Everyone knows that butter makes everything better -- whether it's a soft, fluffy cake, rich pan sauce, or roast chicken. But with a little time on the stove, our favorite, familiar yellow block is transformed into a grown-up, elegant ingredient with a gorgeous golden-brown hue, nutty aroma, and flavor that adds complexity to pretty much anything, from vegetables to dessert. We've rounded up seven already delicious recipes that are taken over the top with the addition of brown butter to prove that this butter upgrade deserves a place in every cook's repertoire.
Pie, without the masochism. This is a tart crust that loves you back, adapted from Parisian pastry expert Paule Caillat. Fill it with chocolate ganache, lemon curd, or sweetened mascarpone and summer berries. - Genius Recipes
Photo: Sarah Shatz
This is the cake to make for the breakfast lovers in your life, and the best part is it looks like it takes a lot more work than it does, so you can celebrate everything from birthdays to weddings in impressive breakfast style with ease. - Beth Kirby | {local milk}
Photo: Sarah Shatz
Browning the butter makes butter pecan ice cream grow up, and fast. The flavor is rich, deeply nutty, and a big step up from the ice-cream-stand butter pecan of summer vacations past. Our base looked just slightly grainy before it went into the machine; if yours does too, don't worry about a thing -- this will churn into the creamiest, smoothest ice cream you've had in a while. - Amanda and Merrill
Photo: James Ransom
For this dessert, I began with the idea of using brown butter and arborio to make a risotto-style rice pudding. That's when the idea of starting with a brown butter caramel worked its way into the pudding, along with the addition of creme fraiche, which I thought would cut the sweetness nicely. - Merrill Stubbs
Photo: Sarah Shatz
The contrasting colors and textures make for an elegant presentation for this comforting side dish. The method for cooking the bacon in the oven on top of the sweet potatoes is super smart and while overall flavor combination is spot on, you can easily adjust the bacon and arugula proportions to suit your tastes. - annie_smalls
Photo: Nicole.Franzen
We love the caramelized cabbage. The brown butter and walnuts give it a nice depth, the sage is a nice subtle touch but feel free to add a little more to taste.
Photo: James Ransom
This scone combines all our favorite flavors -- walnuts, sage, maple, brown butter -- in a convenient package. We'll be doubling this recipe for breakfasts all winter. -Amanda and MerrillRecipes
Photo: James Ransom
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• Got a question in the kitchen? The Food52 Hotline is here to help!
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