Brown butter recipes
Yes – it’s possible to make butter better! Brown butter has been cooked to toast its milk solids, creating complex, nutty flavours. Our expert food editors have put together a foolproof guide to making, storing and using it. Follow our steps below for brown buttery brilliance, then choose from our favourite recipes to put it to delicious use.
How to make brown butter
How to make brown butter
1. Melt cubes of unsalted butter in a pan over a medium-low heat until starting to bubble and foam.
2. Continue to cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated from the butter (this will happen while it's foaming) and the size of the bubbles starts to reduce. At this stage things move fast, so keep a close eye.
3. Once the foam has subsided, the milk solids (the specks floating in the melted butter) start to smell biscuity and nutty, and turn a deep golden brown. As soon as this happens, take the butter off the heat and decant into a heatproof bowl to cool a little.
How to store brown butter
How to store brown butter
Brown butter can be used straight away in many dishes or made in advance and used in its solid form. Once browned, use straight away. Alternatively, pour through a fine sieve into a bowl, discarding the darker milk solids. Cool, then store in the fridge, covered, for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How to use brown butter
How to use brown butter
Brown butter gives a wonderful nutty, caramelised flavour to classic bakes. When you’re next making a cake, use brown butter in place of the regular stuff to take it to the next level. It’s delicious in savoury dishes too – stir into pasta, beat into mash, toss through vegetables or spoon over grilled fish. Find the best brown butter recipes from our expert cooks below.
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Brown butter miso, banana & chocolate pudding
Sea bass with braised potatoes & brown butter gremolata
Rice crispy cakes with brown butter
Roast wagyu topside with brown butter mash, crispy sage & capers
Brown butter, white chocolate & cherry blondies
Whole baked Dover sole with garlic brown butter
Brown butter spring clean cookie
Roast trout with brown butter
Roasted radishes on ricotta with smoky brown butter
Brown butter & Brussels sprouts tagliatelle
Garlic & lemon labneh with paprika-tomato salad and pine nut brown butter
Caraway brown butter
Sea bream with brown butter champ & charred salad onions
Roast celeriac with garlic & almond brown butter and capers
Blanched sprouts with pecan & lemon brown butter
Whole roasted butternut squash with sage & pumpkin seeds in brown butter
Malted brown butter pound cake
Brown-butter cod loin with leeks, spinach and grains
Brown butter & celeriac mash
