Compound butter

Softened butter flavored with other ingredients. It is used more often in the hot kitchen, where the best-known compound butters are flavored with shallots, fresh herbs, wine, etc. In the pastry kitchen, compound butters can be made by combining softened butter with chopped dried fruit, citrus zest, maple syrup, or brandy, for example, to use as a topping for scones, muffins, pancakes, or tea cakes.