I think it's uber (and when I say uber, you know I'm serious) that readers know bloggers are far from perfect.
We get frustrated.
We eat junk food.
We poop (I'm sorry, but it's the truth).
We are human.
And part of being human involves bribing our children with small chocolate candies to get them to learn to use the toilet. I ain't ashamed. I totally bribed. But it wasn't nearly as good as this kid friendly candy alternative recipe.
Now that we're a good four months into being potty trained, G-love is slowly being weaned off the M&M or jellybean she is allowed as a ‘treat' after going – if she forgets to ask, I don't bring it up. But for the time being, I'm still okay with her getting one for a successful…ya know…poo.
That being said, while I don't mind giving her a ‘treat', I am pretty sick and tired of having all that corn-syrup laden, artificially-dyed bag of goodies sittin' around. If it's not here, we can easily go without reaching into the bag…but once it's in the house, all bets are off. That's what I simply DON'T BUY CANDY EVER! Hence the kid friendly candy alternative recipe.
What I'm getting at is simply this: I'd like a better option for her treats.
And for a Weston A. Price whole-foodie, such as myself, I see no better option than butter buttons.
My friend Courtney brought these up again to me, though I remember making something quite similar in the past. Once I got the idea in my mind, I couldn't let it go. So instead, I gave in to the delicious, healthy-fatty-goodness. You should too.
Kid Friendly Candy Alternative Recipe (AKA: Butter Treats)
You will need:
– 1/2 pound of grass-fed butter, chilled (use the highest quality butter you can find, like Kerrygold)
– 2-3 teaspoons high-quality cinnamon
– 3-4 tablespoons raw honey or maple syrup
Step One: Combine all the ingredients together in a food processor or mixer.
Step Two: Use a spatula to scrap the butter mixture into a small, plastic bag. Cut a small hole in the bottom corner of the bag and slowly squish the butter out, like piping on a cake.
Step Three: On a plate (be wiser than me and put down some parchment paper!) gently squeeze the butter out of the bag into lil' button size dollops of butter.
Don't worry about making them perfect. Unless you're a perfectionist. Then this may not be the best task for you.
Step Four: Stick the plates in the freezer until the buttons set. Then, gently remove from the plates and store in a mason jar in the freezer.
Georgia loves, Loves, LOVES, LOOOOOVES Kerrygold butter. And I pretty much recognize it as a superfood. I am happy that she can now fill her little belly with this kid friendly candy alternative recipe instead of that nasty candy.
She gets so excited for them after she, ya know…
BUTTER TWEAT!!! BUTTER TWEEEEEEAT!!! she shouts with enthusiasm.
And, truth be told, I've been known to slip a few butter buttons into my morning cup of coffee. It adds a nice little fatty flair of which I am quite fond.
Fatty flair.
Now those are two words you don't see together very often.
You know you're in a traditional foods kitchen when you do.
For other great meal ideas, no matter what your dietary restrictions, check out the meal planning service I use: Real Plans.
Heidi
April 4, 2013 at 9:49 pmI wonder if you could mix coconut oil and butter. I might try it….
Barbara Carlson Mattson
April 14, 2013 at 3:15 pmSo, did it work?
Maria P.
April 15, 2013 at 4:34 pmGreat idea!
Seana Ames
May 7, 2013 at 2:19 pmYes! It works with Coconut Oil, as well. I’ve done it. Our family has issues with dairy. We use coconut oil as a substitute for butter all the time.
Sev
January 26, 2014 at 6:25 pmIt was the first thought i had while reading the article. Thanks for sharing – tomorrow morning wil do it 🙂
Brittany Bair
April 4, 2013 at 9:56 pmInteresting. I need to try this out. Thanks for sharing.
Danielle Levins
April 5, 2013 at 8:10 amlove love love this!!!!
Noël McNeil
April 5, 2013 at 8:17 amOoh, I love butter! My 8 month old does too… 🙂
Sue Ellen
April 7, 2013 at 6:03 pmDid it! Awesome idea! I saved a little for a treat in the frig so we could have some with bread. 😉
Jeanette_P
April 7, 2013 at 11:02 pmThis seems like a better idea than the hard honey candies I tried to make last weekend. It was a disaster! Thanks for the recipe
Barbi Suarez-Rodriguez
April 10, 2013 at 3:45 pmI was wondering if these are chewy or like hard candy? Can’t wait to make them either way! But would like to know — thanks!!
