Vegan Citrus Compound Butter 🍊Here's everything you need to know to make your own homemade plant-based butter combined with fresh citrus, herbs, and natural ingredients. Vegan butter just got better!
The fruit trees in my yard have been particularly abundant this year, so much so that I was inspired to find new ways to make use of all of the goodness and vitamin C in each piece of fruit. I jotted down several recipe ideas, this one being the first on my list - Vegan Citrus Compound Butter.
Compound butter is simply butter that has been combined with sweet or savory ingredients that add flavor to your favorite vegan butter, like fresh herbs, spices, vegan honey, (See FAQ's below). Vegan citrus compound butter is versatile and can be used on seared or grilled tofu steaks, vegetables, grilled corn, pasta, rice, potatoes, fresh baked bread or toast, pancakes, waffles, or as a delicious topping for baked goods.
I wanted to make use of all those gorgeous citrus fruits. Each batch was uniquely different and absolutely delicious! Here is what I made:
Orange Maple Vegan Compound Butter
You're going to love this vegan citrus compound butter made with this simple vegan butter recipe and combined with fresh orange juice, zest, and organic maple syrup (or vegan honey).
You won't believe how scrumptious this orange and maple infused non-dairy butter tastes spread on our Easy Vegan Corn Bread. Yum!
Lime Chile Vegan Compound Butter
This zesty fresh lime & chile vegan vegan butter made with fresh lime juice, zest and chili powder is so tasty on southwestern inspired dishes.
It's all you need to kick up the flavor in sweet corn. Imagine it on grilled corn on the cob!
Lemon Basil Vegan Compound Butter
Lemon Basil Butter combines the bright and tangy flavor of the lemon and the delicious herbal flavor and aroma of fresh basil.
Put a dab of this delish lemony-basil butter on top of plain spaghetti or pasta.
See the printable recipe card below for quantities & complete details.
Ingredients
Homemade Vegan Butter
Coconut oil - refined (not extra virgin or your butter may taste like coconut)
Grapeseed oil - or any light oil of your choice
Vegan yogurt - plain, unsweetened (I prefer cashew based)
Salt
Liquid lecithin - it acts as an emulsifier, blending the ingredients. (I use sunflower lecithin)
🥕 If you don't have the ingredients or time to prepare your own homemade vegan butter, you can still make delicious vegan citrus compound butter with melted or softened store-bought non-dairy butter of your choice.
Add-ins
Orange & Maple Vegan Citrus Compound Butter
- Orange juice - fresh
- Orange zest - fresh
- Maple syrup - substitute with vegan honey or agave nectar
Lime & Chile Vegan Citrus Compound Butter
- Lime juice - fresh
- Lime zest - fresh
- Chili powder - or Tajin Chile lime seasoning
Lemon & Basil Vegan Citrus Compound Butter
- Lemon juice - fresh
- Lemon zest - fresh
- Fresh basil
Add-in Variations
You can have fun with this recipe. Add whatever you like, such as:
Fresh herbs - finely minced rosemary, thyme, peppers, dill, mint, parsley, cilantro, chives, tarragon, oregano, lemongrass, grated ginger
Spices & seasonings - chili peppers, cardamom, cumin, turmeric, paprika, curry powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground pepper, sea salt
Aromatic veggies - minced onions, garlic, leeks, shallots
Fruits - grapefruit, tangerine, apple juice, berries, cherries, peaches, apricots
Sweeteners - Vegan honey, agave nectar, sugar, maple syrup
Instructions
It's so easy making your own dairy-free butter. With just a few ingredients & a blender, you can prepare the creamiest & tastiest butter ever! First you'll want to make a batch of this super delish vegan butter. Be sure to check out the recipe and watch our video. If you prefer to use store bought butter, see the FAQ's below.
Step One: Prepare the butter
Pour the vegan butter ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend on medium speed for 1 minute. Divide into 3 portions if you are making all three varieties of compound butters. Otherwise, adjust the quantities of add-in ingredients to the amount of butter you are using. NOTE: If you are using store-bought butter, you don't have to melt it, just soften until smooth.
Step Two: Add the citrus ingredients
Pour ⅓ of the liquid butter into a clean blender, food processor, or bowl. Add the citrus juice, zest, and other ingredient for the compound butter you are making. Blend or whisk for about 30 seconds.
Pour into a silicone ice cube tray. Rinse blender and repeat with each batch. Cover tray and refrigerate (or freeze) until butter hardens. Gently pop out cubes when ready to use. NOTE: For softened store-bought vegan butter, place the mixture onto a sheet of parchment or wax paper. Roll into a log shape, wrap tightly and refrigerate or freeze until hardened. When ready to use, cut slices from the butter log.
FAQ's
What is compound butter?
Compound butter, also known as "beurre composé" in French, is butter that has been combined with ingredients that will add flavor, such as fresh or dry herbs, citrus zest or juice, maple syrup, vegan honey, peppers, garlic, or vegan cheeses.
Can I make compound vegan butter with store bought butter?
Yes, simply soften the butter of your choice and stir in the ingredients you want to add. Form into cube shapes by spooning the soft butter into silicone ice cube trays or place butter on parchment or wax paper and roll into a log shape. Freeze or refrigerate until hard, then slice and use as needed.
How long can I store vegan citrus compound butter?
When properly stored in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap, it can be refrigerated for up to two weeks or frozen for several months.
Can I use this vegan butter as a substitute for regular butter in recipes?
Yes, you can use vegan citrus compound butter as a substitute for regular butter in various recipes. However, keep in mind that its flavor profile will be different, so it may alter the taste of the dish slightly.
If you love this recipe ★★★★★ please be sure to rate it below! Sharing your experience let's me know that you enjoyed it and helps other readers decide if they should give the recipe a try too. Thanks a bunch!🥕
Recipe
Vegan Citrus Compound Butter
Equipment
- blender or food processor
- One rubber or silicone spatula
- Silicone ice cube tray or small covered container
Ingredients
VEGAN BUTTER
- 1½ cups coconut oil melted, refined (not extra virgin)
- ¼ cup grapeseed oil or any light oil of your choice
- ½ cup vegan yogurt vegan - I use unsweetened cashew yogurt
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons lecithin sunflower liquid lecithin (it's an emulsifier)
ADD-INS (per each cube of butter)
Orange Maple
- t tablespoon orange juice orange, lemon, or lime
- t teaspoon orange zest fresh
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or vegan honey
Lime Chile
- t tablespoon lime juice fresh
- 1 teaspoon lime zest fresh
- ½ teaspoon chile lime seasoning or chile powder
Lemon Basil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice fresh
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest fresh
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil minced
Instructions
Vegan Butter
- Pour ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend on medium speed for 1 minute.
- Divide butter in 3 equal portions
- Pour ⅓ butter into blender or small bowl.
Add-Ins
- Add orange juice, orange zest, maple syrup
- Blend or whisk for about 30 seconds
- Pour into silicone ice cube mold or small covered container
- Thoroughly rinse blender container
- Repeat same process using ingredients for Lime Chile butter and Lemon Basil butter
- Cover silicone ice cube mold or small covered containers
- Place in refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving
- Butter can be stored for 2 -3 weeks refrigerated or 3 months in freezer
Video
Notes
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
Connie Edwards McGaughy
Add flavor to food with your own homemade citrus infused vegan butter! Such a simple and tasty way to enhance almost any dish!