Make Your Own Butter: A Butter Recipe
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How Do You Make Your Own Butter?
But I was out of butter. What was I to do?
Then it hit me: I could make it myself.
That's right. Thanks to a history project my Girl Scouts did back in the day, I know how to make my own butter. It's easy. I will teach you how.
And I promise -- you won't even need to go out and buy a butter churn. Or an adorable folkloric outfit.
What Do You Know About Butter?
Take my quiz and find out!
So you think you know butter? This quiz will tell you if you do. If you don't score well, don't worry -- you can retake the quiz at the end of the lens to see what you've learned.
Remember, fellow Squids, taking quizzes means points for me and you!
Why Make Your Own Butter?
I can buy it at the store, right?
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Bailey, Ken
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There are many reasons why I believe everyone should make their own butter at least once:
- The flavor of homemade is like nothing you've ever tasted.
- It's easier than you think.
- Knowing where your food comes from makes you a better cook.
- Commercial butter is usually 80% butterfat; traditionally made butter can be as little as 65% butterfat.
- It's fun to do with kids.
- It's a good thing to know how to do when you run out of store-bought butter.
Have you ever made homemade butter?
If so, what did you think?
Have you ever made homemade butter?
Yes! It was delicious!
AnnaMKB says:
When I was a kid on the farm, my parents brought out the butter churn my dad built for my mother years before, and we all took turns working it. I was so small, I could barely manage it!
Years later, I was showing my own children how to make butter - much faster with modern appliances! *L*
LensbyLisa says:
I made it once when I was a child. I think it is time to try it again!
Mickie_G says:
Yes, several times. I have used a jar to shake cream and I have used a churn that belonged to my grandmother.
No, but I'd try it once.
AgingIntoDisability says:
I'd like to give a try at least once. It would make me feel like I could survive without technology.
kimmanleyort says:
No, sorry to say I never have.
Waxing-Lyrical says:
Ummm...no...not even once...
prosperity66 says:
Never... I'm not a hero in the kitche, I'm just a big zero... :(
The Ingredients You Will Need to Make Butter
You might want to write this down ...
As with any recipe, you will need ingredients to make your butter. Here are the ingredients you will need:
1. Heavy Cream, also known as Double Cream.
Got that?
Good. It's important.
It's also the ONLY ingredient you need to make butter.
Additonal Ingredients (Optional)
If you so choose ...
2. Salt.
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Philip, Bill
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This is optional. However, I noticed that my homemade butter was sweeter than the unsalted butter I usually get at the store, and it tasted weird without salt. On the other hand, if you want to play up that sweetness, you may add:
3. Honey.
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Equipment For Making Butter: Low Tech
In case you need to make butter when the power goes out.
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Fisk, Arnie
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To make your own butter, you will need some tools -- but I guarantee you that you already have at least one of them in your kitchen.
For the low-tech version, you'll need a container that covers tightly.
This method is the one my Girl Scout troop used. It is pretty time consuming; it requires at least 10 minutes of shaking, and possibly up to 20 depending on how much butter you make. For that reason it works best if you can share the process with friends and family.
Step 1: Pour some cream into the jar.
Step 2: Shake until you have butter. You'll want to shake it long enough for the butter to really congeal. At that point, your butter will be a solid mass floating in liquid -- this liquid is buttermilk, and is quite tasty.
Step 3: Enjoy your fresh homemade butter!
Screw Top Jar For Making Butter
Wheaton W216915 Clear Glass 4oz Straight Sided Jar, with 58-400 White Polypropylene Poly-Vinyl Lined Screw Cap (Case of 24)
Amazon Price: $35.06 (as of 06/01/2012)
Fun Fact: if you use a screw top jar, you can make butter by using it to play "catch" with a friend!
Mechanical Beater
No Electricty Required!
Norpro Rotary Egg Beater
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 06/01/2012)
This professional-quality hand beater is made of solid stainless steel. It doesn't require electricity, so it's a good addition to your household emergency kit or camping supply bin.
Equipment for Making Butter: High Tech
If you have electricity, use it!
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Koeb, Ulrike
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For the high-tech version, you will need an electric mixer. I've read that a stand-mixer is easiest, but I have a hand-held mixer that works just fine.
When I made my butter, I started off with the low-tech version, because that's how I had done it with my Girl Scout Troop. Then I remembered the Secret to Making Butter: butter is just cream that's been beaten enough. I realized that if I just used my electric mixer, things would go much faster.
Here's how to make butter with an electric mixer:
1. Pour cream into a bowl.
2. Turn on your mixer.
3. Beat for several minutes.
4. Press the butter mass against the side of the bowl with a slotted spoon to drain out the buttermilk.
5. Enjoy your butter!
Hand-Held Electric Mixer
No cook should be without one!
