Name: Holiday Butter Terrine
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 12 to 16 Tbsp. unsalted butter - at room temperature, divided; 5 sundried tomatoes in olive oil - finely chopped; 1 to 2 Tbsp. fresh basil - finely chopped; 2 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese - divided; extra butter, if needed

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Holiday Butter Terrine is simply butter-flavored in 3 different flavors and colors and served with crusty warm bread. This easy, make-ahead holiday butter terrine is not only fun to make, but it tastes delicious and everyone will appreciate the little extra effort you put into making the holiday dinner extra special!

A white butter plate with a tri color butter sliced into a few pieces.

Something Extra Special…

This butter terrine will make you make your holiday table extra special. We made our tri-color butter terrine a few years ago for Easter and decided to make one this year for the holidays. Just set it down next to your basket of warm crusty bread or cheesy biscuits and everyone will love it. A delicious way to serve butter with savory flavors on your holiday table!

How To Make This Holiday Butter Terrine?

Fresh basil, grated cheese, and sundried tomatoes were used in this terrine to give it not only colors but delicious flavors. We always have fresh basil and fresh parmesan cheese on hand, but keep in mind, that you can use pesto sauce as well.

Each ingredient is mixed with soft butter and layered on top of one another, creating the look of a butter terrine on your plate. And, this is the second time we made a butter terrine and had to share it with you. It’s not perfect, but it tastes delicious and it’s pretty when you serve it on your table.

A tri-color stick of butter set on a sheet of wax paper.

The Butter Terrine

The butter terrine is something I saw at a restaurant a few years ago and decided to recreate it for the holidays. A “terrine” is a French dish that is used to describe pate which is served chilled or at room temperature. Other terrines can be made with seafood or vegetables layered in a mold and served sliced.

But this terrine is made with butter and it contains different flavors and colors to make it very appealing and delicious tasting.

A butter terrine on a sheet of wax paper, and butter slices on a white butter dish and a bowl of bread on the side.

Note & Tips for Success:

Never melt the butter. It’s best to leave the butter out for a few hours (or overnight) to soften.
Always use unsalted butter, no need to add additional salt added to the mixture.
The butter must be very soft to stir the other ingredients and to spread it into the mold.
Use a glass butter dish (or a plastic one) as the mold, and flip over the lid. Use wax or parchment paper to line the inside of the lid. This will help you to pull out the butter terrine easily when ready to serve.
Place the butter mold into the freezer to set the butter. It will only need a few hours.
This recipe makes a small butter terrine. You can use a glass butter dish or the lid as the container to make it.
Don’t have a butter dish? No worries! You can make each layer of butter (to give the appearance of the stick) on parchment paper, freeze it for a few minutes, then repeat to add the second and third layers on top. Use a knife to smooth the sides before freezing it. Then wrap it into a “log shape” and freeze.
Refrigerate any remaining butter.

Make This Holiday Butter Terrine Your Own!

Blend butter with other ingredients for different colors, such as kalamata olives for purple.
Try it with chopped cranberries or some cranberry sauce.
Try it with some fresh herbs, like finely chopped thyme or rosemary for delicious flavored butter.

Serve and Enjoy…

It’s fun to make this butter terrine, and it will taste delicious too. Everyone will appreciate the extra effort that went into making it. So go ahead and get creative and make your holiday dinner extra special! Serve it alongside your favorite breads, muffins, or warm biscuits.

ENJOY!

Additional Holiday Ideas for Dinner…

2-Step for Best Spiral Glazed Ham
The Perfect Filet Mignon Roast
Easy Stuffed Mushrooms
Mom’s Best Mashed Potato Pie
How to Make Lasagna with No-Boil Noodles

Remember to leave a 5-star review and a comment if you loved this recipe or have any questions. Your feedback means a lot to us. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, and Pinterest. We’d love to connect with you! 🙂

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Holiday Butter Terrine

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Holiday Butter Terrine is simply butter-flavored in 3 different flavors and colors, all savory and delicious. This easy, make-ahead holiday butter terrine is not only fun to make, but it tastes delicious and everyone will appreciate the little extra effort you put into making the holiday dinner extra special!

Ingredients

12 to 16 Tbsp. unsalted butter - at room temperature, divided
5 sundried tomatoes in olive oil - finely chopped
1 to 2 Tbsp. fresh basil - finely chopped
2 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese - divided
extra butter, if needed

Instructions

First, cut a sheet of parchment (or wax) paper and make it fit inside the lid of the butter dish, cut about 4-inch x 8-inch and trim some of it if you need to. Place it inside the butter dish and set it aside. Don't worry about the wrinkles, you can't avoid them.
In a small bowl, cut 4 tablespoons of butter and stir in finely chopped sundried tomatoes. Here is where you can add in increments of the sundried tomatoes to get the red color you desire. Also, if you need to add more butter, you can.
Use a small spoon to spread it on the bottom of the mold, as the first layer. Smooth the top evenly as best as you can.
Next, cut 4 or 5 tablespoons of soft butter, mix 1 tablespoon of grated parmesan cheese with the butter, and spread a layer (for the yellow color). Use the spoon to spread it evenly in a single layer, the best you can.
Finally, take 4 tablespoons of butter and stir the freshly chopped basil and 1 tablespoon of grated parmesan cheese. Here too, you can adjust the green color you prefer by adding less or more of the fresh basil. Then spread it on top of the yellow layer and smooth it evenly.
Place the mold into the freezer and allow the butter terrine to set for a few hours. Then transfer the mold into the fridge until you are ready to serve.
When ready to serve, just gently pull up the wax paper and it will easily pop out. Peel and remove the wax paper and flip it over onto a butter serving dish.
Serve it with a butter knife on the side, and you can slice a few slices on the dish.
yields: 12 servings

Notes

Don't have butter dish? No worries! You can make each layer of butter (to give the appearance of the stick) on parchment paper, freeze it for a few minutes, then repeat to add the second and third layers on top. Use a knife to smooth the sides before freezing it. Then wrap it into a "log shape" and freeze.
Store any remaining butter in the refrigerator.
It is delicious to serve it with your breakfast in the morning.
Make it festive and sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese over the butter terrine and plate. Everyone loves parmesan cheese, it makes everything taste better.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 servings Serving Size: 1 serving (1 Tbsp.)
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 117Total Fat: 12.7 gCarbohydrates: 1.3gProtein: .4g

Have a delicious day! 🙂

thanks for stopping by…

xo anna and liz

Welcome! From Anna and Liz

We believe the kitchen is the center and the heart of the home. It is where we cook, eat, and unwind with family and friends, creating memorable traditions! Read more…

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