Butterkäse is a mild, semi-soft German cheese whose name literally means “butter cheese,” known for a buttery, creamy flavor and a melt so smooth it’s landed inside baked sweet potatoes all over TikTok.
A few people have asked me “what is butterkase cheese” lately. Makes sense, given how fast it went from a cheese nobody outside Germany talked about to something everyone’s hunting down at Aldi. I finally got my hands on a block and understood the hype within about two bites.
So here’s what I’ve learned: what it is, how to say it without hesitating, and where you can actually find it.
Key takeaways:
- Butterkäse is a mild, buttery German cheese, and despite the name, it contains no actual butter
- It’s pronounced roughly “BOO-ter-KAY-zuh,” though “butter case” is what most people actually say
- It tastes like a cross between Havarti, Muenster, and young Gouda
- Aldi carries it as the Emporium Selection brand, though stock comes and goes
- If you can’t find it, Havarti is the closest substitute you’ll find at a regular grocery store
Table of Contents
What butterkäse actually is
Butterkäse is a semi-soft, mild cow’s milk cheese from Germany, aged for only about three to four weeks. That short aging time is why it stays so gentle, buttery and a little sweet, with none of the sharpness you’d get from something aged longer.
The name means “butter cheese,” which throws people off since it doesn’t contain any butter at all. It’s the color and the rich, almost spreadable texture that earned it the name, not the ingredients.
I’d put the flavor somewhere between Havarti, Muenster, and a young Gouda, just milder and creamier than all three. And it melts beautifully, smooth and even, no surprise it ended up stuffed into a hot sweet potato or folded into mac and cheese.
| Cheese | How it compares to butterkäse |
|---|---|
| Havarti | Very close. Slightly tangier, otherwise nearly a match |
| Muenster | Similar mildness, but a touch more pungent with that orange rind |
| Young Gouda | Same creaminess, a little sweeter and nuttier |
I go into more detail on how it stacks up against Muenster specifically in my Muenster cheese substitute guide, since the two are genuinely close cousins.
How do you pronounce butterkäse?
I said this wrong for a while before I bothered to look it up.
- German way: roughly “BOO-ter-KAY-zuh,” with a soft ending instead of a hard “s”
- What most people actually say: “butter case,” and nobody’s going to correct you for it at the deli counter
I still catch myself saying it the second way half the time. Old habits.
Where to buy butterkäse
Here’s where I’ve had luck finding it, ranked by how reliable each spot’s been:
- Aldi (Emporium Selection): The most talked-about source, usually just a couple of dollars. Stock has been hit or miss since this cheese went viral, so check back if your store’s out. Same story as some of the other Aldi finds worth grabbing when you see them, where availability just isn’t guaranteed week to week
- Whole Foods (Roth brand): Carried at some locations, not every store stocks it
- Deli counters (Boar’s Head): My most consistent option. Kroger, Publix, and Stop & Shop all sell a sliced version at the counter, and it’s been far easier to track down than the Aldi block
If you strike out everywhere, Sargento’s Havarti slices are the closest substitute I’d reach for. Not a perfect match, but it melts the same way and gets you most of the way there. For the real thing shipped to your door, igourmet’s German Butterkäse is a solid option too.
Why is everyone suddenly talking about this cheese?
This one has a clear answer, unlike some of the other spikes I’ve dug into. A Georgia teacher named Courtney Cook Bales posted a video of herself stuffing a baked sweet potato with butterkäse as part of her “teacher lunch” series. It took off past 7 million views.
I tried it myself once I saw the fuss, and it’s one of those things that sounds strange until you actually make it. The potato goes almost syrupy after sitting a while, and the cheese melts into it so completely it barely needs anything else. I’ve got the full method written up here if you want to try it yourself.
The trend peaked around December and January. It’s cooled off some since, but it’s still very much part of the conversation, and it’s why Aldi kept selling out. Butterkäse wasn’t something most stores stocked heavily before this.
Traditional German use versus what Americans are doing with it now
- In Germany, it’s simple: sliced onto bread for a basic Butterbrot, served on a cheese board, or paired with a cold beer
- Here, it’s gotten a lot more creative thanks to the TikTok trend: the stuffed sweet potato first, then grilled cheese, mac and cheese, and melted over burgers, all places where its mild flavor and smooth melt shine
Same cheese, two pretty different lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce butterkäse?
Roughly “BOO-ter-KAY-zuh” in German, though most Americans simply say “butter case,” which is completely understood.
What does butterkäse taste like?
Mild, buttery, and a little sweet, similar to a cross between Havarti, Muenster, and young Gouda, with very little sharpness.
Where can I buy butterkäse?
Aldi carries it under the Emporium Selection label, though stock varies. Whole Foods (Roth brand) and deli counters at stores like Kroger and Publix (Boar’s Head) are more consistent options.
What’s a good substitute for butterkäse?
Havarti is the closest match you’ll find at a regular grocery store. Young Gouda and Muenster both work well too.
Does butterkäse melt well?
Yes, exceptionally well. It melts smooth and creamy without turning stringy or greasy, which is why it works so well in a hot sweet potato or a pan of mac and cheese.
Cynthia Odenu-Odenu is the founder of Cyanne Eats. A registered nurse with a passion for food, she brings the same attention to detail from her professional life into the kitchen. From chain restaurant rankings to grocery finds and easy recipes, Cynthia covers it all and helps everyday food lovers eat better and spend smarter.