Butter Board vs. Mashed Potato Board—What Are They and Should You Make One?

Still presenting your guests with a charcuterie board? That's so last season.

Spearheaded by recipe creator Justine Doiron, the now-viral "butter board" has become the go-to for thousands of millennial dinner parties—presenting butter pushed onto a board and covered with herbs, edible flowers, and whatever else takes your fancy.

Millions have rushed to re-create the appealing (and Instagramable) treat. But now there's a new kid on the block—the mashed potato board.

Earlier in October, videos started popping up on TikTok as foodies brought a carbohydrate-heavy twist to the butter board trend.

Take soft mashed potatoes and present them on a board, drizzling oil, adding herbs, vegetables and even cheese. Eaten by picking up the flavored potatoes on bread or chips, the new board has gained attention and spawned new creations.

'Homemade, healthier version of viral butter board'

Planet Food is a team of U.K.-based creatives with a passion for food. One of the first to create a mashed potato board in a TikTok video that has generated more than 340,000 views, they said it was the perfect way to bring a taste of Britain to the viral trend.

Rebecca from The Planet Food told Newsweek: "We jumped on the viral butter board trend but put our own British twist on it. The board is themed around the classic British meal of bangers and mash [a dish consisting of mashed potato and sausages]."

"We would definitely recommend it," said Rebecca. "They're a perfect alternative to a charcuterie board in the winter months, so you can have something hot instead of cold."

Opinions on the fresh take on the board trend have been mixed though, with many TikTokers saying that enough is enough.

"You can't just make everything into boards," said one commenter, while another wrote, "People, just use f****** bowls please."

Another foodie who has gained attention for her potato-based take on the trend is Marie Jeanne Kouchoukian, who runs the TikTok and Instagram accounts donotregretfoodies.

She told Newsweek: "I was thinking about a creative idea and homemade, healthier version of the viral butter board and the idea came up spontaneously."

Despite the popularity of the viral butter board, there have been concerns about the health impacts of the trend. Earlier this month Lilian Cheung, lecturer on nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health urged moderation and told Newsweek: "If butter is a 'sometimes food' that is eaten infrequently…it would be fine if the individual does not have any health risk related to saturated fat."

A mom with three children, Kouchoukian loves to create healthy comfort food for her family. Having grown up eating Middle Eastern food, her potato board put a Lebanese twist on the idea.

"I kept the mashed potatoes simple and tasty by adding only salt and topping with extra virgin olive oil, olives, scallions, and sumac [a spice that popular in the Middle East]," explained Kouchoukian. "This is one of the easiest and healthiest recipes and I believe would be a crowd-pleaser for holidays and celebrations."

'Low-key wished I had thought of it'

​​The Idaho Potato Commission represent the potato growers of the state of Idaho. Often sharing recipes, ideas, and the benefits of the humble potato, it's keen to see the mashed potato board take off.

Sue Kennedy from the Idaho Potato Commission told Newsweek: "I love it. I had seen one mashed potato board video and low-key wished I had thought of it. A mashed potato board can be served anytime and anywhere because potatoes are the most versatile vegetable in the produce aisle."

Kennedy says that the mashed potato board could make the perfect dish for entertaining.

"If you're having people over to watch the World Series or Sunday Night Football, a mashed potato board is the perfect food to serve," she suggested. "You can even theme your board to represent the teams that are playing, like sun-dried tomatoes for the Kansas City Chiefs and pesto for the Philadelphia Eagles."

Internet foodie Iléna Tovia runs the account mommailena on TikTok and made her first mashed potato board after she was set the challenge by a fan.

"I created other boards because I refused to do the butter board," Tovia told Newsweek. "I was tagged in someone else's video who was doing a mashed potato board and I honored the request."

"They taste amazing," she said. "I made mine like a loaded potato and I used Doritos to scoop it up. Even my son got in on the action."

'Get creative'

If you're thinking of trying out your own version of the mashed potato board, the experts have a few top-potato tips to help you.

"Make sure all your ingredients are prepped and piping hot before building your board," said Rebecca from Planet Food. "Build quickly and serve immediately—because no one likes cold mashed potatoes."

Tovia's top tip is to make sure you're using the right board.

"Make mashed potatoes super creamy with chives," she said. "Serve hot and load up on a hardwood resin-coated board."

Part of the appeal of the potato board is its versatility. A fairly plain food on its own, potatoes are easy to customize with your favorite flavors.

"Get creative and add whatever toppings you like," suggested Rebecca.

"I decided to top the mashed potatoes with my favorite herbs and olive oil," said Kouchoukian. "However you can substitute avocado oil or your preferred oil. You can also top them with your favorite grated cheese, herbs or vegetables."

Boards are all about the fun, too. Forget cutlery and opt for a food-based delivery method for your potatoes.

"Heat up frozen french fries and tots and use them to scoop up the mashed potatoes," Kennedy suggested. 'You can't have too many potatoes."