Channing
August 7, 2013 at 6:21 amWouldn’t it just melt? You know… like butter…
Sabrina :)
April 14, 2013 at 10:32 pmI don’t have a mixer. Anyone done this another way or by hand? How about smashing everything together in a gallon ziplock bag? What do you think?
Maria P.
April 15, 2013 at 4:33 pmSabrina, you and me both…I am with you on that one! Keeping it simple….I am sure this would work well enough. My health is serious right now and I must have simple. 🙂
Jeanette_P
May 2, 2013 at 10:31 pmI think if the butter is room temp there is no reason that it won’t smash up quite nicely if you just put it all in the bag and smash (but be careful not to bust the bag, I’ve TOTALLY done that!)
Naomi Devlin
April 15, 2013 at 1:59 amYum, Yum! You could easily make these candy shop perfect by using a piping bag with a florette nozzle. I make something similar with butter, dates and cardamom, frozen in ice cube trays – butter fudge without the refined sugar!
Leonora Corate
August 2, 2013 at 1:33 pmcould you please share the recipe?? thanks:)
KATE
April 6, 2014 at 2:38 amOH dates! Cardamom! Fudge! Please, you’re hurting me here, recipe please??
Jeanette_P
April 25, 2013 at 10:04 pmI just made these for the second time. This time I used molasses instead of honey, we really love it… this has me wondering about maple syrup ones
Eileen @ Phoenix Helix
April 29, 2013 at 9:44 pmFavorite quote: “Don’t worry about making them perfect. Unless your a perfectionist. Then this may not be the best task for you.” LOL
Todd
March 23, 2014 at 10:32 pm“Don’t worry about making them perfect. Unless your a perfectionist. Then this may not be the best task for you.”
Excellent.
Loriel Adams
April 30, 2013 at 3:28 pmHaha! Fatty flair! Love it! Can’t wait to try these!!
[email protected]
May 3, 2013 at 10:02 pmThis is TOO funny. I am in the middle of potty training my son and refuse to buy candies to bribe him. However, I am not beneath MAKING something treat-like for him. I remembered seeing this post on FaceBook somewhere and Googled it. And you use these for potty training treats too!! How neat! Do you have to use unsalted butter?
Kamala George
January 2, 2014 at 7:28 pmi use 1/2 salted kerrygold and half coconut oil…i just cannot find the unsalted kerrygold in my town…good butter makes all the difference.
Anne-Marie
May 5, 2013 at 4:55 pmTag this for pregnant ladies! My nutritionist (also a Weston A. Price uber-fan) had me putting Kerrygold on everything and anything pre-conception and during pregnancy and still, during breastfeeding. Also, I’m low on Vitamin D, and the D in Kerrygold can’t hurt!
Liv
May 7, 2013 at 3:33 pmOh this is exactly what I needed to see today. I’ve accidentally gotten my girls addicted to mini-marshmallows
Katie
July 11, 2013 at 3:22 pmI wish I hadn’t done that, either!
Tabitha Bledsoe
May 10, 2013 at 8:29 amFinally made these last night; they are addicting! I used salted Kerrygold butter, 2.5 tsp cinnamon and 3.5 tbsp honey and they were too strong, so I added 6 more tbsp of butter and they are great! Still darker than yours, though. I see a lot more batches of these in my future 😉
Meagan Visser
May 15, 2013 at 7:24 amThese look amazing and so easy to make. We’re definitely trying these! Thanks!!
Angie
May 17, 2013 at 8:48 amI’m making these today, but instead of cinnamon, I’m going to use peppermint essential oil to make them like butter mints! Can;t wait to taste them!
Amy
April 5, 2014 at 5:16 pmHow did these turn out using mint extract? How much did you use? Thanks!
Anne Ness
June 12, 2013 at 9:40 pmCan u make other flavors for this like butter mints ?
Katie
July 11, 2013 at 3:22 pmOhh, mint would be good!
