One more time, so it sticks: 1 stick = 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons. So 1/2 stick = 1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons. It’s half of a half. Easy as pie—which, by the way, also needs about 1/4 cup of butter for a flaky crust. Symbolism? Maybe.
Next time you’re in the kitchen, just grab that butter, cut it at the halfway point, and carry on like a pro. You’ve got this. And if you mess up? Well, worst case, you have an excuse to eat a slightly imperfect cookie. That’s not a loss—that’s a win wearing a disguise.
So go ahead, melt that 1/4 cup, brown it a little, and pour it over some popcorn. Or cream it with sugar for the fluffiest frosting you’ve ever made. Butter is magic. And now you know exactly how much of that magic you need.
