I’m excited to share a super simple yet effective kitchen hack for those moments when you're ready to bake but realise your butter is still in the refrigerator, rock-hard. We've all been there, right? Well, don’t worry and keep calm this hack will get your butter to the perfect creaming consistency in no time!

The Struggle of Hard Butter

We all know that many baking recipes call for softened butter, but it's common to forget to take the butter out of the fridge in advance. Using hard butter can ruin the texture of your baked goods, and nobody wants that. But microwaving often leads to partially melted butter, which isn't ideal either. So, what's the solution?

The Glass Cup Hack - Why This Works

This method is excellent because it uses gentle heat to soften the butter evenly without any risk of melting it. The glass acts like a mini oven, enveloping the butter with just enough warmth.

Tip #1

Use a Thick Glass: A thicker glass retains heat better and distributes it more evenly.

Tip #2

Don't Rush: Give it a full 2-3 minutes under the glass for optimal softness.

Tip #2

Size Matters: If you’re softening a large quantity of butter, cut it into smaller pieces to ensure it softens uniformly.

Follow Lilac Diaries

How To Soften Butter Fast - The Glass Cup Hack

Here’s a foolproof way to soften your butter without melting it:

Start by boiling some water in a kettle or a pot.
While the water is heating, place the butter you need for your recipe on a plate.
Once your water is boiled, fill a glass cup or a mug with the hot water and let it sit for about a minute to warm up the glass.
Carefully dump out the hot water and quickly dry the glass. Immediately invert the warm glass over the chunk of butter.
Leave the glass covering the butter for about 2-3 minutes. The heat trapped by the glass will gently soften the butter without melting it.
After a few minutes, check your butter. It should be soft to the touch but not melted. If it needs more time, you can repeat the process with freshly heated water.