Tomato Butter –it’s good on everything!

It’s August, and if you grow tomatoes in your garden, you have loads of them. Enough to make plenty of Caprese salads, tomato sandwiches, and yes, even tomato butter, which, by the way, is good on everything!
Tomato butter is the perfect thing to share on a Sunday, because it has quickly become a favorite around here. As a spread on fresh bread, toast, or swirled into hot pasta, or potatoes.


Ingredients you’ll need to make tomato butter
- Butter
- Cherry tomatoes
- Fresh herbs (I used thyme), oregano, or fresh basil would be great too.
- Salt and black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional)









And the equipment you will need
- Food processor
- Bowl
- Sieve
- Baking sheet
- Aluminum foil
- Glass jars
To make this simple summer tomato butter, place the tomatoes on a baking sheet and broil them until they are about to burst and slightly charred. I put my oven rack about 8″ from the broiler. Then you’ll need to strain the tomatoes to remove the juice.
Then all you need to do is toss them into a bowl of a food processor, add the fresh herbs, salt, and pepper, and pulse a few times to blend. Then add the butter. I used one stick of unsalted and one stick of salted butter.
Put into glass jars like Weck jars and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.

If you like this compound butter, you may also like this one made with chive blossoms.
More Sunday favorites
Everyday Totes from Alex Mill

Some of my most tried and true clothing items are from Alex Mill. My favorite pair of jeans has the look and feel of a vintage pair of Levi’s. The Neil Herringbone Pants are another favorite that I wear every week. I also love the poplin shirts that barely even need pressing; the fabric is so beautiful.
They have recently added the perfect tote that you can have monogrammed. It comes in three sizes and several colors. I have my eye on the Weekday Tote!
Nearly New Cashmere
Nearly New Cashmere sells immaculate secondhand cashmere pieces and silk scarves. They are located in the UK, but ship to the United States. What intrigues me about buying secondhand is that you are probably getting a much higher quality piece than many new cashmere sweaters from large retailers.
I discovered them on Instagram, where they often talk about how they care for cashmere and their process of cleaning the items they resell. I use the same tool they recommend, and it’s back in stock after months of being out of stock. It’s a fabric shaver you can use on any garment, pillow covers, furniture, or whatever else needs it.
For more on caring for cashmere, read this post.
Am I the only person who hasn’t tried Supergoop Sunscreen?
To be honest, I was gifted this sunscreen from Goop. My daughter has been using Supergoop Sunscreen for a few years, and I’ve started using it this summer. It’s so good. I love wearing it every day! I especially love the Unseen Sunscreen. It’s weightless and doesn’t irritate my eyes (which are very sensitive). It works like a primer under any foundation or makeup.
Play is an everyday lotion with an SPF 50 and is sweat and water-resistant.
Fly Fans
Have you tried these? We were at our block party on Friday night, and the bees were swarming around the food. Someone ran home and came back with two fly fans, which we placed on the table. We were shocked at how quickly the bees disappeared! Flies weren’t the problem, but I’m sure they work for flies as well as bees!
That’s all I have today–let’s check in with Mary Ann & Cindy!
Classic Casual Home
Read Mary Ann’s Sunday post here.
Cindy Hattersely Design
Read Cindy’s Sunday post here.
Tomato Butter
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Total Time: 16 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 1x
- Category: spread
Ingredients
- 2 sticks of butter (room temperature)
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
-
-
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and move the rack to about 8″ from the broiler. Broil the tomatoes for about 6 to 8 minutes until they are slightly charred and ready to burst.
- Allow tomatoes to cool and place in a sieve to drain the juices. Discard the juice.
- Move to the bowl of a food processor and add the thyme, salt, and pepper. Pulse a few times to combine.
- Add the butter and blend until smooth.
- Store in jars and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before using.
-
Notes
If you want your tomato butter to be like a compound butter, you will want to strain the tomatoes and discard the juice. If you want it to be more like a sauce for pasta, you can leave some of the juice.

Question on the tomato butter – Do you put the drained juice into the food processor (or toss it?) or the remaining tomatoes (do you use the skins?). Thank you.
Hi Nadine! You discard the juice when making the tomato butter or it will be more like a sauce. The skins from cherry tomatoes are pretty thin, so they will just blend in when you use a food preocessor or a blender. You’ll see some, but most will just blend into the butter.
Annie! Your tomato butter looks so pretty and I know it’s delicious. I’m missing our garden this year, but luckily I have friends growing tomatoes. Love Supergoop sunscreens, but haven’t tried the Unseen … thanks for the rec. My eyes are sensitive too. xo
Juliet- you did have the most beautiful garden, but friends with tomatoees to share with you is lovely as well! Happy August!
xx
I’VE GOT TO MAKE that Tomato Butter. I use the Goop sunscreen often.
The tomato butter looks yummy and so easy. Thanks for sharing!
Annie this tomato butter came at the perfect time… My dad just brought me a load of tomatoes and mine are beginning to come in too. I love this!
Those totes have been on my radar . They are so cute! I adore Alex Mill. I follow the nearly new cashmere too and I agree we are likely better off buying from them. I need that shaver too.
Have a great week. xo Kim
After returning from France, butter must be on your mind…blended wiht your dad’s tomatoes, how divine!
I can see you with one of these totes…with your tennis racquets!
Hi Annie,
The link to the fabric shaver isn’t working for me. Who makes the fabric shaver— or where do you buy it please?
Mary
Hi Annie,
The link to the fabric shaver isn’t working for me. Who makes the fabric shaver please— and where do you buy it?
Thank you!
Mary
Hi Mary,
This is the one that I have and love…it’s from Amazon. I’m not sure of the brand. https://amzlink.to/az0tE7xPtAB6e
Let me know if for smome reason the link is not working. I tried the link in the post and it works for me. Perhaphs you have a firewall preventing certtain links?
Annie
Thank you for this recipe. I used my excess cherry tomatoes and herbs to make it a pasta sauce. I like your newsletters as I used to live in Ridgefield so I enjoy reading about the places you go to shop etc….
HI Sheila! I’ll bet that was so good as a pasta sauce! I adore Ridgefield! Such a beautiful town! Did you move far from CT? Just curious!
Thank you for reading!
xo
annie
Made the tomato butter yesterday. Had some people over and I caught a couple people just eating it with a spoon. It was delicious. Thank you.
Always look forward to your posts.
Hi Sandra! Isn’t it so yummy? My sweet neighbor just dropped off another basket of cherry tomatoes…I may make it again! Happy August!
Making it right this very minute for book club!!
Can the tomato butter be frozen in the little jars?
I think it could be! I haven’t tried it, but I I don’t see why not!