Welcome to a culinary journey where simplicity meets exquisite flavor! Today, we’re diving into the delightful world of homemade lemon butter – a vibrant, sweet, and tangy spread that promises to become a staple in your kitchen. Forget store-bought alternatives; crafting your own lemon butter is surprisingly easy and yields a taste that’s far superior. Whether you’re topping warm rolls, enhancing pancakes, or adding a zesty kick to desserts, this easy lemon butter recipe is your ticket to a brighter, more flavorful experience.

This week, we shared our Sweet Bread Recipe, and what better companion for it than a luscious lemon butter spread? As we transition from the vibrant days of summer into the cozy embrace of fall, this recipe offers the perfect balance of refreshing tartness and comforting richness. It’s an incredibly versatile addition that transforms ordinary bagels, muffins, and just about anything you’d typically butter into an extraordinary treat. Because, let’s be honest, everything is better with butter – especially when it’s infused with bright, zesty lemon!

Why You’ll Love This Easy Lemon Butter Recipe

• Effortlessly Simple: With just a few basic ingredients and straightforward steps, even novice cooks can master this recipe.
• Incredibly Flavorful: Fresh lemon juice combined with rich butter creates a harmonious balance of sweet and tart that is truly addictive.
• Remarkably Versatile: From breakfast pastries to a unique dessert topping, the possibilities are endless.
• Homemade Goodness: You control the ingredients, ensuring a fresh, preservative-free spread that tastes miles better than anything from a jar.
• Perfect for Any Season: While it brings a touch of sunshine to summer dishes, its comforting richness is equally welcome during cooler months.

Simple Ingredients for an Epic Lemon Butter

Crafting this delicious lemon butter requires only a handful of readily available ingredients. The magic happens when these simple components come together to create a complex and irresistible flavor profile. For specific measurements and detailed instructions, refer to the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

• Granulated Sugar: Provides the sweetness that balances the lemon’s tartness and contributes to the smooth texture.
• Cornstarch: Our secret ingredient for achieving the perfect thick, glossy consistency. It prevents the butter from separating and gives it a luxurious mouthfeel. Potato starch is also a great alternative if you don’t have cornstarch on hand.
• Water: Helps dissolve the sugar and cornstarch, forming the base of our thickened lemon mixture.
• Fresh Lemon Juice: The star of the show! Always opt for freshly squeezed lemon juice for the brightest, most authentic flavor. Bottled juice can taste artificial and lacks the vibrant zest that fresh lemons provide.
• Butter: The foundation of our spread. Use unsalted butter to control the overall saltiness of your lemon butter. Its richness is essential for a smooth and decadent texture.

Essential Equipment Needed

You won’t need any fancy gadgets to whip up this lemon butter. Just a few basic kitchen tools will do the trick:

• Saucepan: A medium-sized saucepan is perfect for cooking the lemon mixture over the stovetop.
• Whisk: Essential for combining ingredients smoothly and preventing lumps, especially when incorporating the cornstarch. It also helps achieve a consistent thickness.
• Kitchen Spoon/Spatula: Useful for stirring occasionally and scraping down the sides of the saucepan to ensure even cooking.

How to Make Homemade Lemon Butter: Step-by-Step Guide

Creating this irresistible lemon butter is a straightforward process. Here’s a simplified overview of the steps. Remember, detailed instructions and precise measurements are available in the printable recipe card below.

1. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: In a saucepan, whisk together the granulated sugar, cornstarch, water, and fresh lemon juice. Whisk thoroughly until the mixture is completely smooth and free of any lumps. This initial whisking is crucial to prevent a grainy texture later.
2. Cook and Thicken: Place the saucepan over low to medium heat on your stovetop. Stir the mixture occasionally at first. As it begins to warm, the cornstarch will activate, and the mixture will start to thicken. Once you notice it thickening, switch to stirring constantly. This ensures even cooking and prevents scorching at the bottom of the pan. Continue cooking and stirring until the sauce reaches your desired consistency – typically thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
3. Melt in the Butter: Remove the saucepan from the heat immediately. Add the butter directly into the hot lemon mixture. Stir continuously until the butter is completely melted and fully incorporated, creating a glossy, smooth, and rich lemon butter.
4. Serve and Enjoy: Your homemade lemon butter is now ready! Serve it warm for a decadent, melt-in-your-mouth experience, or chill it for a firmer, spreadable consistency. It’s fantastic on muffins, sweet breads, pancakes, waffles, or even as a unique topping for ice cream.

