Vodka butter goes viral on TikTok on heels of #ButterBoard trend

Publish date: 2024-07-22

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Mooove over, regular butter.

Vodka butter is the boozy, viral new spread intoxicating social media — and making a splash at dinner parties.

Chef and food blogger Carolina Gelen wowed the internet by whipping up the recipe for her TikTok followers — and it’s easy to churn out at home.

The clever condiment maker combined one stick of butter with a shot of vodka in a food processor, whipping the mixture to a velvety texture.

“It comes together in less than five minutes,” Gelen assured in the 36-second clip. 

After perfecting her fat-and-acid blend, she spread the butter liberally over a crisp baguette.

The inspiration for the concoction came while sipping a favorite cocktail, Gelen told The Post.

“I love a dirty martini, so I tried making a dirty martini butter with green olives and vodka, but the olives ended up being overpowering flavor-wise,” Gelen said. “So I tried the recipe again, without olives, and the result was amazing.”

Gelen gleaned inspiration from her favorite drink, a dirty martini, but found the green olives too overpowering. Courtesy of Carolina Gelen
The chef-blogger’s vodka butter recipe can be whipped up in mere minutes. Courtesy of Carolina Gelen

And while the sky’s the limit, Gelen suggested looking to the briny deep for the perfect pairing — say, a nice, salty tinned fish like sardines, or, for something more luxurious, a dollop of caviar.

“I wouldn’t spread this on toast for breakfast but would serve it as an appetizer with crusty bread, anchovies, herring, sardines or caviar,” she said. 

The delicious discovery is just the latest example of butter’s moment in the spotlight.

Last year, butter boards — an indulgent riff on the charcuterie board, featuring butter garnished with sauces, fruits and spices — became an overnight sensation, with the hashtag #ButterBoard gaining more than 234 million views on TikTok. Many users and healthcare professionals scoffed at the idea of a full plate of butter.

Some NYC chefs have already been experimenting with the new butter sensation. It has just enough balance, and eaters will hardly taste the vodka, they say.

“It’s got this surprise kick that pairs perfectly with a hot piece of cod, salmon or swordfish,” cookbook author and recipe developer Jason Goldstein told The Post. 

Gelen says a salty fish is the perfect pairing to compliment the salty sweetness of the butter, and acidity of the vodka. Courtesy of Carolina Gelen

And while Goldstein advises that eaters invest in quality butter and vodka, he also admitted that it’s all pretty good.

“You could do [this] with any butter you have — it’s pretty versatile. If you’re doing it to put on top of fish, use salted. If you’re going to smear it on toast, then add your own salt to regulate the perfect balance,” he said.

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