My Favorite Grocery Store Butter Tastes Like the Fancy European Stuff

I'm a butter fanatic. So much so that I ghostwrote a book on the subject, and I've been a little smitten ever since. The one big takeaway I learned from my ghostwriting project is that the higher the milk fat in the butter, the creamier and more luxurious it will taste.

When I spied a Land O'Lakes Extra Creamy Butter at my local grocery store, I had to try it. The label describes it as "European Style," and at 82 percent milk fat, it delivers on the promise of being extra creamy.

Why I Love Land O’Lakes Extra Creamy Butter 

Most butters in the U.S. contain only 80 percent milk fat or 11 grams of fat per tablespoon serving, while European butters typically contain between 82 percent and 90 percent milk fat. 

Land O'Lakes Extra Creamy Butter aligns squarely with the European definition of butter, boasting 82 percent milk fat and 12 grams of fat per tablespoon serving. At my local grocery stores, it costs between $5 and $6 for a pound. It is available in both salted and unsalted varieties. Nationally, it's sold at Kroger, Mariano's, Meijer, Woodman's, and other specialty grocery stores.

Now, a two percent milk fat doesn't seem like much, but you can really taste the difference. Land O'Lakes Extra Creamy butter coats your tongue in the most perfect way. 

Many chefs and home cooks prefer baking with European-style butter because it yields baked goods that taste lighter and fluffier. European-style butters are also easier to work with, making it easier to turn that pie crust into a masterpiece.

While I prefer making croissants with a butter that has a higher milk fat content, what I love most about Land O'Lakes Extra Creamy butter is that it makes my morning toast and English muffins extra scrumptious. Simply put, it just tastes better, and if I'm going to eat butter, I want to taste really good.

European-style butter is also better for making compound butters. If you're considering creating a butter board with various flavored butters, it will elevate your board effortlessly.

I have also used this butter for a Classic Beurre Blanc Sauce, and it makes it even more—well—buttery. My 15-year-old son, who also enjoys cooking, suggests I use it the next time I make Garlic Herb Steak Bites.

If you use Land O'Lakes Extra Creamy Butter, it will elevate your dish. Plus, you don't need to travel abroad to enjoy it. It's now my go-to butter, and it's an affordable treat that brings me happiness.

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