Here’s a weird trick: one stick of butter equals 1/2 cup. So half a pound? That’s two sticks. Easy math. Even easier eating.
But why is butter sold in pounds? Blame history. Old-school dairies loved big blocks. Now, the one-pound package is king. But half of that king’s kingdom is your baking throne.
Fun fact: The wrapping on a stick of butter has measurement marks. You literally can’t mess this up. It’s idiot-proof. And delicious-proof.
The Melting Mystery
Okay, here’s where it gets silly. If you melt that half-pound of butter, does it still measure one cup? No. Melted butter takes up less space. It’s sneaky. Liquid butter is denser, so half a pound melts down to about 7/8 cup.
Don’t let this ruin your cookies. Always measure butter before melting. Unless you like flat, greasy pancakes. You don’t. Trust me.
This same rule applies to margarine. But why would you use margarine? Butter is the star. The diva. The reason your croissants flake.
