Is A Butter Board Healthy?
Butter boards are all the rage right now. They are aesthetically pleasing, and they taste amazing! Smear some room-temperature butter on a pretty board, drizzle with olive oil, and garnish with herbs and edible flowers and you have a pretty side to bring to gatherings. The boards are simple to customize but is a butter board healthy? Keep reading to learn about the next charcuterie board craze and whether it’s good for you.
Is A Butter Board Healthy?
Butter boards are exactly what they sound like. A board topped with creamy butter and other delicious toppings. People spread bread and crackers in them and enjoy them much like a charcuterie board. All in all, butter boards are not healthy because the butter used is most likely high in calories and fat. The saturated fats in butter can lead to heart disease if consumed in high quantities (always consult a doctor). If you are at risk for a heart attack or have had one in the past, you may want to avoid a butter board. Much like everything else, though, everything in moderation!
What Do you Do with Butter Boards?
Butter boards are made by spreading soft room temperature butter across wooden cutting boards and topping it with simple ingredients such as honey, pomegranate seeds, pistachios, salt, red onion, and lemon zest. Some people also make an everything bagel mixture to sprinkle on top with capers. The boards are served with warm bread, goat cheese, nut butters, and other decadent sides. Butter boards are often served at an event where a charcuterie board is appropriate. It’s a communal dish where everyone can dip as they please. They’re perfect for small gatherings and holiday parties. But be careful not to double dip.
How To Eat From A Butter Board?
There’s no wrong way to eat from a butter board, but most people eat them with warm sourdough bread or their favorite crackers. The toppings are scattered across the butter or placed beside it for easy access. Guests dip their bread directly into the butter or use a butter knife or cheese knife to scoop it onto their crackers.
What Is The Butter Board Trend?
Butter boards started with chef Joshua McFadden and his book Six Seasons, but it blew up in 2022 as a TikTok trend. Men and women were creating beautiful butter boards with artisian cheeses, honey, citrus zest, edible flowers, flaky salt, and other unique toppings. Olive oil and fresh herbs were sprinkled on the softened butter and the communal food opened the way to double dippers at dinner parties and events. The viral butter board trend is perfect for the fall and winter holidays with gatherings. You can find examples of butter boards on virtually every social media platform. Get creative with your own butter board and serve it at your next dinner party!
What Happens If You Eat Too Much Butter?
Butter, like many foods, should be enjoyed in moderation. If you overeat butter, it could come with some adverse health effects. The fats in butter can cause hypertension, obesity, heart disease, and cancer. It’s OK to enjoy a butter board now and again, but make sure you stay on top of your health every other day of the year.
What Is The Healthiest Butter To Eat?
When choosing your butter for your butter board, try choosing one of the healthier high quality options. Look at the nutrition label on the side panel and choose a butter with simple ingredients. The longer the list of ingredients, the more unhealthy it probably is. You just need cream and salt to make butter, so stick to that. Get a recipe for how to make butter here.
Some of the best butter brands may include:
- Irish Kerrygold Butter (my favorite)
- Organic butter brand from any store
- Land O Lakes organic unsalted butter
My favorite butter is here and I get the unsalted. The Kerrygold butter is rich and perfect for a butter board.
Butter Board Topping Ideas
Looking for some delicious toppings for your butter board? Choose a theme and create a masterpiece of these simple ideas. Just grab a flat board and your favorite high quality butter and add these on top:
- artisian cheeses
- almonds
- fruit such as pears, apples, cranberries
- veggies such as carrots, celery, peppers
- candied pistacios
- fig jam
- fresh herbs, such as mint, basil, parsley
- flaky sea salt and ground pepper
- maple syrup
- cinnamon
- honey
- crushed walnuts
- chocolate shavings
- fresh berries
- cookie crumbles
For a sweet butter board, try maple syrup, nut butters, jams, and jellies. If you want a fantastic Butter Board Recipe, try mine. It’s complete with almonds, fig jam, sliced cheeses, and more.
If you want a healthier option, try my Mediterranean hummus spread board here.
All in all, a butter board probably isn’t the healthiest choice you can provide for a family gathering, but it is pretty, and there are so many things you can do with it to make it fun. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a tasty treat now and again. Just consider your health options and pay attention to how much you eat. You can add healthy options to the top of it that will be enjoyed with the sourdough bread, cheese, and crackers as well. So what do you think? Is a butter board healthy?
