In culinary school, and then as a professional recipe developer, cookbook author, and food director at REAL SIMPLE, it has been ingrained in me to use unsalted butter in baking, as opposed to salted.

All you need to easily make homemade butter is one ingredient and a mixer.

A countertop upgrade for anyone who dislikes cold, hard butter. If you cook at home, you know cold butter can ruin a good morning. It tears your toast, crushes your pancakes, and refuses to spread.

One of the fastest methods is also the most foolproof. Charlotte Rutledge is the former recipe testing and development manager for King Arthur Baking Company. She has worked in professional kitchens ...