Homemade Butter is fresh and creamy, and is super easy to make. With just two ingredients, this butter recipe goes great with everything, and is fun to make with kids.
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Why this Homemade Butter Recipe is a Keeper
Homemade butter is surprisingly easy to make. This recipe is simple to make, as this butter is just heavy cream and salt. The cream separates into butter and buttermilk in the electric mixer, both of which you can use in cooking. Here are a few reasons why you’ll want to learn how to make butter at home:
- 5 Minute Butter: This is one of the best homemade butter recipes, as it only takes 5 minutes to make.
- Easy Ingredients: All you need to make this delicious butter is whipping cream and sea salt. The resulting butter is often richer and creamier than store-bought butter, and it can be customized with different flavors or herbs.
- Delicious Flavor: This fresh, creamy butter has a great texture, and tastes even better than store-bought butter.
How Long Does Homemade Butter Last?
Homemade butter can last up to two weeks. To make sure your butter has as long a shelf life as possible, store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
Homemade Butter Ingredient Notes
- Heavy Whipping Cream: All you need to make this homemade butter recipe is 2 cups of heavy cream. This recipe will teach you how to separate the cream to make butter.
- Salted Butter: Make compound butter with salt, if desired. Add more or less depending on how salty you want it to be.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Prep Ahead Suggestions to Make Butter From Scratch
- Make Ahead: Make this butter recipe ahead of time to have it ready for your table. This homemade butter is great for bread, pancakes, corn, and more.
Special Equipment Needed to Make Your Own Butter
Making butter requires a few pieces of equipment, although fortunately, it’s very versatile. Butter can be made in a mixer, or even in a jar. Here’s some equipment you can use to make butter:
- Mixer: Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to separate the cream. If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can make fresh butter using a mason jar. Shaking the cream in a mason jar will allow it to separate, and is a great way to make homemade butter with your kids.
- Cheesecloth: A cheesecloth, fine mesh, or kitchen towel will help you extract the buttermilk from the butter.
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Pro Tip for Easy Homemade Butter
Start with cold ingredients, including both the heavy cream and your equipment. Cold cream will churn faster and produce firmer butter. If you’re using a stand mixer, chill the bowl and beaters beforehand.
How to Make Homemade Butter
Making this versatile butter is super easy. All you need is cream and a little salt. Once you start whipping the cream, it’ll start to separate and turn into butter. You’ll also have a byproduct of butter milk, which you can use in baking. Follow the steps below to learn how to make your own delicious butter.
These are the basic steps for making easy homemade butter. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Mix the Cream
Pour the cream into the bowl of your stand mixer, add salt if desired, and begin whisking it to thicken. Attach the mixer’s splash guard and gradually turn the speed up until you see the butter form stiff peaks. If you don’t have a splash guard, place a kitchen towel over the mixer. Mix on high speed for 5 minutes until the butter separates from the buttermilk.
2. Squeeze the Butter or Rinse Butter in Cold Water
Place the butter in the middle of a cheesecloth or kitchen towel. Bring in the sides to remove any excess buttermilk, until no milk is left. You can also rinse the butter in ice cold water until the water runs the excess liquid out.
3. Store the Butter
Save the buttermilk and butter solids in separate sealed mason jars.
How to Store and Use Leftover Butter
- Storing: Transfer the butter to a jar with a tight-fitting lid in the fridge for up to two weeks. Make sure to seal it tightly, or the cream will go bad. You can also store the remaining buttermilk to use in baking.
- Using Leftovers: Butter can be used in cooking, or as a spread.
Easy Butter Variations and Substitutions
If you’re going to make your own butter, here are some ways to take it to the next level:
- Food Processor: Instead of a mixer, make the butter in a food processor, or vigorously shake in a jar. Make sure you’re shaking it vigorously to keep it from sticking to the sides of the jar.
- Types of Butter: Make homemade garlic butter by mixing in garlic salt. Alternatively, you can make homemade honey butter by stirring in some honey instead.
Recipe FAQs to Make Butter at Home
Serve this recipe with rosemary butter rolls, light and fluffy corn pancakes, and air fryer biscuits.
Try adding honey or maple syrup for sweet butter, or garlic and herbs for savory butter.
Yes; this butter is great for baking and cooking, and can also be used as a condiment.
Expert Tips for Making Butter and Using Buttermilk
- Splash Guard: Use a towel or splash guard to prevent a mess when mixing.
- Unsalted Butter: For a healthier option, use less salt.
- Buttermilk: The leftover buttermilk is not the traditional sour buttermilk that you can buy. If you want to use it in cooking, add some acid, such as lemon juice.
- Add-Ins: Try adding honey, jalapenos, garlic or spices to the butter.
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Homemade Butter
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Ingredients
- 2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 teaspoon Sea Salt, optional – use if you want to make salted butter
Instructions
- Pour your cream in your stand mixer bowl.
- In your stand mixer, using the whisk option, turn it on. Gradually, turn your speed up. Before turning it on full speed mode, I suggest placing a kitchen towel (or a splash guard if you have one) over the mixer to prevent splatter.
- Continue to mix on full speed (about 5 minutes) until the butter has separated from the buttermilk.
- Using a kitchen towel, or cheese cloth, place your butter in the center. Bringing the sides and ends of your towel or cloth, squeeze the remaining buttermilk from the butter, and back in with the buttermilk. Continue to squeeze until no more buttermilk comes from the butter.
- Reserve your buttermilk in a sealed jar.
- Reserve your butter in a sealed jar.
Christina’s Notes
- Splash Guard: Use a towel or splash guard to prevent a mess when mixing.
- Unsalted Butter: For a healthier option, use less salt.
- Buttermilk: The leftover buttermilk is not the traditional sour buttermilk that you can buy. If you want to use it in cooking, add some acid, such as lemon juice.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, scroll up on the page.
YUM! We love homemade butter!!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!