Preparation & Storage Tips for Lemon Butter

One of the best features of this lemon butter recipe is how well it stores, making it perfect for meal prep or enjoying throughout the week.

• Make-Ahead & Storage: Lemon butter is an excellent make-ahead component. Once prepared, allow it to cool completely to room temperature. Transfer the cooled lemon butter to an airtight container and refrigerate. It will maintain its fresh taste and quality for up to one week.
• Freezing Instructions: Yes, you can freeze lemon butter! This is a fantastic way to extend its shelf life. Freeze any leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe container. When properly stored, frozen lemon butter can be enjoyed within three months. For best results, freeze in smaller portions so you can thaw only what you need.
• How to Reheat: To enjoy frozen lemon butter, transfer it to the refrigerator overnight to thaw. Before serving, give it a good whisk. This helps to fluff it up and restore its smooth, creamy consistency. You can serve this sweet butter either warmed or chilled, depending on your preference and what you’re pairing it with. If serving warm, you can gently reheat it in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until it reaches the desired temperature.

Recipe Variations and Dietary Adjustments

This lemon butter recipe is wonderfully adaptable, allowing you to customize it to your taste or dietary needs.

• Substitutions:
  • Thickener: If you don’t have cornstarch, potato starch is an excellent substitute and will work just as well to thicken the sauce.
  • Sweetener: For a unique twist, consider making Honey Lemon Butter. Replace the granulated sugar with two to three tablespoons of honey. You might need to reduce the water content by half initially and then adjust as needed to achieve your preferred texture and sweetness.
  • Added Zest: For an even more intense lemon flavor, add a teaspoon of fresh lemon zest along with the juice. This introduces aromatic oils that deepen the citrus notes.
• Vegetarian Option: This recipe is naturally vegetarian as written, containing dairy butter.
• Vegan Option: To make this lemon butter vegan-friendly, simply replace the dairy butter with a high-quality plant-based butter alternative. Ensure your chosen butter alternative has a good fat content for the best texture.
• Gluten-Free: Good news! This recipe is entirely gluten-free. Cornstarch is naturally gluten-free, as are all the other primary ingredients.
• Adjusting Serving Sizes: This recipe scales beautifully! Whether you need a smaller serving for one or a larger batch for a crowd, feel free to double, triple, or halve the ingredients to meet your desired yield.
• Sugar-Free Option: The original recipe contains 67 grams of sugar. To create a sugar-free version, substitute the white granulated sugar with a sugar-free alternative that measures cup-for-cup like sugar. Adjust to taste, as different sweeteners have varying levels of potency.

Expert Tips for the Best Lemon Butter

• Always Use Fresh Lemon Juice: This cannot be stressed enough. The flavor difference between fresh and bottled lemon juice is significant. Fresh juice provides a bright, zesty, and natural taste that bottled versions simply can’t replicate.
• Whisk Thoroughly to Prevent Lumps: When combining the sugar, cornstarch, water, and lemon juice, whisk until absolutely no lumps remain before heating. This ensures a silky-smooth final product.
• Constant Stirring for Consistency: Once the mixture starts to thicken, stir constantly. This prevents the cornstarch from clumping and sticking to the bottom of the pan, guaranteeing an even, uniform consistency.
• Control the Heat: Cook over low to medium heat. High heat can cause the mixture to thicken too quickly, potentially burning or creating an undesirable texture. Patience is key for a perfectly cooked lemon butter.
• Achieve Whipped Lemon Butter: For an extra light and fluffy texture, let the finished lemon butter cool slightly, then beat it with a whisk, hand mixer, or electric stand mixer until it becomes light and airy. This process typically takes about five minutes by hand or three minutes with an electric mixer.
• Taste and Adjust: Before removing from heat, taste your lemon butter. If you prefer it sweeter, add a little more sugar (dissolve thoroughly). If you want more tang, a tiny bit more lemon juice can be whisked in off the heat.

