
Instructions
- Cranberry Preparation: Gently coax cranberries to burst and soften in a saucepan with minimal water over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Continue until berries transform into a luscious compote, approximately 5 minutes.
- Cooling and Texture: Allow cranberry mixture to cool completely, then pulverize into a smooth or slightly textured reduction using a fork or blender, ensuring even consistency.
- Butter Transformation: Whip softened butter with an electric mixer until it becomes ethereally light and voluminously pale, creating a cloud-like texture through 2-3 minutes of continuous beating.
- Flavor Infusion: Fold cooled cranberry reduction into the whipped butter, incorporating honey, orange zest, and a nuanced salt pinch. Blend meticulously to maintain the butter’s airy structure while achieving uniform flavor distribution.
- Presentation and Storage: Transfer the vibrant crimson-hued butter into an elegant serving vessel or sealed container. When ready to serve, allow butter to rest momentarily at room temperature to optimize spreadability, then present with flourish.
Notes
- Prevent Burning: Stir cranberries constantly during simmering to avoid scorching and ensure even cooking, using low-medium heat for gentle softening.
- Achieve Perfect Texture: Cool cranberry mixture completely before mixing with butter to prevent melting and maintain the whipped butter’s light, airy consistency.
- Flavor Balancing: Adjust honey and salt proportions carefully to complement the tartness of cranberries without overpowering the delicate butter base.
- Storage Hack: Wrap whipped butter in parchment paper or plastic wrap, creating a log shape for easy slicing and serving, with refrigeration extending shelf life up to one week.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 103
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 16 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg