How to Make Homemade Butter
Published July 16, 2021. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
If you think butter from the store is good, just wait until you make it from scratch. This creamy smooth, full-fat homemade butter is nothing short of delicious.
My wife has long said that butter is the secret to life. I tend to agree with her, although I believe it’s best used in moderation. Whether you’re using it in pancakes or on green beans, it always enhances the flavor.
Homemade Butter
Butter has been around for several millennia and is still a staple in modern-day cookery. It was most likely made by mistake as a jar or sack filled with chilled milk was shaken and after a while, it would turn into butter. There are several animals capable of producing milk that can be turned into butter such as cows, goats, sheep, buffalo, or even camels.
Once butter became popularized it was then purposefully churned to be created and eventually sold as a commodity. Butter prices have increased over the years, but it is still cheaper to make at home than buying from a store, about 20% cheaper.
Homemade butter is most commonly made with whipping cream, however, it can be made with whole milk and buttermilk.
How to Make Butter at Home:
Follow these step-by-step instructions for making butter at home:
Add some heavy whipping cream to a stand mixer with the whisk attachment or a food processor and mix on high speed until the buttermilk separates from the milk fat. You can also use a mason jar while shaking vigorously.
Strain the buttermilk away from the butter. Keep the buttermilk for a recipe of your choice.
Drain the butter through a chinois or cheesecloth to drain off all buttermilk. If using a chinois press down using a spatula but if using cheesecloth wrap up the butter and twist it to get out as much buttermilk as possible.
Rinse the butter under cold water to remove any excess buttermilk.
Season with salt and serve.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can make this up to 3 days ahead of time.
How to Store: Cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months.
chef notes + tips
- Butter will last up to 3 weeks if kept cold, covered, and completely free of buttermilk.
- If there is still buttermilk in the butter, it can spoil in under 10 days.
- You can also make butter by vigorously shaking the whipped cream in a mason jar until the buttermilk separates from the milk fats.
Recipes to Use It In
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How to Make Homemade Butter
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Add some heavy whipping cream to a stand mixer with the whisk attachment or a food processor and mix or process on high speed until the buttermilk separates from the milk fat, about 5 minutes.
- Strain the buttermilk away from the butter. Keep the buttermilk for a recipe of your choice.
- Drain the butter through a chinois or cheesecloth to drain off all buttermilk. If using a chinois press down using a spatula, but if using cheesecloth wrap up the butter and twist it to get out as much buttermilk as possible.
- Rinse the butter under cold water to remove any excess buttermilk.
- It will render about 3/4 cup of butter. Cover and store or season with salt and serve.
Hadn’t done this in years but used to make it when we had fresh cow’s milk from a neighbor. Back then, I had a gallon sized glass butter churn! Now, the mixer does the work! Thanks for the reminder!!
Gonna try this!
And cheaper! Love it
I made butter For many years, during the month of November, with my schoolchildren. We studied the pilgrims and Indians. We made homemade bread and butter. Every person in the class shook the jar to make the butter. Each year my children were just amazed that cream turned to butter. It was great fun.
Chef? Can you also give us a recipe for cultured butter?
don’t have one.
I made this because I really wanted home made buttermilk. The butter was delicious. I shared some with my son.but the butter milk did not have the tang I expected. What did I do wrong?
Awesome homemade butter with specific details, I appreciate you! thanks
My pleasure!
Love the videos. Have been watching for a while and have learned so much!
Dear billy
I love all your recipes, but especially ones with you talking us through it on video.
I don’t want to just see photos and a list of ingredients. Please please make more videos
Love and peace
Anni
the video for the butter is in the zucchini video. TBH making videos take a lot of time and a lot of money and I’m not always able to produce one for every recipe, and this is the next best thing. Glad you enjoy the videos.
Thank you for this basic, easy recipe for home-made butter. I enjoy eerything you post and I am sure that there are many, many others that give you thanks.