Susie
June 12, 2013 at 10:11 pmI like to remind moms that it’s only a BRIBE if what you’re trying to get them to do is unethical! If it’s not, it’s just an incentive!!! Now, don’t you feel better!! :- )
Becca
September 25, 2013 at 6:34 amI like to refer to it as ‘positive reinforcement’ 🙂
Shaye Elliott
September 25, 2013 at 10:14 amAww… perfect! 😉
Kelsye
July 6, 2013 at 2:33 pmWhat could you subsitute for the honey. My 9 month old loves kerrygold butter but I do not feel comfterable giving her honey just yet.
Laura
July 8, 2013 at 11:09 pmMaple syrup is usually a good substitute for honey–REAL maple syrup, not maple flavored junk! 😉
Alta
July 9, 2013 at 5:57 amKudos to you for taking a natural approach to candy. However, butter ( no matter how the cow was raised) is a BAD and unhealthy fat. Soy, olive oil, nuts, fatty fish, these are good fat sources. This treat is natural – yes! healthy- no! Here is more info on good and bad fats: http://www.m.webmd.com/diet/features/skinny-fat-good-fats-bad-fats?page=6
Shaye Elliott
July 9, 2013 at 3:42 pmAlta, respectively, I very much disagree with that 🙂
Katie
July 11, 2013 at 3:22 pmThat is a complete myth!
Nichole Davis
July 11, 2013 at 5:22 pmHere are a few articles that may shed a little insight http://www.westonaprice.org/basics/principles-of-healthy-diets, http://www.westonaprice.org/know-your-fats/skinny-on-fats, http://www.westonaprice.org/know-your-fats/good-fats-bad-fats-separating-fact-from-fiction, http://www.westonaprice.org/soy-alert/ploy-of-soy, http://www.westonaprice.org/soy-alert/myths-and-truths-about-soy
Anna
July 11, 2013 at 9:32 pmYou’re on the wrong page if you think soy is a good fat source and that butter is a bad source of fat…www.westonaprice.org
JF
July 12, 2013 at 2:40 pmI actually laughed out loud when I read this. Soy is a good fat source? Yowza.
Megan Gaffney
July 11, 2013 at 3:10 pmDo you use salted or unsalted butter???
andrea
July 12, 2013 at 12:30 amI’ve been using elimination communication with my second child since he was 6 weeks old. He was signing to go to the potty at 4 months, almost completely trained at 18 months (but some regression during the summer). I’m sure he will finish this fall around his second birthday. I will NEVER go back to American potty training. It has been awesome, and no bribes necessary! Look forward to trying the candy.
Christy Mattingly
July 12, 2013 at 1:31 pmSo, it’s basically just frozen honey butter with cinnamon. Around the holidays, I sometimes make honey almond butter. You would just use almond extract instead of cinnamon. I may have to try this for my little butter thiefs who like to take the tub of KG and hide under the kitchen table. lol
Heather Keatts
August 5, 2013 at 10:08 amJust whipped a bit of this up as a treat last night, amazing! Unfortunately it confirmed that right now I can’t tolerate butter, but hopefully someday! So, so good. Thanks for this idea!
Channing
August 7, 2013 at 6:23 amTry coconut oil instead of butter.
fancynonsense
September 1, 2013 at 11:37 amI absolutely love this idea! I just whipped some up using vanilla extract instead of cinnamon (didn’t have any). I can’t wait to share them with my little ones tonight! Thanks for such a sweet idea!
Lynn
September 5, 2013 at 11:27 pmThese sound interesting. I’m not sure if I could stomach the buttery taste that often, though. My “treat” to myself is a bit of plain coconut manna/butter on a spoon. I’m guilty of diving into the jar with a spoon when I’m by myself… 🙂
Tammy Henry
October 19, 2013 at 11:30 pmIf you get addicted to things easily…..DON’T MAKE THESE! 🙂 OMG, they are so freaking good. My 15 month old wouldn’t stop whining for more, and good and bad thing! I also added a little organic vanilla extract. Yummy
TeaJae
December 5, 2013 at 11:18 amWhat a wonderful idea thanks for sharing, this would have never came to me just fabulous. I just found out about Kerrygold butter a month ago. My local market does carry it not the unsalted version. I’ll ask if they can. When I first tasted it I was so shocked and surprised at how superb and creamy it was. I was blown away. Its all I use now. I have to see if Costco carries it. I will make this tonight, sometimes you need a little treat.
Faith
December 7, 2013 at 3:36 pmThanks for the idea … I made them today! Wonderful treat. I only used 2tbsp of maple syrup and they were plenty sweet for my taste.
