If your recipe asks for melted butter, the measurement is still the same: 3/4 of a stick equals 6 tablespoons. But here’s a fun fact: melted butter takes up a tiny bit less volume than solid butter because the air bubbles escape. So if you’re measuring melted butter in a liquid measuring cup, you’ll want to use exactly 6 tablespoons of melted gooey goodness. Don’t stress—just melt it, pour it, and move on.
And if you accidentally melt the whole stick and then try to scoop out 3/4? You’re a mess, but I love you. Just use a liquid measuring cup and fill to the 6-tablespoon line. Or, you know, go full butter and use the whole stick—no one has to know. Your cake will just be a little richer. Consider it a happy accident.
A word on stick sizes (because the world is chaos)
In some countries, butter sticks are different sizes. In Australia, for instance, a stick is often 250 grams (about 1/2 pound), which is bigger than our American sticks. If you’re using imported butter, do a quick Google search or just weigh it. For the record, I have a kitchen scale just for this reason—and also to weigh my cat (don’t ask).
Measuring Butter Sticks: Easy Tips For 3/4 Cup Portions | CyButter
But if you’re in the U.S., you can breathe easy. Our sticks are standardized, like fast food or road rage. So 3/4 of a stick will always be your reliable 6 tablespoons. It’s one of life’s rare certainties, right up there with death, taxes, and butter making everything better.
Now, let’s talk about substitutions for a second. If you’re out of butter (how dare you?) and need 3/4 of a stick, you can use 6 tablespoons of coconut oil or 6 tablespoons of vegetable shortening. But honestly? It’s not the same. Butter is a magical compound of fat, water, and fairy dust. Don’t swap it out unless you absolutely have to—and then, maybe just apologize to your recipe first.
