Roasted Garlic Butter

5 from 1 vote

This Roasted Garlic Butter Recipe is an incredibly easy way to elevate tons of different dishes! While this butter tastes impressive and will enhance a variety of meals, it's simple to make with just a handful of ingredients.

Prep Time10

Cook Time1 5

Optional cooling time2

Total Time3 15

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Calories: 149kcal

Author: Briana

Equipment

baking sheet
mixing bowl
Rubber Spatula
plastic wrap or parchment paper

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter softened (2 sticks)
2 heads garlic
½ tablespoon olive oil
½ - 1 teaspoon kosher salt to taste
¼ - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika to taste
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped (optional)
1 tablespoon fresh chives finely chopped (optional)
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary finely chopped optional
1 tablespoon fresh thyme optional

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Slice the top of the garlic with a paring knife, so the cloves are exposed, and place each bulb on a piece of foil. Add a drizzle of olive oil on top of each of the bulbs (about ½ a tablespoon in total), followed by a sprinkle of salt. Wrap the whole heads of garlic tightly with foil. Place them on a baking sheet or in a baking dish.
Roast the garlic for about 40 minutes. You’ll know the garlic is done if it appears soft and lightly caramelized. Be careful when opening the aluminum foil, as it will be very hot. If the garlic isn’t done, wrap it back up and roast for another 5-10 minutes until golden.
After letting the garlic cool for at least 20 minutes, remove the roasted garlic cloves by gently squeezing the bulb from the root end until each individual clove is squeezed out. Discard the outer skin and place the cloves in a bowl.
In a mixing bowl, combine 2 sticks of softened butter, the roasted garlic cloves, ¼ - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (to taste), 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, 1 tablespoon minced chives, 1 tablespoon minced rosemary, and 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme. Use a spatula, a food processor, or a hand mixer on low speed to blend the ingredients thoroughly.
Season to taste with salt (½- 1 teaspoon) and pepper (about ¼ teaspoon). You can use it as it and spread it on bread, or, you can refrigerate it to make a nice compound butter.
Optional step: To make it into a compound butter, transfer the garlic butter mixture onto a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap and shape it into a log. Wrap it tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until the butter is firm.
Once the garlic butter is firm, slice it into rounds and put it on cooked meat, seafood, veggies, bread, and more! Enjoy!
Store it tightly wrapped in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Be careful to use it within this time period to avoid botulism from the garlic.

Notes

Use unsalted, high-quality butter. Unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content. You’ll also want a really great-tasting butter, as this is the main component of flavor in your recipe.

Use good quality ingredients. Also, be sure to select plump and firm garlic bulbs without any signs of sprouting or spoilage for roasting. Fresh herbs will also make a large impact on the flavor.

Drizzle the garlic with olive oil before roasting. Don't skip this step! This will enhance the flavor and prevent it from drying out.

Be patient when roasting garlic and keep a close eye on it. Check the garlic periodically while roasting to avoid burning. It should be soft and golden brown when done. With that said, it will take a while to achieve the nice and golden color, so be patient!

Let the roasted garlic cool down. Do not handle the roasted garlic in foil right off the oven, it is very hot and will burn your hands. Let it cool down first because it will be easier to squeeze the softened cloves out of their skins.

Allow the butter to soften at room temperature for even mixing. This makes it easier to incorporate the other ingredients.

Adjust seasoning to taste. Taste the garlic butter mixture before shaping it, and adjust the salt and pepper according to your liking.

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