It’s no secret that butter makes everything better. Not just mixed into the makings of biscuits, pound cakes, and cobblers, but also served on the side and slathered on. Southerners are no strangers to keeping butter out on the counter for when the everyday need strikes; and when hosting, you’d be remiss to not offer your guests a generous pat. For that, the newest butter “trend” is one of the oldest in the book: butter molds.

Butter molds and stamps first became popular in the the 18th and 19th centuries, when dairy farmers strived to brand their butter for customers. Additionally, historically butter molds were used as a way of displaying food in an artful way in well-to-do households and for grand events. Now, people have taken the old-fashioned tradition and brought it back in a big way, turning butter into fantastical shapes, including charming farm animals, elegant flowers, beachy seashells, and countless other designs perfect for hosting parties, showers, and other gatherings at home.

Where Do Butter Molds Come From? We Love This Old-Fashioned Kitchen Tool Where You Can Find Butter Molds Today, you can still find vintage wooden butter molds at antique stores, flea markets, estate auctions, and online retailers like eBay and Etsy. You can also use versatile silicone molds to create butter shapes without fear of it sticking to the mold’s edges and walls. Whether you’re looking for a simple floral shape or a pastoral scene complete with a rooster, there’s a butter mold out there for every table and occasion. Use freshly homemade butter to fill the molds, or soften store-bought butter for a quick fix.

Here are 8 butter molds—vintage and new—to shop now.

Our Top Picks Rooster Hen Silicone Molds at Amazon ($8) Jump to Review Rose Flower Silicone Molds at Amazon ($7) Jump to Review TheButterEmpire Butter Mold at Etsy ($28) Jump to Review Seashells Silicone Mold at Amazon ($9) Jump to Review SusanIrvineDesign Vintage Wood Butter Mold at Etsy ($24) Jump to Review Pskjatin Round Silicone Molds at Amazon ($9) Jump to Review Lehman's Handmade 2-Piece Rooster Butter Mold at Amazon ($38) Jump to Review LLchunyun Tulip and Sunflower Silicone Molds at Amazon ($12) Jump to Review Rooster Hen Silicone Molds

View On Amazon Nothing is more welcome in a Southern kitchen than rooster decor, and this mold fits the bill.

Rose Flower Silicone Molds

View On Amazon Be prepped for any day parties and showers with these pretty rose-shaped molds that are nonstick in all the nooks and crannies.

TheButterEmpire Butter Mold

View On Etsy Springtime calls for cute butter shapes, including this Easter bunny-inspired mold that will be an absolute hit at brunch.

Seashells Silicone Mold

View On Amazon It doesn't get more fun than shell-shaped butter pats that you can display on a platter like a straight-from-the-beach collection.

SusanIrvineDesign Vintage Wood Butter Mold

View On Etsy Traditional butter molds were made from wood, and this vintage option showcases scalloped edges and a pretty imprint.

Pskjatin Round Silicone Molds

View On Amazon If you're looking for more classic butter pats for your next hosting occasion, these molds will get the job done without much fuss or mess.

Lehman's Handmade 2-Piece Rooster Butter Mold

View On Amazon Go fully vintage farmhouse with an old-fashioned wooden butter mold in a rooster shape.

LLchunyun Tulip and Sunflower Silicone Molds

View On Amazon Spring parties shouldn't be complete without butter shaped into tulips and sunflowers.

Frequently Asked Questions How do you use a butter mold? Softened room-temperature butter—whether freshly homemade or from the grocery store—is preferable for spreading and smoothing butter into molds. Allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before removing. To speed along the process, you can place molds in the freezer for around 30 minutes. Soak wooden molds in cold water 30 minutes before using.

Can you use silicone molds for butter? Yes, you can use versatile silicone molds to shape butter, as well as other things such as ice and soap. More traditional methods for shaping butter call for wooden two-piece molds.