When you set out to bake cookies or make a cake, you might notice that many recipes call for softened butter. But do you really need to soften your butter? And if so, what’s the quickest way to do it?

Countless recipes, my own included, indicate “soft butter.” I even have a couple recipes where I instruct for the butter to be “soft like mayonnaise.” The trouble is that while it’s easy to get butter ...

Is any baking snafu as frustrating as when you're about to whip up some delicious treats and realize belatedly that a recipe calls for softened butter? While some folks challenge food science ...

If you use butter, you’re familiar with the dilemma of pulling a cold stick out of the fridge to use on toast or in a recipe that calls for softened butter. Throwing it in the microwave can lead to a ...