Ina Garten’s Favorite Brand of Butter for Baking Isn’t Kerrygold

One of the things that I found so compelling when I read Ina Garten’s memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, is that she was up front about when she took big swings—and whether they were hits or misses.

When she was 21, Ina decided to throw a dinner party for 20 of her closest friends. Then she whipped up made-to-order omelets for everyone, which ended up being a huge disaster. “I was in the kitchen the entire time," Garten wrote. “It was such a bad party, I almost never had another party again."

All I can say to Ina is, thank you for working up the courage to start hosting again. I can't imagine a world without Ina Garten’s gorgeous Fresh Fig & Ricotta Cake or her Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp. Ina belongs in the kitchen, baking for Jeffrey and all of her wonderful friends.

When I heard that Ina Garten’s favorite butter for baking isn’t Kerrygold, I was surprised. In my experience, pro bakers love to use Kerrygold. But I figured after years of practice, Ina must have a good explanation.

What Does Ina Use Instead of Kerrygold?

Kerrygold's Irish butter is known for being reliably creamy and delicious (and available at Costco). It’s a European-style butter, which by definition has a higher fat content: 82% compared to 80% in American butter. That's why bakers usually love it so much.

But Ina reaches for another stick in the kitchen: “I often use Cabot unsalted butter, but there are many good brands of butters available,” she said. “What's most important is to make sure you use unsalted butter, so you are able to control the amount of salt in the recipe. Salted butters can vary significantly in the amount of salt they contain.”

Ina Garten was the first person who made me realize the value of unsalted butter for baking. Previously, I had just bought whatever was on sale, and gravitated toward the salted version for more flavor. But, much like using a kitchen scale to weigh ingredients, this was one trick that definitely upgraded my baked goods.

Cabot Creamery’s Extra Premium Unsalted Butter won first place in the American Cheese Society Awards 2025. I have to admit, though, Ina Garten’s stamp of approval is more prestigious!