KitchenAid KHM5APWH 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer, White
Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 06/01/2012)
I've had a previous generation of this mixer since I got married almost 14 years ago. It's still going strong. It comes with regular beater attachments for mixing eggs, batter, or cream. Dough hooks, a whisk attachment, and a liquid blender are also available.
But I've Never Even Made Whipped Cream Before!
Not to worry, Young Grasshopper.
St. John, Stephen
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If you've never worked with cream before, you should be introduced to the terms "soft peaks" and "hard peaks". Basically, these terms describe how the cream behaves when you take the beaters out of it: does the cream just collapse back into itself (no peaks)? Does it hold a bit of a shape (soft peak)? Or does it hold its shape rigidly when the beater is removed (hard peaks)?
The whipped cream on this chocolate mousse has been whipped to soft peaks, and holds a soft shape.
When you're making butter, you want to beat the cream well past the "hard peaks" stage. At first, the cream will become very foamy. Then it will begin to thicken. Then, it will hold peaks. When you continue to beat the cream past this stage, it will begin to form little specks that seem harder than the surrounding liquid. These little specks are butter, and if you keep beating it, it will form into a lovely buttery mass.
The whipped cream on this hot chocolate holds its shape better because it has been whipped to hard peaks. If it were whipped more, it would turn into butter.
Stand-Mixer For Making Butter
And other things too!
The Big Secret to Making Butter
The BIG SECRET to making butter is this: BUTTER is simply CREAM that has been heavily beaten. If you make whipped cream and keep beating it, you will have butter. Like magic!
How Does Cream Turn Into Butter?
You Must Whip It!
Butter is made from cream, which is comprised of water, milk proteins, and microscopic butterfat globules. The proteins form membranes around the fat particles, acting as an emulsifier which keeps the fat from congealing.
When the cream is agitated, the milk protein membranes are broken. The fat separates from the rest of the cream, becoming butter. The water and protein remains as buttermilk.
Why is some butter yellow, and some is white? Well, that comes down to the breed and the diet of the cows that gave you the cream that you used in your butter. Some breeds of dairy cattle produce yellow butter depending on what they eat. Some cattle produce white butter. But it's all good.
Even the science behind butter is easy!
What Have You Learned About Butter?
Now that you've read this lens, you should do great on this quiz?
Would you try making butter yourself?
Now that you know how easy it is ...
You're cooking dinner and your recipe calls for butter. But you've run out! Fortunately, you have plenty of cream on hand ... what would you do?
Anyone can participate in this conversation. You don't have to be registered or logged in to Squidoo.
Would you make your own butter at home?
Yes! In fact, I'm going to go do it right now!
Monique says:
Absolutely! This process is so simple. I would love to do it. My mom used to make butter for when we were kids. She even stamped a little design on top using something like a wax seal.
Mickie_G says:
Yes, it would be a great project to do with my grandkids. I will use my grandmother's churn!
Stazjia says:
Yes, I think I might if I had some cream that needed using up.
No, I'd just drive to the store and buy some.
Waxing-Lyrical says:
Kitchen, cooking and me are not a winning combination, so probably not ;)
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Do you think it's worth it to make butter from scratch?
Or would you rather spend your time doing something else?
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AnnaMKB
Apr 13, 2012 @ 3:11 pm | delete
- With the cost of heavy cream, it's something we do very rarely. Still, it's nice to do, and the remaining liquid is great for baking.
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Mickie_G
Mar 22, 2011 @ 3:47 pm | delete
- Since there is great butter (w/out salt) available in stores today, I think making butter to use on a daily basis is not very appealing.
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kimmanleyort
Jan 19, 2011 @ 6:27 pm | delete
- What I love about this lens is that you make it educational and I know I really want to try it now.
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Wednesday_Elf
Jan 14, 2011 @ 8:45 pm | delete
- Hi Addy -- came back and RE-took the quiz and scored MUCH better this time around! Thanks for giving us a chance to 'make-up' the test... LOL.
And my security word AGAIN has the word 'cow' in it! I think the cows are taking over this page....:). They must like your butter recipe!
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Waxing-Lyrical Jan 14, 2011 @ 11:06 am | delete
- It's a great idea, but I am no chef...so...
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The Omnivore's Dilemma
by Michael Pollan
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
Amazon Price: $7.50 (as of 06/01/2012)
Do you eat? Then you should read this book.
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KitchenAid KHM5APWH 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer, White
Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 06/01/2012)
I've had this mixer for years and I don't know what I'd do without it.
Store Your Butter In Style!
.. with a Butter Lady
Bunzlauer Polish Pottery Butter Lady, DU70 Design
Amazon Price: $33.99 (as of 06/01/2012)
"Butter Ladies" are a traditional subject for Polish ceramic artists.
