I found it helpful to use the
wrapper from the stick
of butter, which I had already dropped into the bowl I would melt it in over the water on the stove, being concerned concerned about making it too hot in the microwave for the recipe, to smear a large pinch
of butter without making a
mess of my fingers or wasting a paper towel and butter that would be absorbed (probably used between 1/2 and 3/4 tbsp, but I did not measure).