17 Recipes with Real Butter Because That’s How Grandma Did it
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There’s just something special about recipes made with real butter, rich flavor, perfect texture, and that unmistakable homemade goodness. These dishes are proof that butter makes everything better, just like Grandma always knew. If you’re ready to bring back those comforting, buttery flavors, these recipes are exactly what you need.
Garlic Bread

Garlic bread doesn’t get better than this rich and buttery version that’s crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. The golden edges, paired with a warm garlic flavor, make it an easy side that feels just like Grandma’s tried-and-true favorite. Whether you’re dunking it in soup or adding it to your pasta night lineup, this comforting classic is guaranteed to be a hit.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Bread
Almond Crescent Cookies
Almond crescent cookies are a melt-in-your-mouth treat that’s impossible to resist. Each buttery, crumbly cookie is dusted with powdered sugar, making them perfect for holidays, potlucks, or whenever you’re craving a sweet, nostalgic dessert. These simple yet elegant cookies always steal the show, and they’re exactly what Grandma would approve of.
Get the Recipe: Almond Crescent Cookies
3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies
These 3-ingredient shortbread cookies are rich, buttery perfection, just the way Grandma always made them. With nothing more than butter, sugar, and flour, they melt in your mouth with every bite. Whether you make them for gatherings or a sweet afternoon pick-me-up, these cookies prove that simple recipes are often the best.
Get the Recipe: 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies
Homemade Red Velvet Cake
This homemade red velvet cake is rich, moist, and filled with buttery goodness that would make Grandma proud. Topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting, each slice offers just the right mix of cocoa, vanilla, and buttery flavor. Whether it’s a special occasion or a weekend treat, this cake feels like a hug in dessert form.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Red Velvet Cake
French Onion Soup
A bowl of rich, buttery French onion soup is comfort food at its finest. Caramelized onions cooked in a buttery broth make this dish deeply flavorful, while the cheesy bread on top adds the perfect finishing touch. It’s a timeless recipe Grandma would swear by, simple yet always impressive.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Soup
Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes
Even a lightened-up side like mashed cauliflower tastes indulgent with a generous dose of real butter. Creamy, fluffy, and full of buttery flavor, this dish gives you the comfort of mashed potatoes without the extra carbs. It’s a simple yet delicious side dish that proves Grandma’s favorite ingredient makes everything better.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Soft, pillowy cinnamon rolls with buttery swirls of cinnamon sugar are the kind of comfort food Grandma knew best. Finished with a sweet glaze that melts into each warm roll, they’re impossible to resist. Whether for breakfast or dessert, these buttery treats are the perfect way to spoil yourself.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Chocolate Chip Cookies without Brown Sugar
These buttery chocolate chip cookies are soft in the center, crispy on the edges, and packed with rich flavor. Real butter makes each bite extra decadent, giving these cookies a nostalgic, homemade taste that feels like a childhood memory. They’re simple to make but deliver big results , Grandma-approved.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies without Brown Sugar
Honey-Glazed Carrots
Honey-glazed carrots are the perfect way to transform an ordinary veggie into a buttery, flavor-packed side dish. Each tender carrot is coated in a rich honey-butter glaze that’s sweet, savory, and downright addictive. This simple dish proves that Grandma was right, there’s magic in cooking with butter.
Get the Recipe: Honey-Glazed Carrots
Parmesan Potatoes
Golden, crispy, and coated in buttery goodness, these parmesan potatoes are impossible to stop eating. Each baby potato is tender on the inside with a perfectly crisp parmesan crust that delivers serious flavor. Grandma’s love for real butter shines through in this simple yet unforgettable side dish.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Potatoes
Banana Bread
Grandma knew that banana bread was best when made with real butter, and this recipe proves it. Each slice is moist, rich, and bursting with sweet banana flavor that’s perfect for breakfast or an afternoon treat. It’s a classic recipe that’s as comforting as it is easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Banana Bread
Potato and Leek Soup
Potato and leek soup is one of those rich, buttery comfort foods that never goes out of style. Each spoonful is smooth, creamy, and packed with rich flavor from real butter and tender potatoes. Whether for a chilly evening or a cozy family dinner, this is the kind of recipe Grandma would swear by.
Get the Recipe: Potato and Leek Soup
Lemon Blueberry Loaf
This buttery lemon blueberry loaf is a bright and refreshing treat that’s perfect any time of day. The tender, moist crumb, paired with sweet blueberries and lemon is a combination Grandma would absolutely love. Whether served with coffee or as an afternoon snack, it’s the kind of homemade comfort food that always hits the spot.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Blueberry Loaf
Bread Machine Zucchini Bread
This buttery zucchini bread is moist, tender, and loaded with flavor, exactly the kind of simple bake Grandma would love. Thanks to the bread machine, it’s practically effortless, yet it tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. With just 15 minutes of prep, you’ll have a warm, buttery loaf that’s perfect for breakfast or snacking.
Get the Recipe: Bread Machine Zucchini Bread
Rosemary Garlic Butter
Rosemary garlic butter is the flavor booster your meals have been missing. Creamy butter mixed with roasted garlic and fresh rosemary creates a rich and fragrant spread perfect for steak, veggies, or bread. It’s exactly the kind of easy yet impressive addition that Grandma would have proudly kept in her fridge.
Get the Recipe: Rosemary Garlic Butter
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
No mashed potato recipe can beat one made with real butter, and this rich, creamy version is no exception. Fluffy potatoes mixed with roasted garlic and buttery goodness create a side dish that’s impossible to resist. It’s the perfect example of Grandma’s comforting classic that belongs on every dinner table.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Tibetan Butter Tea
Tibetan butter tea is a warm and creamy drink that’s perfect for chilly mornings or relaxing nights. Made with tea, butter, and a pinch of salt, it’s rich, comforting, and surprisingly good. Grandma would definitely approve of this old-school, buttery way to warm up from the inside out.
Get the Recipe: Tibetan Butter Tea