Butterbrot

Fact: German Butterbrot Day is on the last Friday of September.

Butterbrot: Basic Information

Pronunciation

[ˈbʊtərˌbroːt]

Alternative Name(s)

Brot, Butterstulle, Bütterken, Bemme, Botteramm, Knifte

Dish Type

Sandwiches, snacks

Course

Main Course

Mealtime

Anytime

Popular Variations

Butterbrot with cheese, cold meat, or other toppings.

Butterbrot: Origin and Region

Origin

Germany

Continent’s Region

Central Europe

Country’s Region

Nationwide Origin

Associated Region

Unspecified

Butterbrot (pronounced ˈbʊtərˌbroːt]) refers to a slice of bread spread with butter in German cuisine. Plus, the term “butterbrot” literally means “butter bread” in German.

Butterbrot can be considered a type of sandwich and is mostly served open-faced.

This sandwich can go with different toppings like spreads, cheese, lunch meat, with the base always including two key components: a slice of bread and butter.

Butterbrot is a traditional German food or meal, often consumed for breakfast, boxed lunch, dinner, or as a snack.

The Butterbrot ingredients are typically sweet for breakfast, such as jam honey, marmalade, or spreads.

In contrast, savory components, like cold meat, cheese/cream cheese, smoked salmon, are ideal for other meals.

In fact, the term “butterbrot” is influenced by different dialects. Moreover, it is not similar to a regular sandwich.

There are also some pros and cons of consuming Butterbrot that you need to know. Keep reading to know more about this German culinary delight.

Butterbrot Images

Butterbrot with red caviar as toppings.

© Kaj Beuter / CC BY-SA 3.0
Basic Butterbrot with bread and butter.

Butterbrot with sausage slices

How Have Different Dialects Influence the Term “Butterbrot”?

The term “butterbrot” in German has various names with different dialects, such as Brot, Butterstulle, Bütterken, Bemme, Botteramm, or Knifte.

Butterbrot’s popularity also spread to other countries, especially Russia, with another term. The Russian language borrowed “buterbrod” from German.

This Russian variant, signifying any bread with toppings, influenced several languages across Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, including Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, and Lithuania.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, buterbrod continued to be a regular part of daily life in post-Soviet states.

In Austria, the term “butterbrot” strictly refers to a slice of bread with butter. And it’s named after that specific topping if any topping is added.

For example, Käsebrot for “cheese bread” or Wurstbrot for “sausage bread”. And with different ingredients, there are certain ways to distinguish a Butterbrot from a regular sandwich.

Pros and Cons Of Eating Butterbrot

In general, Butterbrot is a delicious dish with different good sides, but it also has some drawbacks that you should notice, which are shown in the table below.

Keep reading to find out the dissimilarities between a butterbrot and a sandwich.

What Are The Differences Between a Butterbrot and a Sandwich?

The key differences between a Butterbrot and a sandwich are their origin and ingredients.
A Butterbrot hails from German-speaking countries, while a sandwich originates in England.

Moreover, a Butterbrot usually uses typical German bread types, which are firmer, have a fullertaste, and often have a crispy crust compared to softer English sandwich slices.

While a Butterbrot commonly has simpler components, a sandwich can have multiple layers of ingredients, like meats, cheeses, vegetables, and condiments.

FYI, in German-speaking countries, the Butterbrot and the British-style sandwich are differentiated by using the English word “sandwich” for the latter.

Finally, check out some related questions about this open-faced sandwich to comprehend it.

Butterbrot FAQs