Butter boards spawn new trends

A few weeks ago I wrote about the TikTok trend of butter boards. As often happens with viral trends, this has produced plenty of copycats. Apparently concept of smearing a tasty dip onto a serving platter and surrounding it with vegetables appeals to a broad audience, because now there are not only butter boards, but hummus boards, Nutella boards and even Cool Whip boards as well. (This WaPo link should be free to all, no account needed.)

Basically, if you can spread it out and dip things in it, whatever you use is fair game. One TikTok candy maker mad a dulce le leche board, and on the savory side labneh, cream cheese, and fluffy ricotta join hummus as a base. As for the toppings, it’s another free-for-all, with people using everything from smoked salmon to Halloween candy.

The WaPo article explains a possible reason this trend seems to have staying power: “With inflation and other factors driving up food costs, a board topped with butter or another spread is typically cheaper than a traditional charcuterie board loaded with pricey meats and cheeses — while still offering a similar visual feast.” As butter prices have also climbed, it’s only natural that more economical items take its place.

I cannot say that I am enamored with this trend. I would rather keep the dips in bowls and arrange veggies, crackers, fruits, and nuts around them instead of smearing the dips on a board or platter. Maybe my aversion to this practice is a delayed reaction to a boss I had many years ago who insisted on dragging his Oreos through a jar of peanut butter without scooping the peanut butter onto a plate first. I don’t want to ruin anyone else’s enjoyment, however, so cheers to you if this is your jam. Hmm, now that I mention that word, I wonder if anyone has tried a jam board (probably, although maybe I should create a TikTok just in case…)