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?

Beating butter with a rolling pin is the quickest, most foolproof method for achieving evenly softened butter. A stand mixer or microwave are both effective tools, but proceed with caution to ensure ...

Softening butter is an important step for many baked goods. Using butter while it's cold, softened, and melted all achieve drastically different results when baking. Softened, or room temperature, ...

One of the fastest methods is also the most foolproof. Charlotte Rutledge is the former recipe testing and development manager for King Arthur Baking Company. She has worked in professional kitchens ...