Homemade Butter Recipe (From Heavy Cream)
This homemade butter recipe uses just heavy cream. The steps are simple: whip the cream until the butterfat separates from the buttermilk, then rinse the butter with cold water and season it lightly if you like. It’s a handy basic to keep for breakfast, baking, and everyday cooking.
Ingredients
Ingredients
Step-by-Step Method
Get the cream ready
Pour the cold heavy cream into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Cold cream helps the butter form faster.
Whip until thick
Beat on medium-high speed. First it will turn into whipped cream, then you’ll notice it start to look grainy.
Let it separate
Keep mixing until solid butter clumps form and a thin liquid (buttermilk) separates. Reduce speed if it starts to splatter.
Drain the buttermilk
Strain through a fine sieve and collect the buttermilk in a separate container (use it in pancakes or baking if you like).
Rinse the butter
Transfer the butter to a bowl, add cold water, and press/turn it with a spoon or spatula. Pour off cloudy water and repeat 2–3 times until the water runs mostly clear.
Season and store
Mix in salt if using, then shape the butter into a block. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.