Whipped Honey Cinnamon Butter Recipe (Texas Roadhouse Copycat)
There is something undeniably special about the start of the holiday baking season. For me, it doesn’t officially feel like Christmas until the kitchen smells like cinnamon, vanilla, and warm bread.
This week, I started working on my Christmas gifts. Now, I love a store-bought present as much as the next person, but there is just no substitute for a homemade, edible gift in a mason jar. It says, “I took the time to make this for you.”
I whipped up a double batch of this Whipped Honey Cinnamon Butter Recipe, and let me tell you, it came out so good. I ended up with enough to fill about six 8-ounce jars, adorned with cute floral lids, ready to be handed out to neighbors and friends.
Of course, I had to keep a jar for myself. I left mine on the counter yesterday just to admire it, but I’ll put it in the refrigerator today to keep it fresh. If you have ever been to Texas Roadhouse and filled up on those hot rolls before your steak even arrived just because of that cinnamon butter, then you know exactly the flavor we are chasing here.
This recipe is fluffy, sweet, creamy, and honestly, you might just want to eat it with a spoon. It is the perfect companion for fresh yeast rolls, biscuits, or even just your morning toast. Let’s get into how to make this simple, 4-ingredient magic.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you are looking for a way to elevate your holiday dinner table or need a budget-friendly gift idea, this is it. Here is why this recipe is going to become a staple in your kitchen:
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Four Simple Ingredients: You likely have everything you need in your pantry right now. No fancy trips to the grocery store are required.
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The “Whipped” Texture: The secret here is the air. Unlike regular compound butter, we whip this until it is light as a cloud. It spreads beautifully without tearing up your bread.
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Perfect for Gifting: As I mentioned, this makes a wonderful gift. Pair a jar of this butter with a basket of homemade muffins or a fresh loaf of bread, and you have a present anyone would love.
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Crowd Pleaser: I have never met a single person—adult or child—who turned down a smear of sweet cinnamon butter. It is pure comfort food.
Ingredients Breakdown
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. Since there are only four ingredients, the quality of what you use will shine through.
1. Salted Butter
I personally prefer salted butter for this recipe. That little bit of salt cuts through the sweetness of the honey and powdered sugar, giving it that addictive “salty-sweet” profile that makes the Texas Roadhouse version so famous.
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Tip: You need 2 sticks (1 cup) of butter, and they must be softened. Not melted, not cold, but perfectly soft room temperature. If the butter is too cold, it won’t whip; if it’s melted, it will be greasy.
2. Powdered Sugar
We use 1 cup of powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar). This does two things: it adds sweetness, and the cornstarch in the sugar helps stabilize the butter so it stays fluffy.
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Substitution: Do not use granulated sugar. It will leave the butter gritty.
3. Honey
You will need 1 cup of honey. Use a good quality clover honey or local raw honey if you can find it. The flavor of the honey is the star of the show here.
4. Cinnamon
Two teaspoons of ground cinnamon bring the warmth.
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Tip: If your cinnamon has been sitting in the back of the cupboard since 2015, treat yourself to a fresh jar. Fresh cinnamon makes a huge difference in the aroma.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making this is less about cooking and more about patience with your mixer. We want to incorporate as much air as possible.
Step 1: Prep the Butter
Make sure your butter has been sitting out on the counter for at least an hour or two. You want your finger to leave an indent easily when you press it.
Step 2: The First Whip
Place your 2 sticks of softened butter into a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. Whip really well. You want to beat the butter alone for about 2–3 minutes until it turns from yellow to a pale, creamy white. This creates the foundation for the fluffiness.
Step 3: Add the Sugar
Add 1 cup of powdered sugar to the whipped butter. Whip again. Start the mixer on low so you don’t poof sugar all over your kitchen (we’ve all been there!), then increase the speed. Beat it for another 2 minutes until fully combined and smooth.
Step 4: Honey and Spice
Finally, pour in 1 cup of honey and add the 2 teaspoons of cinnamon. Whip again. This is the final stretch. Whip it on medium-high speed for another 2–3 minutes. You will see the mixture expand slightly and become incredibly light and airy.
Transfer the fluffy butter into clean jars. As I mentioned, I doubled this recipe, and it filled six 8-ounce jars perfectly.
Expert Tips for Fluffy Butter
Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to make sure this turns out perfect every time.
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Scrape the Bowl: During the whipping process, stop the mixer a few times and use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Ingredients like honey tend to sink to the bottom, and you want everything evenly mixed.
