Butter provides not just an excellent base for flaky baked goods, but it also gives us that too-delicious buttery taste.
If your butter isn’t properly softened ahead of time, the sugar crystals will start cutting into your cold pieces of butter and create small granules of chunky butter/sugar bits. This is unappetizing.
The most obvious and classic way to soften butter at room temperature is to let it sit at room temperature on your kitchen counter!
If you take the time to cut your cold butter into small cubes and measure out your other ingredients afterward, you might find that your butter softens to the perfect consistency just before you need it!
When tackling this method, place your butter in the microwave, and heat it for a few seconds. I usually use a low power level on the microwave to ensure I don't overcook it.
Another great way to indirectly heat your butter to room temperature is to heat some water in a large bowl or container. Submerging the smaller bowl with butter into the larger one will quicken this process.