How to Make Butter

Learn How to Make Butter in this fun and easy activity for kids. They will be amazed that they can make butter at home, and it will make their breakfast toast extra special!

Last week we were staying at my in-laws on their farm. Both boys absolutely love their time there and I really do think a farm is a great place for kids to learn and explore.

When I was a primary school teacher I was shocked at how many kids don't know where their food comes from, giving the answer "the store". I really want both boys to know where food comes from and last week we had great fun digging and cooking potatoes and then making this butter to serve along with them.

Making butter is a fantastic activity for getting kids in the kitchen and talking to them about where our food comes from but it is also a great science experiment. 

The Science Behind Butter Making

Cream has a good amount of fat in it. When cream is shaken, the fat molecules move around and join together. After some time, all of the fat molecules clump together, forming butter and leaving buttermilk behind.

How to Make Butter in a Jar

What you need:

• Glass Jar - You can use any size of jar, depending on how much butter you want to make and who you are making it with. For young children, I recommend getting them a small jar, such as a baby food jar, so they are easily able to hold and shake it. They can shake alongside older siblings or adults that are using a larger jar.  
• Double Cream (whipping /heavy cream depending on where you live) - The higher the fat content the better. 
• Muscle Power - Work those arm muscles!

What to do:

• Fill the jar half full of cream. Any more than this you will be shaking the jar for what will seem like forever and there may not be enough space for the butter to form.
• Pop the lid on the jar and shake, shake, shake! Younger kids may need some help to get things moving. The cream will start to get really thick. At this point open the jar to let your children see and taste it.
• Place the lid back on and continue to shake. You will know the butter is forming when you can hear the liquid sloshing around. This is the buttermilk separating from the butter.
• Pour the buttermilk into a cup, replace the lid and shake the jar again to release more of the buttermilk. Once again, pour the buttermilk into the cup.
• Remove the butter from the jar, gently rinse it under some water to discard the remaining buttermilk.  
• Taste! Serve it like you would any butter and why not get your kids to try doing a blind tasting against your regular butter! 

Other Ways to Make Butter

If you are looking to make larger quantities of butter, or would prefer not to have to do all the muscle work, then you can use a

• Blender 
• Food Processor or 
• Stand Mixer (using whisk attachment)

Pour the cream into the jar/bowl of the chosen mixer and place on the lid (If using a stand mixer you will need a splatter guard). Turn on high and the cream will go through the same stages as it does when making it in a jar. It is ready when the cream has separated into buttermilk and butter. 

Storage Instructions

Place your butter in an airtight container or wrap it in parchment paper. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week. 

You May Also Like

• The Benefits of Cooking with Kids
• Raspberry Banana Cookies
• Eggy Bread

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5 from 3 votes

Author: Amy

Homemade Butter

Let your kids make their own butter by shaking cream in a jar.

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Serves:8 tablespoon

Hover over "serves" value to reveal recipe scaler

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Equipment

• ▢
  Large Glass Jar (around 500ml / pint sized)

Ingredients

• ▢ 250ml (1 cup) Double (heavy/whipping) Cream

Instructions

• Fill a glass jar with the cream (¼ - ½ full)
• Place the lid on and shake vigorously.
• Continue to shake until the cream thickens, remove lid and let your kids have a small taste!
• Pop the lid back on and continue to shake until you hear liquid (buttermilk) sloshing around the jar.
• Remove the butter milk, pop the lid back on and shake again to release any more butter milk.
• Drain any more butter milk from the jar and then remove the butter.
• Rince the butter under the water and then serve.

Recipe Notes

COOKING WITH KIDS TIP: Glass baby jars are perfect for little kids to hold and shake

OTHER METHODS: If you are looking to make larger quantities of butter, or would prefer not to have to do all the muscle work, then you can use a

• Blender 
• Food Processor or 
• Stand Mixer (using whisk attachment)

Pour the cream into the jar/bowl of the chosen mixer and place on the lid (If using a stand mixer you will need a splatter guard). Turn on high and the cream will go through the same stages as it does when making it in a jar. It is ready when the cream has separated into buttermilk and butter. 

STORAGE: Store butter in an airtight container or wrap it in parchment paper. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Nutritional information is a ROUGH guide only , calculated using an online nutrition calculator. 

Nutritional facts

Calories: 108kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 23mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 459IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 20mg

Course:spread

Cuisine:Dairy

Did you make this recipe?Tag me on Instagram at @healthylittlefoodies or leave me a comment & rating below.