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This Christmas cranberry honey butter brings a festive twist to your usual spreads, perfect for holiday breakfasts or cozy snacks. The balance of sweet honey with tart cranberry sauce blended into smooth butter creates a unique flavor that livens up breads, pancakes, or biscuits effortlessly.
I discovered this recipe a few years ago while looking for a way to freshen up holiday mornings. Since then, it has become a musthave that my family looks forward to every December.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter: 1 cup of unsalted butter, softened choose high quality French butter preferably from Normandy for its rich flavor
- Cranberry sauce: 1/2 cup of cranberry sauce homemade or purchased fresh cranberry sauce adds natural tartness if buying select one without preservatives for the purest taste
- Honey: 1/4 cup of honey opt for a mild floral honey like acacia that blends smoothly without overpowering the cranberries
- Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract adds a subtle aromatic warmth near Paris vanilla from bourbon or Madagascar varieties is excellent
- Salt: A pinch of salt enhances all the other flavors and balances sweetness
Instructions
- Soften the Butter:
- Make sure your unsalted butter is at room temperature so it mixes easily with the other ingredients. If in a hurry warm it for about 10 seconds in the microwave but avoid melting it completely to keep the right texture.
- Mix Ingredients:
- In a medium mixing bowl combine the softened butter cranberry sauce honey vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Use a hand mixer or whisk to blend everything thoroughly until the mixture is silky and creamy without lumps.
- Taste and Adjust:
- Sample your cranberry honey butter. If you want it sweeter gently add more honey. For a punchier tartness increase the cranberry sauce slightly. Take your time here to get the balance just right for your palate.
- Chill:
- Place the butter mixture into a pretty serving dish or seal it in an airtight container. Refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes so the flavors meld beautifully and the texture firms up for easy spreading.
- Serve:
- Once chilled spread your festive butter generously on warm baguette slices buttery brioche or fluffy pancakes to brighten your holiday gatherings.
My favorite ingredient here is definitely the cranberry sauce. Its bright tart flavor livens up the rich butter in such a beautiful way. I remember last Christmas morning when I first made this spread for a family brunch the kids were instantly enchanted by its color and taste insisting we keep it on the table all season long.
Storage tips
Store your cranberry honey butter tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks to maintain freshness. For longer storage freeze in small portions wrapped well in parchment and foil thaw in the fridge before use.
Ingredient substitutions
If you cannot find cranberry sauce use fresh cranberries cooked down with sugar to make your own simple sauce. Maple syrup can replace honey for a deeper sweetness that pairs nicely with vanilla. Unsalted Europeanstyle butter works best for creaminess but salted butter can be used if you reduce added salt.
Serving suggestions
Spread over freshly toasted baguette slices for breakfast or brunch. It also elevates pancakes waffles or crumpets. Use as a flavorful topper on warm muffins or stirred into hot porridge for a holiday twist.
Enjoy this chilled cranberry honey butter spread on warm bread to brighten holiday mornings. It also freezes well so you can make it ahead for stressfree entertaining.
Common Recipe Questions
- → Comment ramollir le beurre rapidement ?
Il suffit de le passer 10 secondes au micro-ondes à faible puissance, sans le faire fondre, ou le laisser à température ambiante jusqu’à ce qu’il soit malléable.
- → Peut-on ajuster le goût du mélange ?
Oui, ajoutez plus de miel pour plus de douceur, ou plus de sauce aux canneberges pour un goût plus acidulé selon vos préférences.
- → Comment conserver ce beurre aromatisé ?
Il faut le placer dans un récipient hermétique au réfrigérateur et le consommer dans les quelques jours pour préserver fraîcheur et saveurs.
- → Sur quoi conseilleriez-vous de le tartiner ?
Ce beurre est délicieux sur des biscuits chauds, des toasts ou même sur des pancakes pour un petit-déjeuner festif.
- → Quel rôle joue le sel dans ce mélange ?
Une petite pincée de sel rehausse l’équilibre des saveurs et adoucit la rondeur du miel.