How to Soften Butter Quickly
This weekend, I started making some cookie dough and realized I forgot to set the butter out to soften, again. This is starting to become a habit for me. Good thing I know a little trick that helps soften butter quickly.
Soften your butter with a grater. Yep, Grab your cheese grater and start grating! You heard me correctly. A simple little grater is a perfect way to soften butter quickly.
Supplies for How to Soften Butter Quickly:
Grater
Cold Butter
Bowl
There are several ways to soften butter. The most common way to soften it is to place it on the kitchen counter and let it set there until it becomes rooms temperature. We all know that doesn’t always happen. It is easy to get distracted or to simply forget to set it on the counter as I have many, many times.
Another way it soften it by cutting into small chunks. Smaller chunks will soften faster than a full stick.
I have also heard you can pound it with a rolling pin. I myself have never tried this method. If you choose to pound it, be careful. Pounding it to much can cause your cookies to spread when they bake and we all hate cookies that spread. Just pound it a few times and wait a few minutes before using.
Another method it to place the butter between two pieces of wax paper and roll it out to 1/4 or 1/8 of an inch thick. Remove it from the wax paper and start baking.
Now let’s talk about how you can tell when butter is softened. You will know it is ready when it can easily be squished easily between your fingers. That’s it. Just pinch the butter to test it.
I personally like the grater method the best. It becomes room temperature instantly so you can make your cookies immediately without waiting. You will get butter on your hands when you grate it but, who doesn’t like a little butter on your hands when you bake. Especially if you don’t have to wait for it to become room temperature.
More:
Sugar Cookie Recipe
Why Do Sugar Cookies Spread When Baked
Salted or Unsalted Butter
Beginners Guide to Cookie Decorating
Basic Cookie Decorating Supplies
Bear hugs,
My go-to method has always been to nuke a stick of butter on high for 10 seconds. If you need more than one stick, nuke them individually. Less work and fewer dishes. Depending on your microwave, you might have to experiment with time and power level.
Not only is grating the butter a GRATE idea, it looks so pretty and would be a wonderful way to serve it for a party!!
Too funny Kim!
Because I don’t get to bake as often as I like, but can’t pass up a good sale on butter (Coupons Rule!!!) I often stock up on butter and keep it in my freezer for when a baking opportunity strikes…but, before I freeze it, I put each stick in Ziploc bags and SMASH it flat so that it will come to room temperature faster… plus it’s just darn fun squishing it..haaaa
Hahahah! I love your brain Kim!
Love these cookies – so cute!
Just read recently that taking your butter and putting between sheets of wax paper and pounding down with a rolling pin helps soften it too.