Thanksgiving Butter Board: A Festive, Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer

Serve up a trendy appetizer with this Thanksgiving Butter Board. All you need to make this is five ingredients.

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A butter board is the latest entertaining trend, combining simplicity, elegance, and creativity. It involves spreading butter over a wooden board or platter, adding flavorful toppings, and serving it with various types of bread or crackers.

The Thanksgiving Butter Board is a festive twist, featuring butter spread out on a platter, enhanced by the seasonal flavors of cranberries, rosemary, and orange zest. It’s an excellent way to welcome guests into your home during the holiday season, serving as a beautiful and delicious appetizer. The concept is simple, yet the visual impact and taste combinations make it an unforgettable part of any gathering.

A Thanksgiving Butter Board taps into the tradition of sharing, bringing people together around the table. It’s both rustic and refined, making it perfect for a holiday celebration. Guests can dip bread, crackers, or even vegetables into the butter spread, savoring a bite of something indulgent yet seasonal. Whether it’s placed as a centerpiece or passed around the table, this butter board will surely stand out in any Thanksgiving spread.

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Why You’ll Love This Thanksgiving Butter Board

One of the best things about this butter board is its simplicity. With only a handful of ingredients—butter, cranberries, rosemary, orange zest, and bread—it’s incredibly easy to assemble, even at the last minute. You don’t need to worry about complex cooking techniques or timing multiple dishes perfectly. Just spread the butter, sprinkle the toppings, and you’re ready to go. Despite its ease, the butter board feels gourmet, thanks to the combination of sweet, tangy, and herbaceous flavors. This recipe allows you to impress your guests without any stress.

Another reason to love this butter board is its versatility. You can serve it as a starter for your Thanksgiving dinner or as part of a grazing table for a holiday cocktail party. The board can be customized to suit your preferences, making it a great canvas for your creativity. Don’t love cranberries? Swap them out for pomegranate seeds. Prefer thyme over rosemary? Go for it! This butter board can easily adapt to different flavor profiles and themes, making it a must-have for any host or hostess.

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Ingredients for Thanksgiving Butter Board

  • Room temperature butter
  • Whole canned cranberries
  • Fresh rosemary sprigs
  • Orange zest
  • Fresh bread (e.g., sliced baguette, sourdough, dinner rolls, bagels)

You will also need a serving board or platter and butter knives to easily use the butter board.

How To Make A Thanksgiving Butter Board (1)

How to Make a Thanksgiving Butter Board

Making a butter board is as easy as 1-2-3. Start by selecting a beautiful wooden board or a decorative platter to serve as the base.

Spread Butter: Spread the butter evenly over the surface, creating a smooth layer that will act as the canvas for the rest of your ingredients.

Add Orange Zest: Once the butter is spread, zest some orange directly over the butter, distributing the citrusy notes evenly. The orange zest will provide a bright and aromatic flavor, complementing the richness of the butter.

Add Cranberries: Next, take some canned whole cranberries and scatter them across the butter. These will add a lovely tartness, breaking through the richness of the butter.

Lay on Rosemary Sprigs: Arrange small sprigs of fresh rosemary around the board, either in clusters or evenly spaced. The rosemary gives an aromatic, earthy touch that balances the sweetness of the cranberries.

Spread out Bread: Finally, pair the butter board with slices of your favorite bread—whether it’s a crusty baguette, rustic sourdough, or soft dinner rolls. Invite your guests to dive in by spreading the flavored butter onto the bread and enjoy! You might want to place a knife or spreading tool near the butter.

Variations to Try

One of the best things about a butter board is how customizable it can be. While the Thanksgiving version uses cranberries, rosemary, and orange zest, you can easily switch things up to match different tastes or occasions. Feel free to pair this with a charcuterie board too.

  • Holiday Twist: Swap out the cranberries for pomegranate seeds for a more Christmas-themed butter board. Add some thyme or sage instead of rosemary for a change in herbaceous flavor. You could also sprinkle a few crushed pistachios or walnuts over the butter for added crunch.
  • Savory Herb Board: For those who prefer a more savory flavor profile, replace the cranberries with roasted garlic cloves and scatter some sea salt flakes over the butter. Add thyme or chives instead of rosemary, and consider adding a touch of black pepper for a bit of spice.
  • Sweet and Salty Combo: For a sweeter version, replace the cranberries with dried figs or dates, and drizzle the butter with a bit of honey. You can also add a sprinkle of flaked sea salt to balance out the sweetness. The rosemary can be substituted with a milder herb like mint or omitted altogether for a purely sweet butter board.
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Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Make Ahead: While butter boards are best enjoyed fresh, there are ways to make some components ahead of time and store them to save time on the day of your event. The butter itself can be spread on the board a few hours before serving and stored in the fridge. Just make sure to take it out at least 30 minutes before serving so the butter softens to room temperature.

The cranberries and rosemary can be prepared ahead of time and stored separately. Simply scatter them on the butter just before serving. Bread is best when served fresh, but if you need to store it, keep it in an airtight container at room temperature.

Storage: Store any leftover butter in the fridge and bread in an airtight container. If your bread becomes slightly stale, you can always refresh it by toasting it lightly in the oven before serving alongside the butter board.

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Common Questions About Butter Boards

1. What kind of butter should I use for a butter board?
It’s best to use high-quality, unsalted butter for a butter board. This allows the flavors of your toppings to shine without being overpowered by salt. You can also experiment with cultured butter or European-style butter for a richer taste.

2. Can I make a vegan butter board?
Absolutely! You can replace the dairy butter with a plant-based butter alternative. Look for a brand that is known for its creamy texture and mild flavor, so it pairs well with the toppings you choose. The rest of the ingredients—cranberries, rosemary, and orange zest—are naturally vegan.

3. What can I serve with a butter board?
While bread is the most traditional option, you can also serve a butter board with crackers, crostini, or even fresh vegetables like cucumber slices and bell pepper strips. The goal is to have something that complements the rich, flavorful butter and makes it easy for guests to scoop up.

4. How far in advance can I make a butter board?
You can assemble most of the butter board up to a few hours before serving, but it’s recommended to add any delicate or perishable ingredients, like fresh herbs or fruit and citrus zest, just before serving to ensure they stay fresh.

5. Can I make a sweet butter board?
Yes! Sweet butter boards are becoming more popular. You can add toppings like a drizzle of honey, fruit preserves, edible flowers, and even chocolate shavings to create a dessert version of the butter board. Pair it with sweet breads or croissants for a delightful treat.

Thanksgiving Butter Board (2)

Thanksgiving Butter Board

Make a beautiful Thanksgiving butter board for your Thanksgiving dinner.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Cup Room Temperature Butter
  • 1/4 Cup Whole Canned Cranberries
  • Rosemary Sprigs
  • Orange Zest
  • Bread

Instructions
 

  • Spread the room temperature butter out on a platter.
  • Sprinkle with orange zest.
  • Add cranberries & rosemary.
  • Enjoy.
Keyword artisian bread, Bread, butter, butter board, thanksgiving
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Conclusion

The Thanksgiving Butter Board is an easy, elegant, and incredibly versatile appetizer perfect for any holiday gathering. Whether you’re sticking to traditional flavors or customizing the board to suit your preferences, this butter board will wow your guests and make a memorable addition to your Thanksgiving table. With its combination of rich butter, tart cranberries, aromatic rosemary, and bright orange zest, it’s a delightful start to any holiday feast. And best of all, it’s quick to prepare, leaving you more time to enjoy the festivities!

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I'm Emily and I share my ideas to celebrate and create over at The Benson Street.

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