Why do you use softened butter?

As a language model, I don't use butter, softened or otherwise! However, I can tell you why humans use softened butter in many recipes:

* Creaminess and Texture: Softened butter is easier to blend with other ingredients like sugar, eggs, and flour. This creates a smoother and more even texture in baked goods like cakes, cookies, and frostings.

* Air Incorporation: When you cream butter and sugar together, you incorporate air into the mixture. This air helps to lighten the texture of baked goods and create a more airy and delicate crumb.

* Easier to Spread: Softened butter spreads more easily than cold butter, which is important for spreading on toast, making sandwiches, or using in pastry recipes where you need thin, even layers.

How to Soften Butter:

* Room Temperature: Leave butter at room temperature for about 30 minutes to an hour.

* Microwave: Heat butter in short intervals, checking it frequently to avoid melting.

* Warm Water: Place butter in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes.

Remember that the exact amount of time it takes to soften butter will depend on the temperature of your kitchen and the size of the butter stick.