Kate
December 18, 2013 at 1:32 pmThis sounds so good! I always forget that butter+sugar =icing. I have trouble with dairy but I will try this with tallow. Yum!
Charney
January 4, 2014 at 12:33 pmWhy would you purchase butter to make this if you have your own cow? Agreed, KerryGold is wonderful, but, having your own is the best.
Katarina
January 18, 2014 at 3:28 amHey Shaye, for anyone who can’t tolerate butter, suggest to them that they make this with just coconut oil and its still delicious. I make something very similar that is just coconut oil slightly warmed to be easy to mix with a fork, some honey, a bunch of finely chopped ginger and optional hemp seeds or anything tiny for crunch. Mix it up with a fork and store in a glass jar in the fridge to eat by the spoonful, or put in the fridge for long enough to get hard enough to make little balls by hand. put on a plate back in fridge till hard, then put in a container and store in the freezer for treats. I love the combo of ginger and coconut oil and its incredibly healthy as a treat. I do very minimal honey cause the ginger is strong and you don’t need much sweet.
Kelly
January 26, 2014 at 6:00 pmI make something similar. Half honey half coconut oil and cinnamon
Kristin
February 1, 2014 at 9:18 pmHi, I just tried making these using Kerrygold butter, fresh ground cinnamon, and raw honey. The problem I’m having is that it’s getting really, really watery. What would be causing this?
Shaye Elliott
February 11, 2014 at 9:18 pmWeird. Too much honey, perhaps?
anne
February 16, 2014 at 8:07 pmamazing years ago we were told not to eat butter now it is regarded as a health food how is that can someone explain how butter is a health food can you not over indulge on to much butter?
doomsday prepper
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ANITA BROWN
March 24, 2014 at 10:49 pmOMG……Kerrygold! My favorite. I wish it was as cheap as it is over in Europe at like 99 euro cents per 500g…..sigh. I may be creating this in the very near future to resolve my sweet tooth.
Frederica Huxley
April 5, 2014 at 5:24 pmAlas, I don’t know where you got the information that Kerrygold is 99euro per 500g – just rechecked Tesco/Waitrose prices and it is £5.40 (6.55euro or $8.66)!
Beth
April 1, 2014 at 8:35 amI can’t wait to try these with my 2 year old!
And for the record, I LOVE reading you blog. It always feels like you’re just chatting with friends. 🙂
liz
April 1, 2014 at 12:27 pmsuper yummy! thanks for the recipe 🙂
Barb R.
April 5, 2014 at 10:47 pmOooh…. what about an adult savory version with butter, almond butter and pizza type seasonings or curry type seasonings. No honey or maple syrup. Or melted dark chocolate, peanut butter, butter and a little English toffee stevia. I could think of a ton of combinations….
Maggie
April 7, 2014 at 9:23 amThank you for sharing this!! I don’t need a treat every time I, you know, lol….but I do need something to help the sweet cravings as I detox from sugar. I think this will be just the thing!!
Kari
August 4, 2014 at 4:40 pmDo you think this would work/taste the same with ghee?
Shaye Elliott
August 6, 2014 at 11:36 amYou could always give it a shot – I have no idea!
Christina
August 8, 2014 at 2:40 pmLet me tell you something rad about your recipe here. The last time I made these, I had some of the mixture left over and no room to freeze any more, so I kept kneading it in the plastic bag until it was warm from my hands and on the verge of being watery/runny. I had some Coconut Bliss ice cream in the freezer, so I made myself a bowl and poured the mixture on top. It hardened like that old Magic Shell stuff! AMAZING. I bet you could add cocoa or nut pieces of whatever and make different flavors, but the recipe as-is makes a delicious Magic Shell replacement–love it!
Amy
August 28, 2014 at 5:06 pmHave you made this since you got your own cow? We have our own Jersey cow and make our own butter.
Julie
August 30, 2014 at 9:34 pmHas anyone tried it with mint yet? If so, how much mint did you use? I think this would be a fantastic butter mint recipe!
Jen
March 14, 2019 at 12:20 pmMade these today just beating by hand in a bowl and using a teaspoon to ‘blob’ onto a silicone sheet. Realised once I’d softened the butter that my husband had finished off the maple syrup so I used puréed apple instead – turned out fabulous