Melted Butter Vs Room Temperature/Softened Butter - Banana Muffins

Muffins baked with softened butter (left) is only slightly puffier than muffins baked with melted butter (right)

Since I began my baking journey, I've always wanted to really find out what is the difference between using melted butter versus softened butter in baking recipes. I didn't want to take a hearsay as an answer. So, today is the day that I am finally set to ascertain this - using my reliable banana muffin recipe. Hope this may be helpful in your baking adventures. Enjoy!

Melted butter = microwaved butter for 20 seconds until it becomes liquid.
Softened butter = put butter at the kitchen counter, at room temperature (about 27०c) until it becomes soft.

👉 As in the above picture, softened butter yields muffins that are slightly more puffy or taller/rounder at the top.

👉 Muffins baked with melted butter taste sweeter and has more moisture.

👉 In contrast, muffins baked with softened butter taste less sweet and is drier.

👉 Melted butter muffins have that melt-in-your-mouth texture compared to softened butter muffins which have more bite, like al dente.

👉 Lastly, melted butter muffins is softer and more pillowy compared to softened butter muffins which is more spongy, like a firm mattress.

A quick look at the recipe: 
Banana Muffins
150g mashed banana
80g self-raising flour
1 egg
20g sugar (more if you like)
50g butter (melted OR softened)
3 Tbsp milk

Directions: Mix everything together, do not overmix. Pour into muffin cups and bake at 170०c for 25 minutes. Cool and enjoy.

The End...