Country Crock Created a Buttery Stick You Don’t Need to Soften

Photo: Taste of Home

‘Tis the season for Christmas cookie baking galore! You love the tradition of mixing, rolling and, of course, taste testing, but between the office holiday party and Christmas shopping for the kids, you barely have time to breathe, let alone whip up a batch of Peanut Butter Blossoms. And that annoying step of waiting for the butter to soften is precious time you just don’t have.

There’s a New Baking Ingredient in Town

Fear not, busy bakers. Country Crock just released a new butter-like product that, gasp, doesn’t even need to soften. That’s right…it’s ready to go straight out of the fridge. How exactly does it work, though? Simple: The new Country Crock Buttery Sticks are made with some sunflower oil. Plus, they’re available in both salted and unsalted versions so you have an option for any recipe you want to make.

How to Use It

You can use it just as you would a regular stick of butter (it’s a 1:1 ratio) and it has the same creamy texture you need for that perfectly baked Christmas cookie. And we promise it tastes just as delicious. Same taste in half the time? Yep, we are all about that, especially when your annual holiday party starts in less than an hour and you haven’t even started baking!

It may not seem like much but using the Country Crock Buttery Sticks could save you a half hour that you can now spend on wrapping that big pile of presents. Plus, we all know the struggle of getting all your ingredients out and starting to mix everything together, only to realize your butter is still rock hard.

Bring Buttery Sticks to the Table

It doesn’t just have to be for baking, either. Why not put out one of the rich and creamy Buttery Sticks with some warm homemade rolls for your Christmas Eve dinner? It’s super spreadable, super tasty, and superior to that tub of margarine you always resort to.

Christmas should be a time of happy memories and delicious treats, not stress and ruined cookies. And thanks to Country Crock and its ingenious Buttery Sticks, your holiday season just got so much easier (and sweeter!). We can’t help but wonder why no one thought of this sooner…

Whip that butter into these shortbread recipes.

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Shortbread

I live in Missouri, but many of our family recipes come from New Zealand, where I lived as a youngster. I proudly claim a Down Under heritage! These special-occasion cookies bring back warm and sweet memories of my childhood, and I'm going to make sure they're passed on to the next generation in my family—no matter where they live. —A. Swenson, Camdenton, Missouri

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Taste of Home

Shortbread Hearts

These flaky cookies melt in your mouth. Dipped in chocolate, they look festive.—Barbara Birk, St. George, Utah

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Lemon Shortbread Trees

Here's a fun holiday recipe children can help with. And no cookie cutters are needed! I just shape the dough into a triangular log, refrigerate it and cut it into tree-shaped slices to bake and decorate. Broken pretzel sticks form the tree trunks. —Phyllis Schmalz, Kansas City, Kansas

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Glazed Maple Shortbread Cookies

Whenever I visit friends in Lutsen, Minnesota, I make sure to buy maple syrup there because I think it's even better than in Quebec. These delicious cookies can be decorated with sprinkles but they're just fine as is.—Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario

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Buttery 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies

With only a few ingredients, these butter shortbread cookies are so simple to prepare. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire

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Cranberry Shortbread Stars

My family loves shortbread and I love cranberries, so I decided to put the two together to make cranberry shortbread cookies. The star shape is a festive addition to my holiday cookie tray. —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California

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Scottish Shortbread

My mother, who is of Scottish heritage, passed this shortbread recipe, along with other favorite recipes, on to me. When I entered this treat at our local fair, it won a red ribbon. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba

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Whipped Shortbread

These whipped shortbread cookies melt in your mouth. Mostly I make them for the holidays, but I'll also prepare them year-round for wedding showers and afternoon teas. —Jane Ficiur, Bow Island, Alberta

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Homemade Chocolate Shortbread

This recipe has been in my files for a long time...probably from when I first learned to bake. Any chocolate lover will like these melt-in-your-mouth cookies. I make them year-round with variations. They're even richer with a thin coat of icing or as a sandwich cookie with frosting in the middle. —Sarah Bueckert, Austin, Manitoba

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Shortbread Cutouts

I found this recipe in a magazine over 30 years ago and have made these shortbread cutout cookies for Christmas ever since. They're an oh-so-simple recipe to whip up during the hectic holidays. —Jean Henderson, Montgomery, Texas

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Slice & Bake Coconut Shortbread Cookies

Light and buttery, these delicate shortbread cookies are melt-in-your-mouth good. The coconut flavor makes them extra special. —Roberta Otto, Duluth, Minnesota

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Taste of Home

Carrot Cake Shortbread

I really love carrot cake and wanted to make a cookie that had the same flavors. These comforting cookies are just the ticket! Cinnamon, maple and vanilla make them perfect for the holidays. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

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Taste of Home

Crisp Lemon Shortbread

Fresh juice and zest pair up to give my buttery cookies a lemony pop. Sprinkle sugar on top for extra sparkle. —Marcia Whitney, Gainesville, Florida

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Scottish Shortbread Cookies

This simple three-ingredient shortbread cookie recipe makes wonderfully rich, tender cookies. Serve them with fresh berries of the season for a nice, light dessert. You'll get miles of smiles when friends see these at an afternoon tea or a bridal shower. —Marlene Hellickson, Big Bear City, California

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Candy Cane Shortbread Bars

I created these bars for my daughter, who loves peppermint. The buttery shortbread texture just melts in your mouth. They're a hit wherever I take them. —Susan Ciuffreda, Huntersville, North Carolina

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Taste of Home

Shortbread Squares

Here's a traditional shortbread recipe that's perfect with a cup of hot tea or coffee. It's a favorite during the holidays. —G. C. Mayhew, Grass Valley, California

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