What to Serve with Lemon Butter

The versatility of homemade lemon butter knows no bounds! It’s an incredible spread for freshly baked goods, a luxurious topping, or a delightful mix-in. Here are some mouth-watering suggestions to inspire your menu planning:

Delicious Sides:

• Homemade Apple Cinnamon Rolls
• CrockPot Bourbon Banana Bread
• Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
• Tinta Port Wine Banana Bread
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
• CrockPot Pumpkin Bread
• Apple Cider Bread
• 3 Ingredient Banana Bread
• Nutella Banana Bread

Main Dishes & Breakfast Staples:

• Easy German Apple Pancakes
• Muffin Mix Pancakes
• CrockPot Blueberry Oatmeal
• Cinnamon Roll Waffles
• French Toast Casserole
• Cinnamon Toast
• CrockPot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
• CrockPot Apple & Raisin French Toast
• CrockPot Banana Bread Oatmeal

When to Indulge in Lemon Butter

This delightful spread is perfect for almost any time of day!

• Breakfast: A vibrant start to your morning on toast, bagels, or pancakes.
• Snacktime: Elevate a simple cracker or fruit slice.
• Coffee or Tea Time: A sophisticated accompaniment to pastries and scones.
• Dessert: Drizzle over ice cream, pound cake, or fruit tarts for a citrusy finish.

More Zesty Lemon Recipes to Explore

If you’re a fan of the bright and tangy flavor of lemon, you’ll love these other lemon-infused delights from our collection:

• Lemon Butter Cookies
• 2 Ingredient Lemon Bars
• Lemon Sugar Cookies
• CrockPot Lemon Chicken
• Olive Garden Lemon Cream Cake

Do you love discovering new recipes? Be sure to check out our extensive collection of copycat recipes, irresistible dessert recipes, and comforting CrockPot recipes. Don’t forget to follow Tammilee Tips on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for all our latest culinary inspirations!

Lemon Butter Recipe

How to make easy Lemon Butter – a sweet and tangy spread perfect for any treat!

Author: Tammilee Tips

Yields: Approximately 1 cup

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients

• ⅓ Cup Granulated White Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch (or potato starch)
• ½ Cup Water
• 1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan on the stovetop, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, water, and lemon juice until the mixture is completely smooth and no lumps remain.
2. Cook over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally at first. Once the mixture begins to thicken, stir constantly until the sauce reaches your desired consistency (thick enough to coat the back of a spoon).
3. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the butter and stir continuously until it is completely melted and fully incorporated into the lemon mixture.
4. Serve warm or cold over muffins, sweet breads, pancakes, waffles, or even ice cream.

Kitchen Tools

• Saucepan
• Whisk
• Kitchen Spoon/Spatula

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Based on approximately 8 servings (2 tablespoons per serving)

• Calories: 392 kcal
• Fat: 11g (17% Daily Value*)
• Saturated Fat: 7g (44% Daily Value*)
• Cholesterol: 30mg (10% Daily Value*)
• Sodium: 107mg (5% Daily Value*)
• Carbohydrates: 75g (25% Daily Value*)
• Sugar: 67g (74% Daily Value*)
• Protein: 1g (2% Daily Value*)
• Vitamin A: 350IU (7% Daily Value*)
• Vitamin C: 6mg (7% Daily Value*)

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Recipe originally shared on August 9, 2015. Updated December 2020 and further revised in 2023 for improved clarity and SEO.