I have a confession to make! Yes, another one. I didn’t know how to make butter.
Sometimes I wonder whether I use this space in place of a priest! I can see why people go to confession…telling people your secrets really does help to move on!
I digress.
Until a couple of weeks ago, at the age of 39, I had no idea how to make butter was made. I mean, NO IDEA! Well, I knew it involved dairy and churning but that was it..!
All that changed when I was invited to River Cottage by Foodies 100, a network for food and drink bloggers.
I couldn’t believe my luck when they told me that I was invited to a day of cooking, networking and exploring at River Cottage HQ.
However, I hadn’t seen much of the grounds on that trip, so it was an incredible treat to be shown around the vegetable garden (they even do gardening courses), introduced to their lovely free-range animals and shown how to make butter and soda bread. In addition, we were given some facinating tips by Lucy about how to style food and take fabulous photos. I am finally trying harder to create better photos so I hope you see the difference in the coming weeks!
I even got to meet some of my favourite food bloggers over some delicious food, including Sarah from Taming Twins, Mel from Le Coin De Mel, Charlotte from Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen and Nova from Cherished By Me, who I first met when I cooked for Michael Caines! If you have a spare half hour then check these lovely blogs out…you are sure to be inspired!
My delicious gluten and dairy free lunch that the chef’s so happily made for me while everyone else had gluten and dairy in their food!
So, do you know how to make butter, or like me are you completely in the dark?
Well, be in the dark no longer! It is so incredibly easy to make butter, even young kids could make it. And what is more, you need nothing more than some double cream, a bowl, a balloon whisk, and a spatula. Oh, and some big arm muscles, unless you want to use an electric whisk!
Whisk the double cream until it thickens. Once it is thick use a spatula to keep beating it. If you try to use the whisk it will get stuck inside it and annoy you! Keep beating and the mixture will start to separate and look like scrambled eggs! At this point you are ready to get your hands in to bring the solids into a block (butter), and to squeeze out any liquid (butter milk – perfect for making scones or soda bread if you can tolerate dairy!).
The final step in making butter is to wash it. Take a bowl of cold water and gently squeeze the butter in it, getting rid of any excess butter milk (this allows it to keep longer in the fridge). Finish by squeezing any liquid out of the butter, flavouring it with salt and/or herbs if you like and then rolling it into a cylinder ready to wrap in baking paper and store in the fridge.
AMAZING!
I couldn’t try this because I am still avoiding dairy (which I have to tell you means I no longer have sore, cracked, bleeding hands) but Mr M and Pickle told me it was delicious!
If you fancy making some delicious soda bread to go with the butter, why don’t you try out my recipe for gluten free cheese and sundried tomato soda bread. Instead of using the milk and cider vinegar in my recipe, use up your butter milk from making the butter – that is what the clever chefs at River Cottage told us to do!
So without further ado this is how to make butter with the full recipe…
How To Make Butter
Ingredients
- 250 ml double cream
- Pinch salt
- Finely chopped herbs of choice - spices or garlic
Instructions
- Beat the double cream with a balloon whisk or electric whisk unti it thickens
- Continue beating with a spatula until the mixture separates into solids and liquid
- Squeeze the liquid out of the solids using your hands, then transfer the solids to a bowl of cold water
- Continue to squeeze the butter in the water, washing out all the butter milk
- Finally squeeze out any excess liquid, flavour if you wish, and roll into a cylinder
- Wrap in greaseproof paper and store in the fridge for up to 1 week
I was invited to River Cottage and did not pay for my day there. This did not affect my opinion in any way. I am always honest in what I write.
Vicki Montague says
Hi Kirsty! So glad I’m not the only one 😉
Mel says
It really was a revelation for me too! I had no idea how butter was made, and no inclination to find out. Now I know, I want to teach the children how to make it: it is so simple everyone should learn it at school! xx
Vicki Montague says
It’s funny because it would seem that lots of adults were taught how to make it as school…by shaking glass jars on the whole!! Fun!
Vicki Montague says
Amazing isn’t it? I thought you’d like it!
Alida says
What a fab experience in the middle of the beautiful English countryside and with lovely food. How nice learning to make your own butter. My grandmother used to make it in special pear shaped bottle. It is just so good!
Vicki Montague says
Wow, that sounds amazing! A pear shaped bottle!
Vanesther - Bangers & Mash says
Wasn’t it such a brilliant day and such a lovely post helping me relive it all. And no, I had no idea how to make butter either. I’ve since made it again with my kids because it is so ridiculously easy and so delicious too 🙂
Vicki Montague says
It was amazing wasn’t it? I must make this with my kids too!
Honest mum says
The star button stick and wouldn’t let me give you 5 stars x
Vicki Montague says
It never does it would seem…not sure what that is all about 😉
Honest mum says
Oh wow, what a wonderful experience and amazing you got to make butter, I’ve never made it myself. I have seen Greek relatives make cheese in Cyprus though-fascinating. I equally love the sound of the gluten-free course, wonder if they still do it. Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
Vicki Montague says
I’d love to make cheese. It must be fab having relatives abroad…the perfect excuse to get away! Thanks for hosting as always!
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
I’ve never made butter, but have fancied doing it a few times (then kept forgetting! – I need another list!) My 94 yr old neighbour told me they used to make it when they were children by putting the cream in a jar with a marble, replaced the lid and then took turns to shake it! It sounded like it certainly amused her and her brother when they were young!
Angela x
Vicki Montague says
That sounds like a lot of fun! I think I will have to give that method a go with the kids 🙂
Kate - glutenfreealchemist says
Sounds like a really fun day! For those of us not invited, we have had to be in awe reading lots of posts from lucky participants raving about the experience of butter making. In the absence of a trip to River Cottage, I decided to investigate anyway and last weekend also made some butter! I ‘cheated’ and made it in my Kitchen Aid which whipped it up in no time at all! Another science lesson for my daughter!!!!
Vicki Montague says
I have to say if I had a Kitchen Aid I would be using it at every opportunity and certainly wouldn’t be giving my arm a workout to make butter!!!! Science is amazing isn’t it?!
Tabitha says
This is brilliant. I have often wondered if it was possible (simple) to make butter but have never investigated. Thank you I can’t wait to try and although am mostly dairy free gave a little butter in my bullet proof coffee which I love. Your pics are great and you can really see the difference. I’ve been trying to do the same thing. Moving from my trusted iPhone to a real camera. I’m finding it very hit and miss but loving it.
Vicki Montague says
Butter is low in lactose for those that have a problem with that and at least with homemade you don’t have the preservatives etc! It is so easy I couldn’t believe it! Thank you for your comment on my photos…that means a lot! Your photos are beautiful!