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READY IN 3+ hrs

Soft Spread Butter

Read Reviews (13)

"This is a homemade margarine or soft spread 'butter'. While it is not lower in calorie, it has a higher ratio of unsaturated to saturated fat than butter, and unlike margarine, it contains no trans fat. Create a flavored butter by adding garlic or cinnamon, or anything you chose!" — Cal Schroeck

Ingredients Edit and Save

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Types of Cooking Oil

Battle of the Butter: Salted vs. Unsalted

Original recipe makes 2 1/4 cups Change Servings

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/4 cups canola oil

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Directions

In a lidded, plastic storage container stir butter until it has a smooth, frosting-like consistency.
Slowly, one tablespoon at a time, stir in the first 1/2 cup of oil; mix until smooth. Stir in the remaining oil a little more quickly, mixing well.
Refrigerate for 3 hours, or until set.
Store in refrigerator. If the 'butter' melts after being left out, refrigerate to restore solidified quality.

Kitchen-Friendly View

PREP 20 mins
READY IN 3 hrs 20 mins

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Reviews More Reviews

Most Helpful Positive Review

Jun 02, 2007

Excellent taste! This is an all natural butter that is still spreadable! Make sure to soften and not melt the butter. Now that I've got the hang of making it, I'll never use anything else.

—srgothard

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Most Helpful Critical Review

Apr 26, 2012

This spread has had great reviews, but I wasn't exactly wow'd by it. I know, there always has to be one, right? I can see possibly using it for a flavored butter. But for everyday butter to put on the table, I still prefer the whipped butter sold at the store. One thing that I really don't like about it is how quickly it starts to separate at room temperature. Having oil puddle around the corners of the butter dish isn't very appetizing. I've read the reviews, and this could be a result of too much canola oil, but as I try to do, I followed the recipe exactly as written the first time. Nutritionally, the two are very close and, yes, whipped butter does take a few minutes to soften (but not long). And there is very little cost savings making this as compared to buying the store brand of whipped butter. If it works for you, go for it, but I'll be sticking with the whipped butter. This will be eaten, and it was worth a try.

—lutzflcat

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13 Ratings

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Apr 22, 2012

I cut this back to 12 servings. The reason why I made this is because I wanted a soft spread that I could add minced garlic and chopped parsley to for homemade garlic bread. This was exactly what I was looking for. I did use SALTED butter. I was able to mix this up around noon (with the added spices) and use to spread on garlic bread at dinnertime. It blew my mind. Who knew that homemade soft spread would be this easy to make and without chemicals? I'm really impressed. I'll use this recipe again for sure. NOTE: Twelve servings (1/3 cup of both salted butter and 1/3 cup oil) makes enough to spread on two sides of one large italian bread loaf. I only used half, there's plenty for next time I make garlic bread.

—Sarah Jo

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Nov 08, 2008

I use this same method, only I use light flavored or regular olive oil, depending on your preference.

—trishthedish725

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Mar 29, 2012

I made this using my KA mixer. I had doubts that it would come together but I kept beating it and it did. It's liquidy when done but does set up in the refrigerator. I made the full recipe with some added salt since my butter was unsalted. The taste is good and i would make it again. The recipe yielded around 2 cups. Thanks Cal for a good recipe that replaces store bought junk. UPDATE: My initial batch eventually separated. So I adjusted the second batch. I defrosted 2 sticks of butter in my 1300w microwave for 39sec. The butter was very soft and partially melted. I put the butter in the KA with the whisk attachment and whisked it until it was smooth. I added a total of 1cup of canola oil with the first half added very slowly. This time I added 4 pinches of table salt. UPDATE: The spread did not separate when i used my updated method. Update: I whipped it longer this time so the spread is white and I made 2.5 cups instead of 2c. Will update with results.

—AllieGeekPi

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Apr 25, 2012

This stuff is ace! Plain butter has 35% saturated fat, per tablespoon, or 1/3 a days worth. That is a lot! I have reduced butter usage in everyday cooking for cholesterol reasons. The only 2 options available, at the market that are not margarine, are whipped butter and butter with canola oil. Whipped butter, is just butter with air whipped into it which reduces the sat fat by half by doubling the volume. They are only selling half the amount of butter too!The butter with canola oil at the grocery store is over $3.50 for 15oz. "This recipe tastes and spreads exactly like that butter." Stick butter cost about 65 cents a stick, which makes this more affordable. I just put two sticks of butter in the empty, clean 15oz container for the same products. I microwaved the butter about 25-30 seconds, until softened and not melted, and then followed the directions for adding the canola oil to it. Make sure to use salted butter or add a little salt. Thank you so much for posting this recipe!

—Blender Woman

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Apr 11, 2011

I've done this twice now and it works! Just do it 1:1 and add a touch extra oil - then you can use it with any amount of butter you might have already softened. It really makes the butter stretch in our family of 7. :)

—CookingInSeattle

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Mar 15, 2010

What a wonderful idea. Olive oil would be the oil of choice since that is the oil most often used by the Mediterian people who seem to be very heart healthy.

—butterfly

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Nutrition

Calories
114 kcal
6%

Carbohydrates
0 g
< 1%

Cholesterol
14 mg
5%

Fat
12.9 g
20%

Fiber
0 g
0%

Protein
0.1 g
< 1%

Sodium
36 mg
1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Information

Soft Spread Butter

Serving Size: 1/36 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 36
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 114
Calories from Fat: 116

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 12.9g 20 %
Saturated Fat 3.8g 19 %
Cholesterol 14mg 5 %
Sodium 36mg 1 %
Potassium 2mg < 1 %
Total Carbohydrates 0g < 1 %
Dietary Fiber 0g 0 %
Protein 0.1g < 1 %
Sugars 0g
Vitamin A 3 %
Vitamin C 0 %
Calcium < 1 %
Iron < 1 %
Thiamin < 1 %
Niacin < 1 %
Vitamin B6 < 1 %
Magnesium < 1 %
Folate < 1 %

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.