Herb Butter Toast (Printable)

Crispy bread slices generously topped with aromatic compound herb butter and finished with flaky salt.

# What you need:

→ Bread

01 - 4 slices crusty artisan bread (such as sourdough or baguette)

→ Compound Herb Butter

02 - 7 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
03 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
04 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
05 - 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped
06 - 1 garlic clove, minced
07 - 1/2 tsp lemon zest
08 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
09 - 1/4 tsp fine sea salt

→ Finishing

10 - Flaky sea salt, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F or set a broiler to high.
02 - In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with parsley, chives, thyme, garlic, lemon zest, black pepper, and fine sea salt until fully combined.
03 - Lightly toast the bread slices in the oven or under the broiler for 2–3 minutes, just until crisp and lightly golden.
04 - Spread a generous layer of compound herb butter onto each warm toast.
05 - Return the toasts to the oven or broiler for 1–2 minutes, just until the butter melts and the edges of the bread are golden.
06 - Remove from the oven, sprinkle with flaky sea salt, and serve immediately.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • Ready in 15 minutes but tastes like you've been cooking all morning.
  • The herb butter transforms simple bread into something memorable and genuinely craveable.
  • Works as a snack, appetizer, or side without feeling out of place anywhere on the table.
02 -
  • Softened butter is absolutely crucial—if it's too cold, you'll tear the toast trying to spread it, and if it's too warm, it'll just soak straight through and make everything soggy.
  • Don't skip the second heating step; those 1–2 minutes make the difference between toasts that stay crispy and ones that go limp within a minute of serving.
03 -
  • If your butter is too cold and won't spread, microwave it for just 5 seconds at a time until it reaches that perfect middle ground between soft and melting.
  • A tiny pinch of chili flakes stirred into the butter adds unexpected heat that makes people ask what the secret ingredient is.
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