Maple Bacon Compound Butter
A sweet-savory maple bacon compound butter recipe built for the breakfast table - pancakes, biscuits, cornbread, and more.
Maple bacon compound butter takes the format toward the breakfast table rather than the dinner plate, built for anywhere a bit of smoky, sweet richness improves the morning routine.
Maple Bacon Compound Butter
Prep time: 15 minutes, plus chilling | Cook time: 10 minutes | Makes: about 1 cup
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
- Pinch of black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to cool, then finely chop or crumble it.
- In a medium bowl, mash the softened butter with a fork until smooth.
- Add the chopped bacon, maple syrup, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until evenly combined.
- Spoon onto parchment paper or plastic wrap and roll into a log, twisting the ends to seal.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before slicing, or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
Let the bacon cool completely before mixing it in - warm bacon can cause the butter to start melting and separating rather than mixing evenly.
Watching the Maple Syrup Amount
Because maple syrup is a liquid, adding too much relative to the butter can prevent the mixture from firming up properly once chilled. Stick close to the amount specified, and if you want a stronger maple flavor, consider using a bit less butter overall rather than significantly more syrup.
What to Use It On
- Melted over pancakes or waffles
- Spread on warm biscuits or cornbread
- Melted over roasted sweet potatoes or butternut squash
- Spread on toast alongside eggs
- Stirred into hot oatmeal
Variations
- Spicy maple version: A pinch of cayenne alongside the black pepper adds a sweet-heat contrast, especially good with cornbread.
- Brown sugar version: Substitute brown sugar for part of the maple syrup for a deeper, more caramel-like sweetness (note this will require slightly more mixing to fully dissolve).
- Extra smoky: Use thick-cut, applewood-smoked bacon for a more pronounced smoky flavor throughout.
This is a good example of compound butter's range beyond savory dinner applications. For more, see the complete compound butter guide.
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