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Don’t Rush the Whip: It is tempting to just mix it until combined and stop. Don’t do that! The extra minutes of whipping are what change the texture from “greasy honey butter” to “whipped cloud butter.”
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The Honey Ratio: If you find the butter is separating or looking “curdled,” it usually means the honey was added too fast or the butter was too cold. Add the honey slowly while the mixer is running to help it emulsify.
Variations to Try
While this classic cinnamon version is my absolute favorite, you can easily tweak this base recipe for different seasons:
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Pumpkin Spice Butter: Swap half the cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice. This is incredible on fall muffins.
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Maple Butter: Substitute half of the honey for pure maple syrup. Note that maple syrup is thinner than honey, so you may need a little extra powdered sugar to hold the texture.
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Vanilla Bean: Add a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste for a luxurious, speckled look and a deeper flavor profile.
What to Serve with Honey Cinnamon Butter
Honestly, I could eat this on a spoon, but it shines best when melted over warm carbs. Here are a few of my favorite pairings using recipes from the blog:
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Yeast Rolls: This is the classic pairing. I usually whip up a batch of my Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls to go with this butter, and it tastes just like the restaurant version.
Biscuits: If you are in a hurry, try these quick 2 Ingredient Biscuits. The salty biscuit with the sweet butter is a match made in heaven.
Breakfast: Slather this on top of a stack of Homemade Pancakes or waffles. It melts into the syrup and creates a sauce that is out of this world.
Sweet Breads: This butter pairs lovely with a slice of moist Banana Nut Bread or pumpkin bread for an afternoon snack.
Storage and Gifting
Since this recipe contains dairy, storage is important, especially if you are gifting it.
Does it need to be refrigerated? Yes and no. Butter and honey are both preservatives in their own right. You can safely leave this butter out on the counter for a day or two (like I did yesterday!), which keeps it soft and spreadable. However, for long-term storage, or if your kitchen is particularly warm, I recommend putting it in the refrigerator.
How long does it last?
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Refrigerator: It will last up to a month in the fridge. It will firm up when cold, so just advise your gift recipients to let it sit on the counter for 15–20 minutes before serving so it gets soft again.
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Freezer: You can freeze this butter! Place it in an airtight container, and it will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight.
Gifting Tip: If you are giving this as a gift, write “Keep Refrigerated” on a cute tag attached to the jar. It adds a professional touch and ensures your friends keep their butter fresh.
FAQs
Can I use margarine instead of butter? I really recommend sticking to real butter for this recipe. Margarine has a higher water content and an oilier texture that just doesn’t whip up the same way. The flavor of real cream butter is essential here.
Why did my butter separate? This usually happens if the ingredients were at drastically different temperatures. If your butter was soft but your honey was cold from the pantry, they might not mix well. Ensure everything is at room temperature. If it separates, just keep whipping on high speed—it often comes back together!
Can I cut the sugar? You can reduce the powdered sugar slightly, but remember that the sugar adds volume and stability. If you remove it entirely, you are just making sweetened butter, not whipped butter. It will still taste good, but the texture will be denser.
What kind of jars did you use? In the photos, I used 8-ounce mason jars. I found some adorable fruit-patterned lids that give them a vintage, country feel. You can find similar small canning jars at most grocery stores or online.
Conclusion
I hope this Whipped Honey Cinnamon Butter recipe becomes a new tradition in your home, just like it has in mine. It is such a small, simple thing, but it brings so much joy to the table. Whether you are slathering it on a hot roll at Thanksgiving dinner or tying a ribbon around a jar for a neighbor, it is made with love.
Did your grandma make flavored butters too? Let me know in the comments below! And if you make this, don’t forget to pin it to your Christmas board or share a picture on Facebook.
Whipped Honey Cinnamon Butter (Texas Roadhouse Copycat)
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter softened (2 sticks)
- 1 cup powdered sugar confectioners' sugar
- 1 cup honey clover or wildflower
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Prep: Ensure your butter is completely softened to room temperature.
- First Whip: Place the softened butter in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer. Whip on high speed for 2-3 minutes until the butter turns pale yellow (almost white) and creamy.
- Add Sugar: Add the powdered sugar. Start the mixer on low to incorporate, then whip on high for another 2 minutes until smooth.
- Add Flavor: Pour in the honey and add the cinnamon.
- Final Whip: Whip the mixture on medium-high speed for 2-3 more minutes. This is crucial to get that "fluffy" texture.
- Serve: Transfer to a serving bowl or mason jars. Serve at room temperature with warm rolls or bread.
Notes
