Homemade Garlic Scape Butter

Fresh garlic scapes blended into homemade butter to create the ultimate summer compound butter. It’s creamy, savoury, and filled with a mellow garlic flavour that tastes as if it came straight from the garden.

Made by whipping fresh cream into butter and folding in vibrant garlic scapes, lemon zest, and sea salt, this garlic scape butter is perfect for spreading over warm sourdough, melting onto grilled vegetables, tossing with pasta, or serving alongside summer dinners.

It’s simple, seasonal, and one of my favourite ways to preserve the short garlic scape season.

If you love making flavoured butters, this recipe belongs beside my Cacio e Pepe Butter and Chive Lemon Butter; simple ingredients transformed into something you’ll want to keep in your fridge all summer.

Why You'll Love This Garlic Scape Butter

• Made from scratch using fresh cream.
• The perfect way to use seasonal garlic scapes.
• Fresh garlic flavour without being overpowering.
• Freezer-friendly so you can enjoy garlic scapes after the season ends.
• Includes an easy shortcut using store-bought butter.

What Are Garlic Scapes?

Garlic scapes are the curly green shoots that grow from hardneck garlic plants before the garlic bulb is ready to harvest. They have a fresh, mild garlic flavour with a slightly herbaceous taste.

Unlike raw garlic cloves, scapes are softer and less sharp, making them perfect for blending into butters, pestos, sauces, and summer recipes.

Ingredients

For the Homemade Butter

• 2 cups (480 ml) heavy cream

For the Garlic Scape Butter

• Homemade butter from above (about 1 cup / 225–250 g)
• ⅓ cup (25–30 g) garlic scapes, roughly chopped
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt, or to taste
• Freshly cracked black pepper, optional

How to Make Homemade Butter

1. Add the heavy cream to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
2. Beat on medium-high until the cream first becomes whipped cream, then continue mixing until the butter solids separate from the buttermilk. This usually takes 8–12 minutes.
3. Strain off the buttermilk and save it for another recipe.
4. Rinse the butter under cold water, gently kneading until the water runs mostly clear.
5. Pat the butter dry before adding your flavourings.

Don’t throw away the leftover buttermilk! Use it for baking recipes like my Buttermilk Pancakes for the softest, fluffiest pancakes.

Make the Garlic Scape Butter

1. Add chopped garlic scapes to a food processor and pulse until finely minced.
2. Add the homemade butter, lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
3. Blend until smooth, and the garlic scapes are evenly incorporated.
4. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
5. Transfer to a dish or roll into a log using parchment paper.

Shortcut: Using Store-Bought Butter

No time to make homemade butter? This recipe works beautifully with store-bought butter.

Combine:

• 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
• ⅓ cup (25–30 g) garlic scapes
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt

Blend until smooth and creamy.

How to Serve Garlic Scape Butter

This butter is delicious with:

• Warm sourdough bread
• Grilled corn
• Steak
• Roasted potatoes
• Fresh pasta
• Scrambled eggs
• Grilled chicken
• Summer vegetables
• Homemade focaccia

How to Store Garlic Scape Butter

Store garlic scape butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

For longer storage, roll the butter into a log, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to three months. Slice off pieces whenever you need a little summer flavour.

Tips for Success

• Dry your homemade butter well so it lasts longer.
• Process the garlic scapes finely to avoid large fibrous pieces.
• Start with less salt and adjust after mixing.
• Use fresh, tender garlic scapes for the best flavour.
• Save the leftover buttermilk for pancakes, biscuits, or baking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular garlic instead of garlic scapes?

You can, but the flavour will be stronger. Garlic scapes have a softer, fresher garlic flavour that works especially well in compound butter.

Can garlic scape butter be frozen?

Yes. Garlic scape butter freezes beautifully for up to three months. Roll into a log before freezing so you can slice pieces as needed.

Do I need to make homemade butter?

No. Homemade butter gives this recipe a special touch, but softened store-bought butter works perfectly too.

What do garlic scapes taste like?

Garlic scapes taste like a milder version of garlic with fresh green notes similar to chives or scallions.

If you make this Garlic Scape Butter, I’d love to hear how you serve it. Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations.