5 Tablespoons Butter Equals
71g
Grams
⅝
Stick
⅓
Cup (scant)
2.5
Ounces
½ stick + 1 tablespoon = 4 tbsp + 1 tbsp
What Uses 5 Tablespoons Butter?
🍪 Small Batch Baking
- • 6 chocolate chip cookies
- • 6 sugar cookies
- • Small batch shortbread (8 cookies)
- • 6 brownies (small pan)
- • Quick coffee cake (6" pan)
🍳 Savory & Sauces
- • Brown butter sauce (pasta for 2)
- • Compound butter (4 servings)
- • Beurre blanc (small batch)
- • Pan sauce (2 steaks)
- • Sautéing vegetables (serves 4)
5 Tablespoons Butter Conversion Table
| Measurement | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grams | 71g | Most accurate (14g per tbsp) |
| Sticks (US) | ⅝ stick | ½ stick + 1 tablespoon |
| Cups | ⅓ cup* | Scant ⅓ cup (slightly less) |
| Teaspoons | 15 tsp | 3 tsp = 1 tbsp |
| Ounces | 2.5 oz | Weight measurement |
| Milliliters (melted) | 74 ml | When melted |
* ⅓ cup = 5.33 tbsp, so 5 tbsp is slightly less than ⅓ cup
How to Measure 5 Tablespoons
📏 Three Easy Methods
Method 1: Butter Stick ⭐
Easiest if you have stick butter:
- Count 4 tablespoon marks (= ½ stick)
- Add 1 more tablespoon mark
- Cut at the 5th mark
Total: 4 + 1 = 5 tablespoons
Method 2: Tablespoon
Using measuring spoons:
- Scoop 5 level tablespoons
- Pack into measuring cup
- Level off each scoop
Tip: Use cold butter for accuracy
Method 3: Weight
Most accurate:
- Place bowl on scale
- Tare (zero) the scale
- Add butter to 71g
Best for: Precision baking
Nearby Butter Measurements
| Tablespoons | Grams | Sticks | Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 tbsp | 43g | ⅜ stick | 3/16 cup |
| 4 tbsp | 57g | ½ stick | ¼ cup |
| 5 tbsp | 71g | ⅝ stick | scant ⅓ cup |
| 6 tbsp | 85g | ¾ stick | ⅜ cup |
| 8 tbsp | 113g | 1 stick | ½ cup |
Butter Substitutes (5 tbsp)
Baking Substitutes:
- • Margarine: 5 tbsp (71g) - use stick margarine
- • Coconut oil: 4 tbsp (60ml) - reduces fat slightly
- • Vegetable oil: 3½ tbsp (52ml) - different texture
- • Applesauce: 5 tbsp (75g) - for low-fat baking
Savory Substitutes:
- • Olive oil: 4 tbsp (60ml) - for sautéing
- • Ghee: 5 tbsp (71g) - 1:1 substitute
- • Bacon fat: 4 tbsp (56g) - adds smoky flavor
- • Shortening: 5 tbsp (71g) - for pie crust
Common Questions
Is 5 tablespoons the same as ⅓ cup?
Almost, but not quite. ⅓ cup = 5.33 tablespoons. So 5 tbsp is slightly less (0.33 tbsp = 1 teaspoon less). For most recipes, this small difference doesn't matter.
How to measure 5 tablespoons without a scale?
Use a butter stick: count to the 5th tablespoon marking and cut there. Or measure with a tablespoon 5 times, making sure each scoop is level.
Can I eyeball ⅝ of a stick?
Not recommended. ⅝ is hard to estimate. Instead, use the tablespoon marks: 5 marks = ⅝ stick. Each mark = 1 tablespoon.