🧈 How to Make Homemade Butter
🍽️ Makes: About ¾ cup of butter
⏱️ Time: 10–15 minutes
✅ Ingredients:
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1 pint (2 cups) heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
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¼ teaspoon salt (optional, for salted butter)
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Ice water (for rinsing)
🛠️ Tools You’ll Need:
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Stand mixer, hand mixer, or food processor
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Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
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Bowl and spatula
👨🍳 Instructions:
1. Pour cream into mixer or processor
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Use cold heavy cream for best results.
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Start mixing on medium speed, then go to high.
2. Watch the stages:
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Soft peaks: First it becomes whipped cream.
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Grainy stage: Keep going — it’ll start to look grainy.
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Separation: Eventually, the butterfat will clump and separate from the buttermilk (you’ll hear sloshing!).
3. Strain and press:
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Pour contents into a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to separate the buttermilk (you can save this for baking).
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Press and knead the butter with a spatula or clean hands to remove excess liquid.
4. Rinse the butter:
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Rinse the butter under cold running water or in a bowl of ice water, kneading gently until the water runs clear.
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This helps the butter last longer by removing leftover buttermilk.
5. Add salt (optional):
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Mix in a bit of salt if you want salted butter — about ¼ tsp per cup of cream, or to taste.
🧂 Variations:
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Add honey for a sweet butter
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Mix in garlic & herbs for a savory compound butter
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Try cinnamon + brown sugar for a spreadable treat
🧊 Storage:
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Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
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Or freeze in small portions for longer storage.
Would you like a version for making butter by hand in a jar (great for kids or a rustic method)?
